Tiki-On-A-Budget - Other Crafts

ETF Eleio the fleet Member The mountain jungles of Denver CO Joined: Mar 11, 2006 Posts: 170	ETF Eleio the fleet Posted posted on Tue, Aug 22, 2006 12:26 AM OK Folks, I've been very intrigued by this subject and compliment everyone who has contributed. In my effort to further help enhance this thread, I've put together the following "how-to" article. The project described is intended for personal use only. Your feedback is more than welcome. So you've spent all your cash on creating some decent tiki decor, but (gasp) you realize that you have no exotic art. I’ve been there, so here is how I made some decent framed tiki art for very little $. Project: Cheap Bamboo Framed Tiki Art The breakdown: Supplies/Cost/Suggestion on where to find SUPPLIES -A decent cutting tool or saw/$15-25/local hardware store-Target, etc. Since I have very limited space and need a little flexibility in my cutting, I use a hand held jigsaw to answer most of my basic cutting needs. Cost per project: Hard to say since a good saw can do several various projects and should be purchased for more than just this one. I’ll assign a cost of $.50 per frame (this includes blade wear). -Low melt glue gun/$5-$7(glue sticks generally run an additional $1-$2 for a pack of 2 doz.)/local craft store. Cost per project: For the same reasons as the saw, I’ll assign a cost of $.25 per frame. -Picture Wire/$5 (one spool can be used for dozens of these small frames)/local hardware store. I prefer picture wire over cord or twine for hanging items, because I feel it can be more forgiving. Cost per project: The wire can be used for several frames, but isn’t as universal as the saw and the glue gun. I’ll assign a cost of $.50 per frame -Sticky Back EVA Sheet/$1 for a 9” x 12” sheet/Hobby Lobby. I’ve found that this foam works very well as a cheap method of backing photos. For ametures, glue spray can damage the art or adhere unevenly, which can create very noticeable air bubbles. Cost per project: $1 -8’ length of ½” bamboo pole/$2-$3/Cost Plus or another import store. Depending on the dimension of the art you intend to use, one pole can be used to make 2-3 frames Cost per project: $1 -Tiki Art/I purchased Shag’s Tiki Drinks at Half.com for $5/Besides the art on the drink cards, some art can be accessed on the web or you could even use tiki magazine and album covers. Cost per project: $.10 -A good scanner-printer or access to cheap color copies/copy stores generally make color copies for $1 each. Cost per project: $1 -A razor blade-box cutter-penknife/$1/Hobby Store. Used to trim the photo, backing or mounting foam and excess glue. Cost per project: $.10 Estimated cost per project: $4.45 CONSTRUCTION Now that you have your supplies, here’s what to do: First, understand that the size of your framed art is largely dependent on the dimensions of the size of print you can produce. For Cheap Tiki purposes, I’m assuming that you don’t have the $ to buy a full sized print. My printer will create 8 ½” x 14” images, so that’s my limit, minus about ¼” inch around the perimeter (explained later). Not the best for a single, stand alone piece, but because of this limitation, I’ve had very positive results with creative groupings of 2-3 framed pieces. 1.Get your art. Web images tend to pixilate if you blow them up large enough to print, so I generally use art that I can scan and print. 2.Mount the art to the backing foam. Apply the photo slowly onto the sticky back foam and use your hand or something flat to ensure the whole image is adhered to the foam. Air bubbles are not your friend! After the picture has been mounted to the foam, use a razor blade or penknife to cut off all but ¼”-½” of the excess foam. 3.Cut your bamboo. I chose to make my frames out of fully round bamboo, but you can certainly split it if you want. I just wanted a more primitive look. Also, for that primitive look again, I didn’t cut my frame pieces at angles. If you plan to do similar, make sure to factor in the width of the bamboo when deciding the length of the frame pieces. Anyway, I simply marked my cutting points, secured the pole with a “C” clamp (not too tight or the pole with split) and used my jigsaw. One thing to mention is that I held the piece being cut off and pulled it a little towards me (not enough to pinch the blade) just before the blade completed the cut. The cut was always cleaner as a result. *Image on card-scanned print-print on trimmed sticky foam w/partial frame placement 4.Lay the frame out. Place your foam mounted picture on a flat surface and place your frame pieces out accordingly. Try not to get the exposed sticky back too dirty, you’ll need that adhesion later. Make sure to lay the bamboo out so that it hides any of the backing foam. Mark and trim the bamboo, as needed. 5.Glue the frame together. Don’t skimp and don’t let the glue cool too much before attaching the frame pieces. If you don’t achieve a good bond at this point, the weight of the frame will slowly pull itself apart and you’ll have to re-glue a part or all of the frame again. After cooling, carefully trim off any visible glue, with a razor blade (your fingernail is sometimes best for this). 6.Frame your art. Lay the frame down over the art, so that none of the backing is visible, and gently press it down so that it adheres to the sticky mount. Turn the framed art over and press the foam directly to the frame and trim off any backing that can be seen from the front. I would also suggest running a very thin bead of hot glue along the outer edge of the backing. The mount looses some of it’s stickiness over time and sometimes separates from the frame. The glue seemed to address that problem. 7.You’re almost there. Now you need some method of hanging your art. While the frame is still flat and with the back facing up, take a small length of the picture hanging wire, making curls on each end, and glue the curls to the foam mount (curled wire doesn’t slip out of the cooled glue). When positioning the wire, keep in mind that you want a certain amount of bend in the middle for the nail. I’ve found that hot glue bonds very well with this type of foam and recommend this method for these art pieces, so long as the overall size of the frame doesn’t exceed 8 ½” x 14”. You’re done! Now hang your new tiki art and enjoy! -I made several of these framed pieces for my home, over a year ago, and though I've had to re-glue a few corners, most of my frames have held together very well and the art still looks good. [ Edited by: Eleio the fleet 2006-08-22 00:40 ] [ Edited by: Eleio the fleet 2006-08-22 08:39 ]

