Creative people, I need advice please (framing)

[Catch22Dem]

I have several very old restaurant menus from New Orleans. I'm doing a jazz/NOLA theme in our bedroom and I'd love some advice on how to frame these menus? I have no experience with framing, but I thought maybe a shadow box with the menu and some forks/knives/napkins or something. I'm conflicted because I'd like to be able to display both the cover of the menus (some are ornate) and the insides too. Some are entirely in French. Some have lobster for $2.49 HAHAHA. I just really want to put these on display. Any ideas?

[crim son]

1. No ideas whatsoever, but I love your idea.

Somebody here ought to be able to help you, so Kick!

[wildhorses]

2. sounds more like a theme for a dining room or a kitchen

do you want to put everything together? or can you separate things and then combine to make one wall of art?

[Catch22Dem]

3. Not sure I fully understand what you mean

But I'm interested. A little more detail?

[wildhorses]

4. do you want to create only one shadow box?

or could you possibly frame things separately and make a group arrangement to hang either on one wall or all around the room?

[Catch22Dem]

5. Oh, I understand now

Individual pieces. Each menu on its own. I wasn't going to put them all together. I'm not committed to shadow boxes either, I just can't think of anything. My kitchen is done in a "wine" theme, and I don't have a separate dining room. The menus are cool, and I'm not really trying to focus on the "food" aspect, rather the New Orleans thing instead. So, with all my other NOLA/Jazz stuff in the bedroom, I'd like to incorporate these menus as a New Orleans piece, not really a food piece. So, having said that, adding the silverware/napkins wouldn't be a good idea would it?

[wildhorses]

6. yeah, that's what i'm thinking

do away with the 3 dimensional stuff and just go with the menus/jazz stuff.

i would frame the really fancy ones to show off the fancy detail...

but, the one with lobster for 2.59 :wow:

i would frame it open FOR SURE;)


sounds like you are off to a good start now

good luck and maybe you could post some pix when you are finished

would love to see how it turns out:loveya:

[sandnsea]

7. Rail type shelves

Have you seen that, or do you want me to get pics? A thin piece of wood, with a little lip, and then you sit framed pictures on them. You could buy clear flat acrylic frames so the frame wouldn't distract from the menu. Or if they're big and thick, they might sit up there without a frame. Or you could get a bigger shelf, and sit the menus up in back the way you might do art. Sounds like a cool room.

[Catch22Dem]

10. Interesting idea

I'll look into it.

[GenDem]

8. If you go with framing them individually

I would have them matted. Choose a color that will compliment both the menus and your decor. I go to a great online frame place that has a fabulous selection of VERY affordable frames (cut in chops or put together in any size to the 32nd of an inch) and they will also custom cut a matt. You will have to do a little bit of measuring and decide on how much matt you want to show...and your frame will be the size of the outside dimensions of your matt.

I don't know if this is allowed but the company is - framefit.com.

They have woods and metals from very simple to elegant. They send all of the hardware to put the frames together. I use them all the time and have for years. The frames arrive, usually, three days after I place the order.

[Catch22Dem]

11. Oooh, thanks for the link

I'm sure the mods will have no problem with posting it. It's not as though its a competing site, and you're not trying to sell anything. I think that's perfectly within the rules, and I really appreciate it. Checking it out right now.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Some thoughts--three ideas

1. Instead of using the menus as wall art, you may want to consider displaying these as tabletop art by placing in a box frame within a box frame, using glass for both sides on the inner frame, and attaching to the outer frame top and bottom with swivel hinges usually found at most hardware stores. Add a stationary base for stability, and you can display the menus with the colors or words that fit your room design as needed.

2. To display both sides of menu as wall art, you could place them in between two pieces of plexiglass: Plexiglass, drill corner holes in both pieces, bolt together, add the a shower door type swivel hinge to the top, add a length of small gauge steel wire, attach a swivel ball joint to the top of the wire, and hang from a rod attached to the wall.

3. Use two shadow box frames: Place menus between the two glass covers held in place with a double sided matte (two mattes back to back), seal the shadow box frames back-to-back with either a good adhesive or small hinges on the sides (could even hinge one side, and add a clasp to the other side for changing out menus or changing to add other art/texture interest). Hang the menus as a side of doorway divider top to bottom using small chains attached to corners of frames.

[Catch22Dem]

12. Wow!

Very interesting. Thanks for those suggestions. See, those are not things I would have come up with on my own. :D

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Design and create

It's what I do :blush:

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. Some links for visuals to give you ideas

http://www.allposterframes.com/

http://www.gallerysystem.com/

http://www.displays2go.com/product.asp?ID=5463

Hardware:
http://www.hangups.com/map2.html