How do you frame art?

I've got six prints, of different sizes, that I would like to frame. By frame, I mean absolutely minimial--as cheap as normal looking as possible. (I'm thinking black metal, with white matting.) I'd like to do this myself, with an end result something cheap, nice looking, and tasteful.

Basically, I had hung this stuff on the wall in college with sticky-tabs, but want a frame around em now that I'm edshucated

Two things:

(1) How can I do this?
(2) How much would it cost?

I don't want to spend $100 to frame a $20 print. I'm happy to do legwork myself to cut matting, etc.

But where do I go?

(I've been looking all over for a good answer to this--in vain...)

Price varied from as little as $20 to as much as $50 per print to frame. For the frame itself, I got one of those do-it-yourself kind that you buy in pieces (for example, if your print is 16x20, you'd buy a package of two 16" pieces and a package of two 20" pieces). They're easy to assemble. For the glass (and I actually use plexiglass, as I'm in earthquake country), go to your local hardware store and ask them to cut it to size for you--nothing fancy, 1/8" thick standard glass or plexiglass. If you opt for glass, ask them to sand the edges for you so you don't cut yourself putting the thing together.

For backing and mat, you can get the stuff at your local hobby store (Michael's, Aaron Brothers, etc.)--they have the frames, too. Get 1/4" foam core cut to size to go behind your print. If you want, you can use spray adhesive to mount the print to the foam core, but you don't have to do that. The mat they'll usually cut for you at a reasonable price--that's the one thing I won't try myself, because it takes a high quality mat cutter to get that nice beveled edge.

Take the materials home, and you'll have it put together in a snap. And don't forget the handyman's mantra--measure twice, cut once (especially on the stuff you're having cut to size).

I was thinking about buying oversized frames--not hugely oversized, but just larger than the print--and simply matting out the space betwixt the print and the frame.

Does that make sense?

A nice, wide mat can be a lovely and dramatic touch. Just figure out how much extra you want to add to the overall dimensions of the print, and go from there...just buy the frame, glass, foam core (and mat, obviously) in the larger size.

Office Depot. Measure your posters so you know what you need. I hav done aout ten posters for about 150 bucks....the frames arent too expensive.

I'm not sure the poster frames would work.... which sucks

I think that's how I stumbled on to those, in fact. I have an unusually shaped (horizontally very wide, approx. 42 wide by 12 tall) print over my bed, and it was either buy the frame in pieces, or pay through the wazoo to have it professionally done.

you can get very nice frames at thrift shops and garage sales. they will only cost a couple of bucks, and may already have glass and backing. i bought a bunch of frames for 50 cents each this summer at a yard sale.

but so are schlock shops like Jembro.

I got some glitter Elvis framed prints for under 10 bucks and used the frames. Cheaper than the sectional frames plus cut glass in the art or hardware stores.

You can make frames cheaply and easily if you've got some wood and basic tools.

You could start from scratch with a 2x4 if you've got the right tools, but a strip of molding from Home Despot or a lumber yard can be cut into pieces for a frame. Neatly cut it with 45 degree corners and glue it together. Small brads or construction staples in the corners give it more strength, but there are better ways if you've got stuff like a router or biscuit joiner.

Glass can be cut to size by any hardware store or home center. Cutting glass is actually pretty easy if you have any lying around or scrounged.

Cutting clear plastic as almost as easy as cutting glass, and is done somewhat the same way.