Floating acrylic photograph frames convey an artsy museum-like elegance to even the most everyday spaces. Occasionally referred to as plexiglass frames or frameless photo frames, these frames are my major alternative for exhibiting unique artwork prints and even posters. And they&rsquore a terrific alternative to standard photograph gallery walls.
Their hardly-there appear is airy and crisp and incredibly superior contact. The ideal section is that acrylic image frames will do the job with any type of decor from conventional to classic, to my private preferred – global bohemian chic.
But have you at any time checked the cost of acrylic image frames??? That beautiful floating frame in the graphic below will established you back a reliable $one hundred twenty bucks. For. Just one. Body. Yikes! Yep, soon after seeing very similar prices elsewhere, I knew just what I wanted to do. I necessary to dig deep to generate a low-cost, superior-conclusion on the lookout, Do-it-yourself floating acrylic body. The acrylic frame tutorial you are about to study is useful for everyone on the lookout for straightforward, affordable approaches to improve the seem of their art collection at household.
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What You&rsquoll Will need
 
 Standoffs to mount your frames
 Acrylic sheets – One set of 2 for each body (preserve reading through for ideas on the place to find them)
 A big steel tent stake or nail (Tip: I observed one at Ace Hardware for $1.fifty)
 4 spring clamps to maintain the acrylic in place whilst you work on it
 A drill for mounting the wall hardware
Where to Get Acrylic Sheets to Make the Floating Frames
 
 
To my surprise, I found a number of places where I could buy acrylic sheets and even acrylic body kits. For occasion, I uncovered these ready-manufactured acrylic body kits on Etsy. However for me, the greatest size out there was 11 x fourteen. My artwork measured 11 x 17. Considering that I preferred a 3&rdquo acrylic border all about the artwork, I required my frames to measure fourteen x 20. Homepage would assist me make the illusion of significant items of floating artwork.
 
Then I uncovered that Home Depot sold large acrylic sheets too. But $116 was extra than I needed to spend. In addition, I could in no way get a crystal clear reply on no matter whether or not Household Depot would minimize the acrylic sheet into to the sizes I required. Finally, I settled on Ace Hardware, where I acquired four 18&rdquox 24&rdquo acrylic sheets for $11.ninety nine each. Every single sheet is about the identical thickness as a quarter inch piece of glass. Ace Components then slash the acrylic – free of charge – into two sets of frames measuring 14×20. Et voila! Total price with tax was just $fifty one.56.
 
Are the frames you require substantially smaller? If so, the deal receives even sweeter. Just question the Ace Hardware glass cutter if he has any left around acrylic from past cuts that match your sizing. Ace Components will promote them to you for a fraction of the initial expense. I did that when recreating this tutorial and only invested a mere $one.fifty for four 9 x eleven sheets. Ace is surely the put ya&rsquoll!
I know however that some genuinely inexpensive…ahem…frugal persons will say "But Ola, I observed acrylic sheets even less expensive at Hobby Lobby!". Enable the buyer beware while. These are tremendous skinny, craft grade acrylic sheets and will in no way maintain up over time.
 
Now for the standoffs. Right after buying a established that was far too small to make an influence, I settled on these fairly priced silver one/two&rdquo x 4/five&rdquo wall mount standoff bolts. They come 20 to a pack.
How to &ldquoDrill&rdquo the Holes for the Acrylic Picture Frame
Drilling the holes to make your acrylic photograph frames may possibly audio like a no-brainer to you, but it can get pretty challenging. In point, not realizing extra about this essential action forced me to have to get a lot more acrylic because I ruined the initially set. Instantly the finances for my oh-so-very affordable Do-it-yourself acrylic frames greater by fifty %. Ouch! Avoid errors by having to pay close consideration to these guidelines.
You see, when drilling the holes for your standoffs you must drill really, really slowly and gradually, or the acrylic will crack. I&rsquom going to present you how to stay away from that condition entirely. Alternatively of drilling the hole (like I did at initially), do the following:
DO NOT get rid of the protecting plastic from the body
Mark the places of your four holes on the first piece of acrylic. Use your to start with piece as a template for the rest of the pieces to make certain the holes are all line up.
Warmth the substantial metal stake or nail more than a fireplace
This is A great deal, significantly easier than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to maintain the metallic stake in spot, and to stay clear of burning oneself.
Pierce the location for the gap
Allow for the melted edges of the plastic to neat. These need to then snap proper generating a clean up hole for your standoff.
This is Considerably, significantly a lot easier than drilling the gap. Use a pair of vice grips to maintain the metallic stake in place, and to stay clear of burning you.
How to Install Your Snazzy New Floating Wall Frames
Right here is the least difficult way to install your new frames:
Area a single piece of completely ready-to-dangle acrylic sheet immediately on to the wall exactly where it will be hung
With your other hand, use a stage to make confident the acrylic frame is straight
Your standoffs will generally come with anchors. I strongly recommend working with them. You don&rsquot want to wake up in the center of the night time to discover these fine thangs cracked and shattered on the flooring do you? I didn&rsquot believe you did. So be sure to use the anchors.
Fearful about placing much too quite a few holes in the wall? Just fasten the two top rated standoffs to the wall. Then connect the standoffs to the base holes of the body, but DO NOT fasten them to the wall. No 1 will be the wiser. I observed this completed at a resort at the time and it blew me absent.
&mdash Ola
Congratulations! You&rsquove now made THE most effective, most affordable Do it yourself acrylic frames at any time. Now all you have to do is sit again and appreciate your newly developed chef d&rsquooeuvre (masterpiece).
Use a pen/pencil to mark the location of the holes specifically on to the wall
Drill gap and insert anchor
Sandwich your print or photograph among 2 pieces of acrylic and thread the standoff through the holes to mount
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