What to Frame for Mother's Day and How to Frame It

With Mother's Day less than a month away, it's time to start nailing down some gift ideas. When deciding on what to give, we think the 'how' is just as important as the 'what,' so we're offering up a bit of both. With custom framed gifts, there are countless ways to frame a photo, print, or precious keepsake, which is why we've put together a little collection of ideas on what to frame, as well as inspiration for unique and beautiful ways to frame them.

Something Personalized

If you want to make someone feel really special, try adding an extra little personal touch to a gift. One easy way to do this is to add your own note or inscription to your framed item. There are a couple ways to go about this, depending on the look you're going for. The first option is to put the inscription directly on the mat, for an elegant, hand-written effect. Though this only takes a few minutes to customize, it gives the impression of something well-planned and lovingly customized.

The second option is to create a separate, smaller mat window for a printed message. This works well if you have a caption that's a bit longer, or in a different font style for an extra custom aesthetic. If you're interested in incorporating either of these options into your custom frame, let us know via chat or leave us a note in the 'Special Instructions' field when you place your order, and we will coordinate everything for you!

What to Frame This Way:

There's really no way to go wrong with this one, since this type of personalization is like icing on the cake of an already great gift. Pick a favorite photo of you and your mom, whether it's recent or from way back when, and use the inscription on the mat to memorialize the date or to add a short and sweet caption. No matter what you choose to frame, a thoughtful personalized message is always a welcome addition.

Something Sandwiched

Image source: Pinterest (top)

If you're looking for something a little more outside the box, an acrylic sandwich frame might be the perfect thing. This is when your photo or artwork is mounted between two sheets of framer's grade acrylic glaze, then framed in your choice of profile. With this technique, there are no backing boards, and instead the clear acrylic acts as your border. The result is a window-like effect--pretty, whimsical, and perfect for Mother's Day!

If you prefer the look of a more traditionally framed photo or print, but still want something double-sided, you can leave a border around your image or frame full-bleed (like in the second and third photos above), so that there's no clear border.

This type of frame will require a custom order, which we can set up quickly and easily for you!

What to Frame This Way:

Acrylic sandwich frames are a great way to show off your artwork or photo in its entirety, and a great for choice for something with deckled edges or anything you don't want to hide under a mat. Also, if you're looking to frame something double-sided, like a postcard or a handwritten letter, this technique will allow both sides to remain visible inside the frame. One of our favorite ways to display acrylic sandwich frames is to lean them on a shelf, since hanging wire on the back can be visible when hung on a wall.

Something in a Set

Image source: Etsy, Pinterest

Who says you have to settle on just a single gift? Maybe you've found a set of themed prints you know your mom would love, or maybe one frame isn't enough to hold all the photos you've picked out. No matter what, there's something to be said for a gift whose parts can be arranged into a fun gallery wall, big or small.

If you're trying to keep your budget to a minimum, or aren't sure how much free wall space your mom has at home, we suggest two to four small frames to start. These can still be a great start to a larger collection, or the perfect thing to fill a small empty spot in a home that's been lived in for years and whose wall space is limited.

If you'd like to upload a photo to frame, you can print and frame it here. If you already have your artwork in-hand, and just need the frames, enter your artwork dimensions to get started.

What to Frame This Way:

Anything! If you go with portraits, they can be turned into the beginnings of a stairway gallery wall. Print sets, like the ones above, can be hung in a grid or linear formation anywhere in the house to really pull a room together and give your mom a daily visual reminder of how much she's loved.

Something Floated

Image source: Level Frames Instagram, Level Frames Instagram

Float mounting is a great way to show off the special characteristics of whatever you're framing, since nothing gets covered by a mat, but you still get the aesthetic benefit of the border. There are two ways to go about floating your photos or artwork: Sandwich Floating, which is where your art is mounted directly on top of an uncut mat, and Bevel Floating, when your artwork is dry mounted onto a piece of archival backing board then floated on top of an uncut mat, resulting in an eye-catching shadow effect, like your artwork is hovering magically above a sea of white.

Just let us know which treatment you prefer to get started!

What to Frame This Way:

Original art pieces, anything with interesting texture or rough edges, make great candidates for float mounting. Colorful children's artwork shouldn't be counted out either! When custom framed, it can also make for trendy (and sentimental) addition to your dear mother's home.

We hope this post has left you well equipped to choose the perfect custom framed gift this Mother's Day. If you have any questions about the techniques mentioned above, need help choosing a frame, or would like some specific advice on your framing project, feel free to reach out to us via the blue chat bubble icon at the bottom right of your screen!