DIY Network

Framing Children's Memorabilia: Assembly Spacers and acid-free tape help to protect your child's framed artwork. From "Get Framed" episode DGFR-102

In this project Shahnaz LaCaze, host of DIY's Get Framed shows her student Julie Ward how to create a color-coordinated trio of frames that turns a blank wall into an artist gallery for a child's room.

Now that the frames have been painted, then next phase of this project is to work on what will go inside the frame. Expert framer Shahnaz LaCaze shows us how to take extra special care of your child's artwork.

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Materials:

acid free tape
masking tape
smaller artwork
mat board or construction paper (18x24" size)
tape measure
turn buttons & screws
screw driver
pre-cut acrylic (Plexiglas®), cut to 24-1/8" by 17-7/8"
painted spacers
wood glue

	Figure A
	Figure B

Steps:

• The first step is to create rip-proof buffers in order to attach artwork without damage. Place a small strip of acid free tape in the four corners on the back of the picture. This will act as a buffer to prevent tearing the artwork when it is time to switch it out (figure A).

  Important: Any tape directly touching your image should always be acid free tape. Other kinds of tape have properties that can damage your artwork.

• Now that the buffers are in place, regular household masking tape can be used to attach the artwork to the foam core. Roll four small pieces of masking tape.

• Place on top of the acid free tape and then attach it to the foam core so the masking tape doesn't touch the image (figure B).

  Note: The acid free tape can remain on your artwork forever because it won't harm it. Don't try to remove it or you could cause damage

• Tip: Your child's artwork may also come in smaller sizes like 8-1/2 x11" sheets of paper. You can create a simple mat background to display smaller artwork by cutting construction paper or mat board to 18x24" size, and then centering the smaller artwork on top of the background before placing into frame.
  

  	Figure C
  	Figure D

• Fitting the piece to the frame. Once the frames are dry, the artwork is attached to the foam core backing, and our turn-buttons are attached, we put it all together. Assembling the pieces is called 'fitting the piece to the frame.' First, insert the Plexiglas.

• Next, insert spacers by applying wood glue to the flat, unpainted side of your spacers and attaching each spacer to the inside walls of your frame, flush with Plexiglas (figure C).

  Important: Be sure to insert the long spacers before the short ones. (Whichever spacers you cut first must be inserted first). These spacers will serve to keep the artwork away from the Plexiglas.

• Next, insert foam board (with the artwork attached) into the frame, face down.

  Tip: Make sure the foam core backing is flush with the frame. If not, you can add another piece of foam core to fill in the gap.

• Add turn-buttons to the back of frame. Most ready made frames come with bendable nails to hold in the artwork. However, adding turn buttons makes it easier to replace the work and is a custom framing touch. Turn buttons and screws can be purchased at any art store. Simply screw in two turn-buttons per side to the back of the wood frame. Then, close the turn-buttons to secure your foam core backing (figure D).