Floating acrylic photo frames bring an artsy museum-like elegance to even the most normal spaces. Sometimes referred to as plexiglass frames or frameless picture frames, these frames are my major option for exhibiting exceptional artwork prints and even posters. And they&rsquore a great substitute to standard photograph gallery walls.
Their hardly-there appear is airy and crisp and quite substantial touch. The ideal section is that acrylic photograph frames will function with any style of decor from conventional to vintage, to my individual preferred – world wide bohemian stylish.
But have you ever checked the selling price of acrylic picture frames??? That stunning floating frame in the picture down below will established you again a good $a hundred and twenty bucks. For. A person. Body. Yikes!Yep, right after seeing related charges in other places, I realized exactly what I desired to do. I necessary to dig deep to generate a low-price, large-finish on the lookout, Do it yourself floating acrylic body. The acrylic body tutorial you are about to read is handy for any one hunting for easy, cost-effective approaches to upgrade the glimpse of their art assortment at residence.
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What You&rsquoll Want
 
 Standoffs to mount your frames
 Acrylic sheets – A single established of two for each and every frame (continue to keep reading for ideas on exactly where to obtain them)
 A huge metal tent stake or nail (Tip: I observed just one at Ace Components for $1.50)
 4 spring clamps to maintain the acrylic in position even though you perform on it
 A drill for mounting the wall hardware
Wherever to Buy Acrylic Sheets to Make the Floating Frames
 
 
To my surprise, I found a number of sites exactly where I could buy acrylic sheets and even acrylic body kits. For occasion, I found these ready-produced acrylic frame kits on Etsy. However for me, the premier sizing out there was 11 x fourteen. My artwork measured 11 x 17. Because I desired a 3&rdquo acrylic border all around the artwork, I desired my frames to evaluate 14 x 20. This would assist me build the illusion of massive parts of floating art.
 
Then I discovered that Home Depot sold massive acrylic sheets much too. But $116 was extra than I wanted to expend. Moreover, I could in no way get a apparent solution on no matter whether or not Home Depot would slash the acrylic sheet into to the dimensions I needed. Eventually, I settled on Ace Hardware, in which I ordered 4 18&rdquox 24&rdquo acrylic sheets for $eleven.ninety nine every. Each individual sheet is about the identical thickness as a quarter inch piece of glass. Ace Hardware then lower the acrylic – no cost of cost – into 2 sets of frames measuring 14×20. Et voila! Full price with tax was just $fifty one.56.
 
Are the frames you will need considerably lesser? If so, the deal receives even sweeter. Just check with the Ace Hardware glass cutter if he has any still left over acrylic from past cuts that match your dimension. this website will market them to you for a portion of the authentic cost. I did that when recreating this tutorial and only invested a mere $1.50 for 4 nine x eleven sheets. Ace is surely the spot ya&rsquoll!
I know having said that that some really low-priced…ahem…frugal people today will say "But Ola, I uncovered acrylic sheets even more affordable at Pastime Foyer!". Let the customer beware nevertheless. Individuals are tremendous thin, craft quality acrylic sheets and will by no means maintain up about time.
 
Now for the standoffs. Immediately after buying a established that was way too smaller to make an impact, I settled on these fairly priced silver 1/two&rdquo x 4/5&rdquo wall mount standoff bolts. They occur twenty to a pack.
How to &ldquoDrill&rdquo the Holes for the Acrylic Image Frame
Drilling the holes to make your acrylic image frames may possibly seem like a no-brainer to you, but it can get fairly difficult. In actuality, not realizing far more about this critical action forced me to have to obtain a lot more acrylic since I ruined the to start with set. Quickly the funds for my oh-so-economical Do-it-yourself acrylic frames increased by fifty %. Ouch! Keep away from faults by paying shut attention to these recommendations.
You see, when drilling the holes for your standoffs you will have to drill extremely, incredibly bit by bit, or the acrylic will crack. I&rsquom likely to present you how to avoid that circumstance altogether. In its place of drilling the hole (like I did at initial), do the following:
DO NOT eliminate the protective plastic from the body
Mark the areas of your four holes on the 1st piece of acrylic. Use your initial piece as a template for the relaxation of the pieces to make certain the holes are all line up.
Heat the significant metallic stake or nail more than a fire
This is Significantly, considerably easier than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to keep the steel stake in spot, and to stay clear of burning by yourself.
Pierce the area for the gap
Let the melted edges of the plastic to cool. These ought to then snap suitable making a cleanse hole for your standoff.
This is A great deal, much a lot easier than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to maintain the steel stake in put, and to stay clear of burning your self.
How to Put in Your Snazzy New Floating Wall Frames
Here is the best way to put in your new frames:
Position 1 piece of prepared-to-hang acrylic sheet straight on to the wall where by it will be hung
With your other hand, use a stage to make confident the acrylic frame is straight
Your standoffs will usually arrive with anchors. I strongly advocate working with them. You don&rsquot want to wake up in the middle of the night time to discover these great thangs cracked and shattered on the floor do you? I didn&rsquot assume you did. So remember to use the anchors.
Anxious about placing too several holes in the wall? Just fasten the two leading standoffs to the wall. Then connect the standoffs to the base holes of the body, but DO NOT fasten them to the wall. No one will be the wiser. I noticed this performed at a hotel at the time and it blew me absent.
&mdash Ola
Congratulations! You&rsquove now designed THE ideal, most economical Do it yourself acrylic frames at any time. Now all you have to do is sit back and appreciate your recently established chef d&rsquooeuvre (masterpiece).
Use a pen/pencil to mark the place of the holes instantly onto the wall
Drill hole and insert anchor
Sandwich your print or picture concerning 2 items of acrylic and thread the standoff via the holes to mount