OK Folks,

I've been very intrigued by this subject and compliment everyone who has contributed. In my effort to further help enhance this thread, I've put together the following "how-to" article. The project described is intended for personal use only. Your feedback is more than welcome.

So you've spent all your cash on creating some decent tiki decor, but (gasp) you realize that you have no exotic art.

I’ve been there, so here is how I made some decent framed tiki art for very little $.

Project: Cheap Bamboo Framed Tiki Art

The breakdown: Supplies/Cost/Suggestion on where to find

SUPPLIES

-A decent cutting tool or saw/$15-25/local hardware store-Target, etc. Since I have very limited space and need a little flexibility in my cutting, I use a hand held jigsaw to answer most of my basic cutting needs.
Cost per project: Hard to say since a good saw can do several various projects and should be purchased for more than just this one. I’ll assign a cost of $.50 per frame (this includes blade wear).

-Low melt glue gun/$5-$7(glue sticks generally run an additional $1-$2 for a pack of 2 doz.)/local craft store. Cost per project: For the same reasons as the saw, I’ll assign a cost of $.25 per frame.

-Picture Wire/$5 (one spool can be used for dozens of these small frames)/local hardware store. I prefer picture wire over cord or twine for hanging items, because I feel it can be more forgiving.
Cost per project: The wire can be used for several frames, but isn’t as universal as the saw and the glue gun. I’ll assign a cost of $.50 per frame

-Sticky Back EVA Sheet/$1 for a 9” x 12” sheet/Hobby Lobby. I’ve found that this foam works very well as a cheap method of backing photos. For ametures, glue spray can damage the art or adhere unevenly, which can create very noticeable air bubbles.
Cost per project: $1

-8’ length of ½” bamboo pole/$2-$3/Cost Plus or another import store. Depending on the dimension of the art you intend to use, one pole can be used to make 2-3 frames
Cost per project: $1

