Floating acrylic image frames deliver an artsy museum-like class to even the most everyday areas. Occasionally referred to as plexiglass frames or frameless photograph frames, these frames are my best choice for exhibiting exclusive art prints and even posters. And they&rsquore a fantastic alternative to standard image gallery partitions.
Their hardly-there glance is ethereal and crisp and really high touch. The ideal component is that acrylic image frames will get the job done with any kind of decor from regular to classic, to my private most loved – international bohemian stylish.
But have you ever checked the price tag of acrylic photo frames??? That attractive floating body in the image down below will set you back again a stable $a hundred and twenty bucks. For. A single. Frame. Yikes! Yep, immediately after looking at similar rates somewhere else, I understood exactly what I necessary to do. I desired to dig deep to build a very low-charge, large-close hunting, Do it yourself floating acrylic frame. The acrylic body tutorial you are about to go through is practical for everyone searching for uncomplicated, reasonably priced means to upgrade the glimpse of their artwork collection at household.
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What You&rsquoll Will need
 
 Standoffs to mount your frames
 Acrylic sheets – A single set of two for just about every frame (maintain reading for strategies on exactly where to locate them)
 A massive metal tent stake or nail (Tip: I uncovered one particular at Ace Hardware for $one.fifty)
 4 spring clamps to hold the acrylic in spot even though you perform on it
 A drill for mounting the wall components
The place to Get Acrylic Sheets to Make the Floating Frames
 
 
To my shock, I discovered a quantity of locations the place I could invest in acrylic sheets and even acrylic body kits. For instance, I uncovered these ready-created acrylic frame kits on Etsy. Sadly for see this here , the biggest size available was 11 x 14. My artwork measured eleven x 17. Given that I wished a 3&rdquo acrylic border all all-around the artwork, I needed my frames to evaluate fourteen x 20. This would enable me build the illusion of significant pieces of floating art.
 
Then I discovered that Home Depot sold big acrylic sheets also. But $116 was more than I needed to devote. Moreover, I could under no circumstances get a apparent answer on whether or not or not House Depot would minimize the acrylic sheet into to the dimensions I wanted. Last but not least, I settled on Ace Hardware, wherever I obtained four 18&rdquox 24&rdquo acrylic sheets for $11.99 every. Every sheet is about the very same thickness as a quarter inch piece of glass. Ace Components then lower the acrylic – cost-free of charge – into 2 sets of frames measuring 14×20. Et voila! Complete cost with tax was just $51.fifty six.
 
Are the frames you will need appreciably smaller sized? If so, the deal gets even sweeter. Just question the Ace Hardware glass cutter if he has any still left more than acrylic from former cuts that match your sizing. Ace Hardware will provide them to you for a fraction of the original cost. I did that when recreating this tutorial and only put in a mere $one.fifty for 4 9 x eleven sheets. Ace is unquestionably the location ya&rsquoll!
I know on the other hand that some definitely cheap…ahem…frugal individuals will say "But Ola, I discovered acrylic sheets even cheaper at Passion Lobby!". Allow the consumer beware although. People are super skinny, craft grade acrylic sheets and will never keep up about time.
 
Now for the standoffs. Immediately after buying a established that was too smaller to make an impact, I settled on these reasonably priced silver one/two&rdquo x 4/5&rdquo wall mount standoff bolts. They arrive twenty to a pack.
How to &ldquoDrill&rdquo the Holes for the Acrylic Image Frame
Drilling the holes to make your acrylic photograph frames could sound like a no-brainer to you, but it can get pretty tough. In reality, not recognizing far more about this critical move pressured me to have to obtain much more acrylic due to the fact I ruined the initially established. Out of the blue the price range for my oh-so-cost-effective Do it yourself acrylic frames amplified by fifty %. Ouch! Steer clear of faults by paying out near attention to these guidance.
You see, when drilling the holes for your standoffs you will have to drill very, pretty slowly, or the acrylic will crack. I&rsquom going to demonstrate you how to stay away from that problem entirely. As a substitute of drilling the gap (like I did at very first), do the subsequent:
DO NOT clear away the protecting plastic from the body
Mark the locations of your four holes on the initially piece of acrylic. Use your first piece as a template for the relaxation of the items to make sure the holes are all line up.
Heat the big steel stake or nail in excess of a fire
This is A lot, significantly less complicated than drilling the gap. Use a pair of vice grips to hold the steel stake in position, and to stay clear of burning yourself.
Pierce the locale for the hole
Allow for the melted edges of the plastic to amazing. These should then snap proper creating a clean gap for your standoff.
This is A great deal, a great deal simpler than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to hold the steel stake in location, and to keep away from burning yourself.
How to Put in Your Snazzy New Floating Wall Frames
Here is the least complicated way to install your new frames:
Put one particular piece of ready-to-dangle acrylic sheet instantly on to the wall where by it will be hung
With your other hand, use a stage to make positive the acrylic frame is straight
Your standoffs will commonly appear with anchors. I strongly propose using them. You don&rsquot want to wake up in the middle of the evening to uncover these high-quality thangs cracked and shattered on the ground do you? I didn&rsquot feel you did. So you should use the anchors.
Anxious about putting much too lots of holes in the wall? Just fasten the two leading standoffs to the wall. Then connect the standoffs to the base holes of the frame, but DO NOT fasten them to the wall. No a single will be the wiser. I saw this finished at a hotel once and it blew me absent.
&mdash Ola
Congratulations! You&rsquove now developed THE ideal, 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 area of the holes straight on to the wall
Drill hole and insert anchor
Sandwich your print or picture in between 2 items of acrylic and thread the standoff by means of the holes to mount