Awkward Disney poster help

[crocko]

Okay, in December, my wife and I bought a really cool poster at the art store in Epcot. It is a long poster that features a whole bunch of Disney characters from lots of movies, Pixar movies, and even some characters specifically from rides.

It is too nice of a poster to just stick some tacks in and hang on the wall.
We really want to frame it, but are having trouble. Unfortunately, it is a 14" x 34" poster. Too big for a 11 1/2 x 36 frame and small enough to get engulfed by a 24 x 36 frame.

We went to Michael's to look at custom framing......to get the cheapest style frame, even with their 50% off deal going on right now, it would cost us $100+tax to frame this poster....which only cost $20-$25 to buy.


So...would love to get some cool/budget-minded ideas on how to frame this poster.
Thanks!

 

[msmayor]

Honestly? Spend the money at Michael's and get it framed. There is something about a good professional framing job that immediately elevates the look of a piece and makes it a fine piece of art.

I'd have them dry mount it on foam core and then have it framed in either silver or gold metal...the simpler the better, just to give it a rigid finished edge.

 

[crocko]

I understand that....but I'm sorry....I have a problem with spending $100 to frame a $20 item. (that's just my personal mindset)

 

[RachaelA]

If its that nice of a poster that you won't put tacks into it to put it on the wall then I would think it would be worth the money to frame it.

If it doesn't fit any normal frame sizes custom framing is probably the only option.

You could see if you could order a custom frame online?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Do you drive to WDW when you go? If so, I'd get a standard 24 x 36 frame and have a mat cut to fit the poster. Bring the mat to WDW on your next trip and have it signed by the characters. It might be a bit hard to carry around, so I'd bring it to a character meal (preferably at a resort) rather than lug it around all day.

Alternatively, I'd pay to have it framed. Sometimes local shops can offer some cheaper alternatives that Michael's might not suggest.

Also, I think you can just have it dry mounted without framing it.

 

[Karenj2]

What about buying the larger standard sized frame, then buying the matte material and having a large matte around it? (is it horizontal or vertical?)

If it's horizontal - it could work nicely; put 8" on the top, 12" on the bottom (then 2" on either side). If you're going to WDW any time soon, you could see about getting the matte signed with the various characters from the poster.

(I did that for our 5th anniversary - I asked the hotel if it'd be possible to mail down a collage matte for my anniversary, and they got all the "couples" to sign it for me!)

 

[pumpkinfish]

LOVE the idea of getting the mat signed by the characters .

 

[hopemax]

Do you drive to WDW when you go? If so, I'd get a standard 24 x 36 frame and have a mat cut to fit the poster. Bring the mat to WDW on your next trip and have it signed by the characters. It might be a bit hard to carry around, so I'd bring it to a character meal (preferably at a resort) rather than lug it around all day.

Alternatively, I'd pay to have it framed. Sometimes local shops can offer some cheaper alternatives that Michael's might not suggest.

Also, I think you can just have it dry mounted without framing it.

This was what I was going to suggest...A custom mat in a standard frame. The autographs is a great idea. You could also in the space not taken up by the poster you could make a space for a Disney quote, or maybe your favorite snapshots. I graphed things out, and seems like you could do a row of 3x5 or 4x6 photos under the poster.

Also, Michaels, I think, sells metal frame pieces that you buy in segments and then put together to make different size frames than standard. I use these for my cross-stitch, since I don't need them under glass. I don't know if they go up to 34" but they might. But then you could price a piece of glass or acrylic to fit the frame.

 

[akcire]

There are online companies that make frames, which you can assemble at home, I have never done it but am thinking about it for some Disney stuff.

The other thing I would try is IKEA if you have on near you, sometimes they have odd ball sizes in frames.

Good Luck

 

[tonilea]

You might look at having a frame made at your local school - maybe woodshop? Materials + a modest donation?

 

[purpletiger]

Maybe try buying a bigger frame on the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby then taking it apart, cut to size, adding a matte and then remaking the frame...AKA custom frame at about 1/4 of the cost or less.

The reason why I suggested Hobby Lobby is they have the wooden frames that can easily be taken apart and put back together. If you don't like the color of the frame trying painting it the color you want or attaching "disney" trinkets around the frame to further customize it.

 

[TifffanyD]

You can go to home depot and get some molding and cut it with a miter box. I hear sometimes they even have miter boxes in store. You will ahve to assemble, paint, and find some backing (cardboard) and front cover (plexiglass?) for it. It will take a lot of work on your end to do this though.

Other options are to buy a standard size frame but get a personal sized mat cut. That would be a lot cheaper.

 

[labdogs42]

How much is your time worth? I'd buy the $100 frame. That's actually a decent price for custom framing.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Hobby Lobby has precut frame pieces that can be purchased to fit your poster. We've done this with several Toy Story posters for my son's room. Each section costs around $10, if I'm remembering correctly, and Hobby Lobby will cut glass to fit your frame measurements.

 

[loser1824]

Do you have an AC Moore near you? They sometimes run special frames deals. I have never done a custom job there so I don't know how much they run, but I can buy a really nice frame there on sale for 11 bucks sometimes and that includes the matting.

The other thing you could do is go to a poster shop and maybe the have some suggestions. Or maybe to a TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Big Lots, etc. and see if they have any paintings/posters already framed cheap/clearance that you can use to swap with your poster.

Good Luck!

Oh and you should post a picture of it when it is done. I think the poster sounds really neat!

 

[minnie1928]

Personally, I'd get it framed but NOT at Michaels. I have a Pooh's Garden poster that I bought at Art of Disney a few years ago and took it to Michaels to get a custom mat and framing done. They did the work and it looked great. A year or so later, in the middle of the night, the frame came crashing down and significantly chipped the frame. Turns out the screw they used could not handle the weight of the frame. I had the receipt, the Michael's sticker on the back and went back to the store for them to repair/replace the frame. They refused!! I stood there and very politely argued my case, then I asked for the manager. I argued my case to her as well. She said the best she could do was offer me 50% off the cost of a new frame job....it was the same special available to everyone that walked into the store that week!!

I haven't been back to the store since, for framing or otherwise!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I was also going to ask if you have an AC Moore, because they have a better selection of poster size frames, than any of the other craft stores. I have always been able to find more odd size frames there when I couldn't find one at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. And there are usually coupons available to AC Moore on the internet usually for 40% off.

Suzanne