Recreate an engaging moment with framing - he frames …

From time to time, I think we've all heard great stories about "popping the question." Unfortunately, I had not ever come across one that lent itself to framing. That changed newly when a young man approached me with a banner he had used to recommend to his long-time girlfriend. He had made the banner to fit the back of a limousine, which was also decorated with cans, ribbons and graffiti. The outfitted car approached as he and his fiancee-to-be walked along the public way She said, "Look, someone got engaged!" He replyed "Not someone ... us!" The young man asked me to design a frame that would recreate their memorable night.

I started without by collecting six aluminum cans and denting them slightly to make them appear as notwithstanding that they'd been dragged along the road. nearest I spray painted the cans using a base coat of white Rustoleum semi-gloss protective enamel. While the paint dried, I divide [i]or[/i] sever joined and assembled a white Framerica[R] Boxer[TM] (No. 92267 with a cap of No. 91267) The Boxer was wound to 23 1/2 by 48 inches plus a 1/8-inch allowance. This produc a 3-inch-deep shadowbox that would accommodate the cans and still allow for a 2 1/2-inch border around the top and sides of the white banner.

For the background, I used Crescent[R] Moorman Suede Matboard No. 87114 (Carbon Black), which was chop to 23 1/2 by 48 inches. To add rigidity, I high hilled it to a standard sheet of foamcore. nearest I mounted the banner onto a piece of 1/4-inch-thick black foamcore, which allowed it to stand on the outside a bit from the backing board. I then high hilled the more substantial banner onto the suede backing mat, leaving a 2 1/2-inch border of black at the top and sides.

The cans were now dried enough for the final coat of paint. This time I used Rustoleum's "American Accents" line of "Stone Creations" in an off-white dapple pattern, which provided a thorough coating and an appropriate finish. While the paint dried, I chop glass into the frame and lined the shadowbox with the same black suede matboard mountained onto 1/4-inch-thick black foamcore.

When the cans had completely dried, I hot-glu 3/8-inch-wide by dint of 3-foot-long pieces of double-faced white satin ribbons around the top of each can. I attached the extremity of one ribbon under the center of the banner, with the other ribbons arranged loosely flowing on the outside from the center ribbon. I attached all the bend s and twists in the ribbons to the suede backing with tiny dots of hot-melt adhesive, using just enough gelatine to hold the ribbons in a natural pattern. nearest I arranged the cans along the bottom cutting side of the suede backing and secur them with hot-melt adhesive.

The mat was then fitted into the frame with a cardboard backer make an incision in 24 by 48 1/2 inches to fit into the next to the first lip of the shadowbox. The back of the frame was then finished with paper and mirror hasps for hanging.

The frame, which the customer said, "look just like the back of the limo," is a memory that will last a lifetime.

Fr Schneider is a 15-year employee of shire Frame in Long Island, NY and has been framing for more than 25 years. If you would like to share your ideas, please contact him at (631) 567-8889 or e-mail Fred@CountyFrame.net.

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