Recycled Frame for Recycled Art

For almost any piece of art, the perfect frame is the final touch. For my piece that I am entering into the recycled art exhibition I decided I must have a frame. Believe it or not, my passion for framing things is just as strong as my passion for juice pouch recycling. I love framing things and I will put just about anything in a frame. A frame has several purposes. It provides protection for the art, it accents and enhances a piece of art, and it draws the viewer's eye into the picture.
I worked many years for a large retailer of custom picture frames. I learned not only how to design a custom frame package that best compliments a piece of art, but I also learned how to cut mats and glass, how to properly mount artwork, and how to join frames.
I also learned about how much waste was created by the company. Scrapes of glass and mat board were abundant and usually recycled, but a lot of materials were just tossed in the trash. I cringed every time I had to toss a perfectly good, beautiful frame in the dumpster. But, it was company policy. Keeping a frame was grounds for termination and selling the frames was too much trouble for the company. Not to mention the fact that it is easier for them to sell a new $200 custom frame to a customer when they don't have any other choices.
You do have a choice and you can save a lot of money by reusing, recycling, or up-cycling old, unwanted frames. If you have the right tools you can cut frames to size to fit your piece or cut mats to make the piece fit in the frame. If you get really creative you can change the color and finish of the frame to coordinate perfectly with any piece. This is what I did for my juice pouch recycled art. I found a frame that would have otherwise been thrown out, cut it to size, and refinished it to create a frame for my art.
The frame that I am using for my recycled art piece is a large molding about 2 and 1/2 inches wide with a coppery pink and black finish. The cost of this frame made new for my piece would probably have been over $200, but I picked it up for $20 and with a little work it will be the perfect finishing touch for my art.

I start by cutting the frame to size with my miter saw. I measure my piece then measure and mark the frame molding, and cut the molding at a forty-five degree angle. The trick to cutting frame molding to size is to know how to measure. Measure the length and width of the piece to be framed, then measure the width of the frame molding. The frame has a lip on it called a rabbit where the glass and picture sit. Measure the width not including the rabbit and then multiply that number by 2. Add this number to both the length and the width that you want the finished frame size to be. Mark the frame measuring from the outside corner and cut at a forty-five degree angle.

For my frame I wanted the finished size to be 29 1/4 inches by 28 1/4 inches. The width of the frame not including the rabbit was 2 1/4 inches so I added 4 1/2 inches to my finished size. This formula can be applied to any frame molding and makes cutting a frame to size a simple task.
The original finish of the frame would not do for a piece made out of recycled juice pouches so the next step was to make the finish of the frame accent my piece. I began by spray painting the frame a vibrant blue color to coordinate with the glossy blue that is the main color of the juice pouches I used. After that I joined the frame together before I made my next move.

I wanted the entire feeling of the finished piece of art to be elegant and the style of the frame that I end up with will help determine this. Just leaving the frame a high gloss blue would be complimentary and look fine but I thought that it would look more juvenile and simple rather than elegant. So for the second part of the finish I used silver leaf to create a finish with little bits of the blue showing through. Nothing is more classic and elegant than a silver leaf frame and I think that I created the look I was going for. The piece is now ready to go to the show and I am proud to say that everything was recycled- even the frame.

For your art (recycled or not), someone else's art, or even family photos you can create a finished look with a frame and you can even help the environment while doing it. Keep an eye out for frames at garage sales, and thrift stores. If you don't want to cut frames you can always have a mat cut to fit. Don't pay any attention to the finish of the frame. A coat of paint can quickly take care of that. When in doubt refinish the frame in black. It's classic and easy to do. Any frame looks good in basic black, it fits into almost any decor, and black can work with just about any art.
Places that sell custom frames may sell mistake frames that you can use. I am happy to say that the company that I used to work for finally got smart and started selling mistake frames to their customers and that is how I acquired the frame I used for my recycled art piece. These major retailers will usually be willing to help you pick out mats or cut mats for you and help you determine other things that you may need to create a wonderful framed piece of art.
Have fun, use your creativity and recycle.
Here are some of my favorite Etsy shops that have great up-cycled picture frames:

• BusyBeaversAttic.etsy.com
• DirtRoadDecor.etsy.com
• amye123.etsy.com

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