Decor64,
I ended up learning to frame things myself because of the cost too. I got a cheapo mat cutter (basically a plastic form with a blade at an angle) for $20 from JoAnn . I buy big sheets of mat from Michael's. Sometimes, I can convince DH to build me frames but I usually just buy frames at either Target or Ikea or even JoAnn/Michaels. So, the total cost comes to maybe 20$ for a medium sized print.

Good luck! And the mat cutter is really easy to use. There is a bit of math involved when you are cutting but otherwise, its one of the easiest DIY things.

Mo

It's the custom molding, dry-mounting, glass and matts that costs you.

Try to find ready-made frames (new, garage sale, CL...) with the glass and matt already in the frame and assemble yourself. Even if it has something else in it or nothing at all - frames are the biggest expense! If you must have the art dry-mounted or need a matt, you're really stuck with Michael's, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, etc. But you can have them perform those services, buy the glass if needed and do everything else yourself, you'll still save.

Another option are sectionals, expensive still but not as expensive as custom. They even make wood sectionals so you're not stuck with gold/silver/black metal.

I formerly was a framer at a Michael's-type place and the only way I might try assembling a custom molding at home would be if I had a shop to do it in, but I don't. If you do, it's really easy, but you need the right tools and that's gonna cost you so you would need to have a LOT of projects to make it worth it.

HTH

I just asked this question recently on the craft forum.

Then I did a search & found these this website with video. I had (or my dd's) picture that was just terribly dated, but my daughter wanted to keep it and get it redone. It was country pink & blue from the 80's, and I thought I could just buy new replacement mats & frame but the pic was an odd size. So I painted the frame & bought mats. The lady at Hobby Lobby told me they cut mats all the time with just a plain razor blade, so I did that.

Here's how it turned out, not too bad I thought for a piece of cheap art.

{{!gwi}}

Then I found this blog that tells how to make picture frames from trim molding.

I am going to try making a frame from scratch tonight.

I've had terrific luck with PictureFrames.com. First join their e-mail list and then wait for one of their promotions (which they have regularly). I didn't do it that way -- I first purchased (and even without any sort of a discount paid seriously less than I would've at a discount framer) and then started to receive their e-mails, so I purchased more!

Granted, you have to mount everything yourself (and have a clean, cat hair free area[!]) but to save some money you bet I'll do it!

I'm so excited to pass on this link that I got here months ago. You can load your own picture and try out different mat sizes, colors, single/double, frames, and get an idea of what you might want when you do your own. Or..order from them. So far I just like playing with the site to get ideas. I bought a mat cutter last year (!!!) but haven't taken it out of the box yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Personal frame shop

Hmm..last night I responded to this post right after Marti8a's post. Where did it go? Anyhow..

THanks for all the great advice and links. I will be exploring them today. It's too bad that Michael's no longer sells all the loose frames anymore (that was probably 15 years ago).

You did a great job with the framing Marti8a!

I made my own frame ($20 in wood- I have a very nice compound miter saw for cutting but have been successful in the past with a simple miter box for $30), mostly because I am VERY picky and simply hated everything in the frame shop. Then I had a custom matt made at Michaels ($60) and also got the piece mounted there ($60), and got the glass cut at Home Depot ( $20- much cheaper than Michaels). Then I just put it all together. I love the way it turned out.

{{gwi:1537937}}

Thank you decor64. It looks better in person, but for my first attempt, I was pleased. I just couldn't see spending $25 on getting mats cut for a picture that probably cost $2 new.

meghane, where did you get your framing lumber? That's the part that has stopped me from making one. I did see the picture frame molding at Lowe's and the molding that has a lip cut out for wainscott panelling, but they weren't really the same shape as picture frame.

Dh has a table saw with dado blades, a router, and a power miter box, so I don't think making a frame will be a problem if I can just find some nice wood.

Oh meghane, I meant to say I love your frame and picture. Sorry I got into my question first.

When we moved into our home 10 years ago, I had lots of wall space to fill. I chose to buy a Logan mat cutter (Intermediate, model #401, I think) for around $100 (they were re-selling for that on ebay also, so I kept the box in case I wanted to sell it after I "finished"--well, I'm still not finished!) so I could mat and frame my own prints (this was after spending lots of bucks for 2 framed/matted prints the year before). The mat cutter is very easy to use.

Only one piece so far required a custom frame. For the other prints I wanted to use, I just found a frame a bit larger than the print and then cut the mat to size. I bought the open frames from Hobby Lobby when they had them 1/2 off (also stocked up on mat board at 1/2 off). The only thing I didn't do was cut my own glass. It's saved tons of money. If you frame more than 1 or 2 prints, you'll break even buying the mat cutter.

I'll see if I can find a photo of some "homemade" stuff and post it later.

Tracey

Beautiful Meghane! You did a great job.

My husband has all the right equipment for making trim and is very good, perhaps I could talk him into making me some frames? I'm going to look into getting a mat cutter, because I probably have at least 10 things waiting to be framed. At this point I'm not sure if I will need custom from sizes for every piece or just for a couple. But it's a good idea about just buying a standard frame and then using the mat to make it work. Hobby Lobby has open frames? Michael's and Joann don't have those around here, and I've never heard of Hobby Lobby (except on this forum). Must see if we have those around here.

I also use pictureframes.com; found out about it through someone's post on this forum a few years ago. It really is a fraction of the cost of framing at michaels and the frame quality is good with a wide selection of materials & styles. The only down-side is that the 'glass' part is acrylic, but if I had something that I really felt I had to cover with glass, I would just take it to michaels or a glass store to get the glass.

I usually just order custom cut mats through the site and put the art in the mat myself; but the matting is usually the least expensive part of framing at places like michaels, so if I had something I really wanted to have matted profesionally, I'd just have michaels, etc. do the mat and order the frame through pictureframes.com

That's a great idea Robin - get the mats and glass through Michaels and buy the frames through pictureframes.com.

I tossed around the idea of getting the supplies to DIY all our prints. I collect limited edition signed prints by a particular artist. They are produced in edition of under 750 and have been out of print for 20-30 yrs. Over the years I've found 15 or so. They aren't terribly expensive, but they mean a lot to me. I am so worried about not preserving them properly that I leave it to the pros. The right tape, the right mat, proper mounting, preservation glass, etc. All that adds up and requires more expertise than I posses. I've only spent $20-$100 per print but $150-$300 each for framing. Joanne's has a big framing sale 3-4X a year and I'll take a couple of prints each time. That's much less painful than doing it all at once.
I think if you're framing mass market type replaceable things, then DIY is fine, but if you want to really preserve art that you love, it's worth the investment IMO.

As a professional picture framer, I applaud anyone trying to do it themselves and save a buck. However, there are somethings that most people do not take into account when using ready made products.
98% of all ready made materials you buy are not acid free and do not provide UV protection. While this may not matter with a cheap run of the mill, easy to replace poster, it is really something to think about when it comes to making frames for art that cannot be replaced. If you take a look at some of the art you have framed yourself, you will most likely notice that the bevels of the mats have turned an orange-ish brown color. This is acid seeping though the mat and onto your art. Also, the color of the mat will change and your art will fade.
Even something like a family picture or your childs art that they painted in kindergarten, once it is damaged, it cannot be replaced. To me, that is priceless.
If you do go to a custom framer, be sure to ask for UV protecting glass, acid free mats and make sure they do not use any adhesives that are not water soluble on your art.
Art does not mean it cost you a lot of money. Art means you like it enough to put on your wall or because it has sentimental value to you. Please take these into consideration before just slapping your art into composite frames with recycled glass.