How To Frame Pictures Cheaply

Framing pictures and photos is a great way to add some flair to your home. It is a nice way to showcase some of your favorite memories, like vacations or family gatherings.

Framing pictures is also a nice way to thank someone for a gift or encouragement. You can get quite fancy with the frames you use and the designs you choose.

Framing can get pretty pricey, however. Some frames are very expensive due to their material and design. Others can be quite cheap, depending on what you are looking for.

There is no wrong way to frame a picture or photo! Today, we are going to talk about how you can frame your photos cheaply by shopping around and using different framing methods.

Get cheap picture frames

Nowadays, you can find picture frames at almost every store you go to. From department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom to general stores like Walmart and Target, they are always bursting with pictures frames.

They are also easy to find online as well as internationally, so if you are looking for a specific frame, then search away!

The problem is that many of these pictures frames are pretty expensive. Depending on the material or design, they can cost anywhere from $5-$50+! While this may not seem like a big deal if you just buy one, imagine having to buy hundreds or thousands for your new wall art. That would add up quickly!

The best way to frame cheap art is to get creative and use things that are free at most places.

Pick your favorite pictures

Now that you have collected pictures, it is time to put them to use. You can stick them in a photo album, on the wall, or even in a picture frame.

If you want to display your pictures in a picture frame, you can make your own frames at a low cost. The first thing you will need to do is pick out your frames.

There are many places you can get cheap frames, and even online stores like Amazon have some great ones. If you are not into the trendy square shaped frames, try looking for classic shapes like rounded or rectangular ones. These are more expensive due to the higher level of difficulty in manufacturing them.

When picking out your frames, think about how you want to display your pictures. If you want to switch them out often, then get thinner frames so your pictures do not look bulky on the wall or table.

Get matching colors of paint

Once you have all of your supplies, the next step is to choose what picture to frame and what color or colors of paint you want to use. Ideally, you want a picture that has some sort of frame already on it- this will make it easier to match the colors of paint.

If you have an image that is all one color, like a black and white photo, then any color paint will do!

The painter we spoke with told us an easy way to get the paint matches right is to buy sample bottles of the paint instead of the full size ones. That way, you can dip a small brush in the bottle and get just enough color on your canvas.

Another tip he had was to let the top layer of paint dry before applying another layer- this helps prevent mixing of the colors.

Use spray paint

A very easy way to frame pictures is to use spray paint. You can either buy spray paint or make your own with food-safe acrylic paints.

The first step is to lay out some newspaper or a plastic cover to protect your surface from the spray paint. Then, set your picture in the frame and decide how you want to arrange the picture in the frame.

Then, start spraying! Start with a light coat and let it dry before adding another layer. Make sure to shake the can well and maintain a consistent distance from the picture and frame while spraying.

Once it is completely covered, let it dry overnight before putting it on the wall. This ensures that it does not get stuck to the wall when pressed onto it.

Decorate the frame with glitter

While glitter is a great way to add some sparkle to your pictures, it can be a difficult material to work with.

You need to choose the correct type of glitter for the surface you are applying it to. You will not be able to simply brush on any glitter on any surface!

Typically, glue is used as a binder in glues such as acrylic glue. To use glitter in an acrylic glue, you would need to use microfine or superfine grade glitter. The larger sizes of glitter will not stick in the glue due to its thickness.

To layer the glitter, you must first dry one layer of glittered paper or plastic before applying the next layer. This is to prevent mixing of colors and losing substance.

You must also carefully brush the glue over the paper to ensure that all layers of the paper are covered in glue and are not left bare.

Use rhinestones to decorate the frame

Rhinestones have become quite expensive due to demand. Many people love to use them to decorate their belongings, making them a popular decoration material.

You can find rhinestones at most craft stores, especially when they are on sale. You can also order them online, and Amazon has a large selection of sizes and shapes to choose from.

Rhinestones stick with glue, so all you have to do is pick the shape and size you want, then get some glue. You can buy glue at the craft store or at an art supply store.

How much you decorate your frame with rhinestones depends on how flashy you want your frame to be.

Use patterned paper to decorate the frame

Once you have your frame, you can start decorating it. Many frames come with blank grey or white backings that you paint or decorate. You can also purchase black or white frames and add artwork or texture to them.

Another way to decorate your frame is by adding patterned paper to the front of the frame. You can find nice paper at most craft stores, and they usually have a wide variety of patterns.

By putting the paper on the front of the frame, you are letting your art work be the focus. This is a great way to refresh old paintings or drawings as well!

You can also use tissue paper as an inexpensive decoration for your frame. Tissue paper comes in many colors and patterns, so you can pick ones that match your painting or drawing. Layering several pieces of tissue together also gives a more dimensional look to your decoration.

Create a collage using pictures and glue it into the frame

Collage frames are a great way to re-use old pictures and give them a new home. You can also use this tip to give your pictures a new shape!

Collage frames are becoming more and more popular, so finding one at your local store may be difficult. I would recommend going to your local junk store or Walmart to find one, as they usually have cheap ones.

The best part about collage frames is that you can choose the number of pictures you want and how you arrange them depending on what story you want to tell.

For example, you can have three pictures across by five down to make a square picture display. You can also have one picture in the center with surrounding pictures around it to create a story line.