By Paul Dunwell, writing for EasyFrame
© Copyright EasyFrame 2018
What this article is about
We all buy, give and receive a lot of ephemeral tat at Christmas, much of it expensive. But some of the most endearing gifts are truly personal, often inexpensive, and framed. This article looks at ideas anyone can create in the run-up to December 25th and beyond. Many of them are thrifty.
Standardise your frames and use the redundant ones
If you finally decide to put your family photos into a standard set of frames, why throw the old ones away when they could become seasonal decorations? These wintry creations take a little thought, some gold and silver spray, tinsel, cones, old tree baubles and ribbon. Even scraps of wrapping paper, used greetings cards or broken jewellery, with paper chains and glitter, can be used to great effect. It's the sort of creativity that was the staple of Blue Peter for generations.
Involve the kids
As adults we want to do a job properly and show some skill, and it's important to teach children rather than leave them to an entirely random journey of discovery. Even so, when children produce something they should be proud of, you'll probably treasure it for decades. So give them a chance to create frames, fill and embellish them, and put their own stamp on Christmas.
Be inspired by the news
Here's a cheap but emotive idea. The Chinese father and son below have posed for a black-and-white shot together every year for three decades. The Daily Mail ran a story on them earlier in 2018. In the last picture they are joined by a grandson. Any of us can do the same, and it's as cheap as chips. It might be worth buying a few dozen frames at the start so they all match, and using the same camera so the finish is comparable.
Go for a family picture
Rather than just a couple of you, get the entire family in the frame. And get into the Christmas spirit with the colour palette. Inevitably, you need red.
Off-the-shelf ideas
We all have ideas of our own, but sometimes the work of others sparks the imagination. 'Cribbing' and 'copying' are harsh terms. Think of it as 'sampling'. Posters like those below rely on child-like illustrations (some of us never lose the ability) and some typography to make a personalised homage to a favourite family member.
It seems relatively easy to do something with Scrabble tiles too. The frame below celebrated a birthday, but it should be simple to make something similar for Yuletide (which apparently has nothing to do with Yul Brynner).
Explore the attic
With the evenings drawing in, at least until the winter solstice on 21st December, we have time to explore attics. Faded old photos might not mean much at first glance. But even the drabbest, like the Christmas celebration in a Northern factory below, will be poignant for anyone who recognises themselves or somebody they love. So go and look. If you find a gem, get it framed and labelled, and give it to somebody who will preserve the history it holds.
Tap into popular culture
Carol lyrics are a good source of Christmassy expressions to frame. Again, children can help. Show them how to make snowflakes by folding and cutting paper. Don't just tell them what to do. Invite them to contribute ideas. They may surprise you!
New Year offers opportunities too
It doesn't stop on Boxing Day. New Year gives you a second bite of the cherry. Think of resolutions, and even calendars. Ring in the changes with something new on your walls.
'Hope springs eternal', they say, and never more so than at New Year. Go public with your resolutions and it's harder to backslide. Putting reminders on your walls is perennially popular.
Conclusion
The season to be jolly is a moment to reflect on what's important, to celebrate the past and look to the future. It's when we traditionally feather our nests and take on more do-it-yourself tasks than at any other time of year, filling our homes with precious artefacts and statements of what we value.
You'll need them framing first. EasyFrame is an obvious and affordable supplier, whether you want everything you'd need to do the job yourself or would rather they did it for you. Any good framers will show you a range of solutions and advise on what suits the work and where it will hang.
EasyFrame is on 01234 856 501 and sales@easyframe.co.uk, and they'll always chat even if you don't want to buy!