Frame help! pleaseeeeeeeeeee

[Laughin-Stitches]

I have small cross stitch I would like to do then frame them myself. I dont mind paying a pro to frame big project but just do not want to pay that sort of money for little 5x7 etc sizes.
I have been researching it on the internet and today went to town looking for a frame, came home with nothing and very confused and very dishearted to even bother picking up the project I am working on feeling whats the use if I cant frame it to give to my sister.
Every frame I looked at is no way in the world would it fit the cross stitch, foam board or/and matt and I definatly want to keep the glass.
Please any ideas where to get frames that will hold all that stuff?

[Squirrel]

Helen I use heavy non acidic cardboard to either lace or brown packing tape to it and it seems to work ok with any frame I have bought from KMart/Choice etc.

Any scrapbooking outlet should have thick cardboard - I usually buy a large piece from Riot(general craft/painting specialists) over at Carindale when ever I am there with DD and her car. Easier than carting it home on the bus then a 15 min hike home.

[Laughin-Stitches]

Thanks for your input Sally.
Did you use a matt border/frame around the picture or just have it up against the glass?
I saw the cardboard you are talking about today in Lincraft, think I will have to go with it and lace it and forget about the foam board.
The frames I looked at were in Big W, just looked like they wouldnt hold all that bulk, maybe Im judging way wrong.
The bus vision gave me a giggle

[Athalie]

In newcastle we have a large store (it's name won't come to mind at the moment but it seems to have lots of branches around Australia)where they sell framed prints, posters, etc, and they have a good selection of extra deep frames for what is needed for cross stitch. If you Google there are also some on line stores where you can buy framing supplies. I used one of these a few years back and was extremely satisfied with their service.

[MaggieM1750]

Someone on here once said to look at art stores for frames. Ones that will acomodate a painters canvas.
I've kept that little bit tucked in the back of my brain for the next time I frame a piece. So thank you whoever it was that gave that tip.

[wwdiva]

A tip I read here was to check out your local thrift stores.
I did and the other day I picked up 6, 5x7 new frames for a total of $3
Give that a try, along with a matte from a local craft store will keep the costs down.
Cheers

[crosstitcher1]

I have done my own framing for about 10 years now, as I was buying the pro's and their prices were getting a little to stiff for me.
The thrift stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and we have a local help center, that helps people in disasters in our local area, flea markets, and yard sales, my best source, are always good sources. I also buy at Wally World, I won't do K-Mart as our store is full of Martha Stewart and they have her high as much as the pro's do.
And always take a measuring tape with you, as in some of those places, they might have the frame sizes marked wrong. I know. I thought, in the 7 In Loving Memory Remembrances I had finished last year, that all the frames I had gotten, were 11" x 14"'s, some were and some weren't. Didn't noticed til I started to frame them. Some were 10" x 13"'s. I had to cut down the mounting boards to size, no easy task til I found a mat cutting board at Micheal's a few years ago.
My rule of thumb is, when you check the back, and the thrift stores don't mind you doing it, is to take out the backing, and lay it down on a flat surface, I usually just bend to the floor, and take my thumb and put it along the side and if the thumb is down to where the top thumbnail arch, that's what I call the area from side to side of the thumbnail, rests comfortably in the frame, there is enough space for, mounting board, project, glass and the back of the frame. I don't use foam mounting boards.
I was using those glaze window triangles, to fasten project in frame then covering the back with black paper, bought at my hobby store, that they use in their framing, but that got to be a pain in putting them in. Now I use double sided sticking tape, found in the scrapbook area, and put 1/2" inside the sides and top, then stretch the fabric taunt, going from left, right, top and bottom. while the project is laying in frame.
You will get the hang of doing your own framing, and taking pride in knowing you can do it, once you settle into a system that works for you.


HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

[Laughin-Stitches]

A big massive thank you to everyone for your help! Im feeling alot better about it all today, amazing what a nights sleep will do and waking to read lots of helpful hints, plus this morning I found a photo frame in my craft room stash and its nice and deep and I feel will fit everything nicely, now seeing that one and looking back at the ones yesterday at Big W they wouldnt of fitted everything, so glad I didnt buy one.
Guess what? the sticker on the frame I just found is from Lincraft hahaha I didnt even think to look for frames while I was there yesterday haha.
Do you all just put it against the glass? or use a frame/border (not sure what this is called) first to keep it off the glass??

[Squirrel]

It depends a lot on the time factor for me Helen whether i just set it against the glass or take the finished stitching with me to Riot or KMart etc (only Lincraft I can get to is in the Queen St Mall - central city) to choose a suitable matt. Sometimes your local framers will cut you a nice matt or again the charity shops supply of pictures can sometimes have just the right matt.

Good luck.

[Laughin-Stitches]

Thanks for that Sally, I asked the lady at Lincraft yesterday and she said they didnt sell them.
I will see how I go now armed with all this new info.
Now to get back to stitching the project
Thanks everyone!
Love this forum!