Let’s make a floating frame. I tried a simple, low-cost frame hack that anyone can do with a few basic supplies or for just a few dollars if you need to buy them. If you like the look of a floating glass frame but don’t want to spend $20 or more, you can probably convert an old frame you already own into one.
I began by coloring a printable I’d mentioned in an earlier post. I printed it on card stock at home and colored it with regular colored pencils.
At first I considered buying large paper to use as a mat or backing, but then I wondered: what if I let the artwork float behind the glass? I liked the effect I’d seen in store-bought floating frames and thought I could recreate it from a frame I already owned.
Rather than hunting for another floating frame, I disassembled my existing frame and examined how it was built. I realized that if I removed the backing, added a hanger to the top, and secured the glass to the frame while attaching the art directly to the glass, I could achieve the floating look. I gathered a few simple materials and got to work.
Material #1: A sawtooth hanging bracket. I nailed it into the top of the wood frame, making sure it was centered so the frame would hang straight. These small hangers are inexpensive and usually sold in packs.
Material #2: Super glue. I used a thin bead of glue around the outer lip of the frame and then set the glass onto that lip so it would adhere. This step secures the glass in place while keeping the front appearance clean—the glue line sits on the inner lip and isn’t visible from the front. Note: this doesn’t prevent you from cleaning the glass; you can lift the frame off the wall and wipe the back of the glass if needed.
Material #3: Nothing else—you’re done.
Once the glue dried, I had a floating glass frame. To attach the printable, I used clear scotch tape on the back of the artwork. I applied a very thin strip along the top edge and another along the bottom edge so the paper just met the glass at those points. Because the tape was such a narrow sliver, it wasn’t noticeable from the front, even up close, and the print stayed flat and centered.
If the tape had been obvious, my backup plan was to use a light spray adhesive on the front of the print and carefully press it to the back of the glass. I would only use that method on inexpensive or replaceable prints, not on anything valuable or irreplaceable.
This hack works well for casual prints and inexpensive artwork, but I recommend avoiding it for highly valuable pieces for two reasons:
- There’s no backing panel protecting the artwork from the rear. The piece sits backless behind the glass, so it isn’t sandwiched between backing and glass the way it would be in a traditional frame.
- The attachment method uses tape on the back of the artwork, which isn’t the conservation-safe approach recommended for valuable or one-of-a-kind items.
For homemade printables and colored cards, though, this floating-frame conversion is a great, affordable option. It gives an elegant, airy presentation and makes use of frames you already have. We ended up adding a couple of floating glass frames among the many traditional frames in the house, and they make a nice visual change. Have you modified a frame or wall decor item to give it new life? Share your frame-hacks and creative tweaks.