-Tiki Art/I purchased Shag’s Tiki Drinks at Half.com for $5/Besides the art on the drink cards, some art can be accessed on the web or you could even use tiki magazine and album covers.
Cost per project: $.10

-A good scanner-printer or access to cheap color copies/copy stores generally make color copies for $1 each.
Cost per project: $1

-A razor blade-box cutter-penknife/$1/Hobby Store. Used to trim the photo, backing or mounting foam and excess glue.
Cost per project: $.10

Estimated cost per project: $4.45

CONSTRUCTION

Now that you have your supplies, here’s what to do:

First, understand that the size of your framed art is largely dependent on the dimensions of the size of print you can produce. For Cheap Tiki purposes, I’m assuming that you don’t have the $ to buy a full sized print. My printer will create 8 ½” x 14” images, so that’s my limit, minus about ¼” inch around the perimeter (explained later). Not the best for a single, stand alone piece, but because of this limitation, I’ve had very positive results with creative groupings of 2-3 framed pieces.

1.Get your art. Web images tend to pixilate if you blow them up large enough to print, so I generally use art that I can scan and print.

2.Mount the art to the backing foam. Apply the photo slowly onto the sticky back foam and use your hand or something flat to ensure the whole image is adhered to the foam. Air bubbles are not your friend! After the picture has been mounted to the foam, use a razor blade or penknife to cut off all but ¼”-½” of the excess foam.

3.Cut your bamboo. I chose to make my frames out of fully round bamboo, but you can certainly split it if you want. I just wanted a more primitive look. Also, for that primitive look again, I didn’t cut my frame pieces at angles. If you plan to do similar, make sure to factor in the width of the bamboo when deciding the length of the frame pieces. Anyway, I simply marked my cutting points, secured the pole with a “C” clamp (not too tight or the pole with split) and used my jigsaw. One thing to mention is that I held the piece being cut off and pulled it a little towards me (not enough to pinch the blade) just before the blade completed the cut. The cut was always cleaner as a result.

*Image on card-scanned print-print on trimmed sticky foam w/partial frame placement

4.Lay the frame out. Place your foam mounted picture on a flat surface and place your frame pieces out accordingly. Try not to get the exposed sticky back too dirty, you’ll need that adhesion later. Make sure to lay the bamboo out so that it hides any of the backing foam. Mark and trim the bamboo, as needed.

5.Glue the frame together. Don’t skimp and don’t let the glue cool too much before attaching the frame pieces. If you don’t achieve a good bond at this point, the weight of the frame will slowly pull itself apart and you’ll have to re-glue a part or all of the frame again. After cooling, carefully trim off any visible glue, with a razor blade (your fingernail is sometimes best for this).

6.Frame your art. Lay the frame down over the art, so that none of the backing is visible, and gently press it down so that it adheres to the sticky mount. Turn the framed art over and press the foam directly to the frame and trim off any backing that can be seen from the front. I would also suggest running a very thin bead of hot glue along the outer edge of the backing. The mount looses some of it’s stickiness over time and sometimes separates from the frame. The glue seemed to address that problem.

7.You’re almost there. Now you need some method of hanging your art. While the frame is still flat and with the back facing up, take a small length of the picture hanging wire, making curls on each end, and glue the curls to the foam mount (curled wire doesn’t slip out of the cooled glue). When positioning the wire, keep in mind that you want a certain amount of bend in the middle for the nail. I’ve found that hot glue bonds very well with this type of foam and recommend this method for these art pieces, so long as the overall size of the frame doesn’t exceed 8 ½” x 14”.

You’re done! Now hang your new tiki art and enjoy!

-I made several of these framed pieces for my home, over a year ago, and though I've had to re-glue a few corners, most of my frames have held together very well and the art still looks good.

[ Edited by: Eleio the fleet 2006-08-22 00:40 ]

[ Edited by: Eleio the fleet 2006-08-22 08:39 ]

Post #250147 by Eleio the fleet on Tue, Aug 22, 2006 12:26 AM