Floating acrylic image frames provide an artsy museum-like elegance to even the most common spaces. Sometimes referred to as plexiglass frames or frameless photograph frames, these frames are my prime preference for displaying distinctive artwork prints and even posters. And they&rsquore a wonderful different to classic image gallery walls.
Their hardly-there glimpse is airy and crisp and really higher contact. The ideal aspect is that acrylic photograph frames will function with any kind of decor from regular to vintage, to my own favourite – worldwide bohemian stylish.
But have you ever checked the rate of acrylic picture frames??? That attractive floating frame in the picture beneath will set you again a sound $one hundred twenty bucks. For. 1. Body. Yikes! Yep, following seeing identical price ranges in other places, I realized just what I needed to do. I essential to dig deep to build a low-charge, substantial-conclusion hunting, Do it yourself floating acrylic frame. The acrylic body tutorial you are about to examine is practical for any one looking for uncomplicated, affordable means to upgrade the glimpse of their artwork collection at home.
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What You&rsquoll Need
 
 Standoffs to mount your frames
 Acrylic sheets – 1 established of 2 for each and every body (hold looking through for suggestions on where to uncover them)
 A big metal tent stake or nail (Idea: I identified one at Ace Components for $1.fifty)
 4 spring clamps to hold the acrylic in position whilst you perform on it
 A drill for mounting the wall hardware
Where to Purchase Acrylic Sheets to Make the Floating Frames
 
 
To my shock, I observed a selection of areas where by I could acquire acrylic sheets and even acrylic frame kits. For instance, I identified these ready-built acrylic body kits on Etsy. Sadly for me, the most significant measurement readily available was 11 x fourteen. My artwork measured eleven x seventeen. Due to the fact I desired a 3&rdquo acrylic border all close to the artwork, I required my frames to evaluate fourteen x 20. This would support me develop the illusion of large items of floating art.
 
Then I acquired that Home Depot sold massive acrylic sheets way too. But $116 was more than I wanted to shell out. Furthermore, I could in no way get a very clear answer on regardless of whether or not Residence Depot would slash the acrylic sheet into to the measurements I essential. Lastly, I settled on Ace Components, where by I procured 4 eighteen&rdquox 24&rdquo acrylic sheets for $11.99 just about every. Just about every sheet is about the exact thickness as a quarter inch piece of glass. Ace Components then minimize the acrylic – absolutely free of cost – into two sets of frames measuring 14×20. Et voila! Overall charge with tax was just $51.56.
 
Are the frames you need to have significantly smaller sized? If so, the deal will get even sweeter. Just talk to the Ace Hardware glass cutter if he has any left more than acrylic from preceding cuts that match your sizing. Ace Components will sell them to you for a fraction of the primary price tag. his explanation did that when recreating this tutorial and only put in a mere $one.fifty for four 9 x 11 sheets. Ace is definitely the location ya&rsquoll!
I know nevertheless that some actually inexpensive…ahem…frugal men and women will say "But Ola, I located acrylic sheets even more affordable at Pastime Lobby!". Permit the purchaser beware though. These are tremendous slim, craft grade acrylic sheets and will never keep up in excess of time.
 
Now for the standoffs. Right after purchasing a set that was much too smaller to make an impression, I settled on these moderately priced silver 1/two&rdquo x 4/five&rdquo wall mount standoff bolts. They occur twenty to a pack.
How to &ldquoDrill&rdquo the Holes for the Acrylic Picture Frame
Drilling the holes to make your acrylic image frames may well sound like a no-brainer to you, but it can get rather tough. In fact, not being aware of extra about this crucial action pressured me to have to obtain more acrylic mainly because I ruined the to start with set. All of a sudden the funds for my oh-so-cost-effective Do-it-yourself acrylic frames enhanced by 50 p.c. Ouch! Keep away from errors by paying out shut awareness to these recommendations.
You see, when drilling the holes for your standoffs you should drill extremely, incredibly slowly but surely, or the acrylic will crack. I&rsquom heading to demonstrate you how to stay clear of that scenario completely. As a substitute of drilling the gap (like I did at initial), do the next:
DO NOT clear away the protecting plastic from the body
Mark the areas of your 4 holes on the very first piece of acrylic. Use your initial piece as a template for the rest of the parts to make certain the holes are all line up.
Warmth the significant metal stake or nail above a fire
This is Substantially, considerably less complicated than drilling the gap. Use a pair of vice grips to keep the steel stake in area, and to prevent burning by yourself.
Pierce the area for the hole
Let the melted edges of the plastic to awesome. These really should then snap correct producing a clean up hole for your standoff.
This is A lot, significantly less complicated than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to keep the metallic stake in spot, and to avoid burning oneself.
How to Set up Your Snazzy New Floating Wall Frames
Right here is the best way to put in your new frames:
Area a person piece of prepared-to-cling acrylic sheet specifically onto the wall where it will be hung
With your other hand, use a stage to make certain the acrylic body is straight
Your standoffs will normally appear with anchors. I strongly advise working with them. You don&rsquot want to wake up in the middle of the evening to discover these fantastic thangs cracked and shattered on the flooring do you? I didn&rsquot imagine you did. So you should use the anchors.
Worried about putting too several holes in the wall? Just fasten the two top standoffs to the wall. Then connect the standoffs to the base holes of the frame, but DO NOT fasten them to the wall. No one particular will be the wiser. I observed this completed at a resort when and it blew me away.
&mdash Ola
Congratulations! You&rsquove now developed THE finest, most very affordable Do-it-yourself acrylic frames at any time. Now all you have to do is sit back and love your freshly designed chef d&rsquooeuvre (masterpiece).
Use a pen/pencil to mark the place of the holes directly onto the wall
Drill gap and insert anchor
Sandwich your print or image concerning 2 items of acrylic and thread the standoff by means of the holes to mount
