Michaels has these floating frames in black.

I forgot to include one of the cards as an example. Our fixtures are Venetian Bronze and towels are copper.

Would brown work since we have VB fixtures? I was trying to match the frame to the card background.

{{!gwi}}

Have you gone to a frame shop? I know I get on a soapbox about this from time to time, but I have to say (again!) that the best decorating money I have spent in the last five years has been on professional framing. (And I'm not talking about Michael's...sorry. Some Michael's framing depts. may be great. Mine isn't.) They can present options you may never have considered or pick a "perfect" frame and create the floating look you are after. Fabulous card!

Linen-N-Things carries those frames in black. I just picked some up 3 days ago.

I will check at Michael's and LNT today. Those stores are less than 1 mile apart.

The cards measure 3 1/2" x 2 1/4". Should I have a lot of wall (5x7 frame) or very little wall (4x6 frame) show through the glass? I'm thinking 5x7 in order to scale the 12 to the blank wall. Does anyone have any comparable displays with the different sizes?

Yes, we use pro framers when we have valuable antique art (like our botanicals from the 1800s). It usually takes 3 months to get something framed from the folks we use. My DH always gets sticker shock when I use professionals! However, I agree that the results are beautiful.

I'm not sure these cards are valuable enough to warrant pro framing and I need 12 frames!

Thanks,
Cameron

Hobby Lobby carries them.

I have been thinking about the cards, and I am wondering if the floating frames are too modern and stark for the lovely, old world detail of the cards?

I am thinking they would be prettier mounted on a piece of silk in the reddish color (or whatever works best for all of them) and then framed. The red tones in the card seem to match the copper color of the towels, so that would be a great way to bring the accent color to the wall.

I just returned several floating frames I bought at JoAnn Fabric and Kohls. They didn't work out for me at all. I like the idea of them more than the final result. Les got it right: they are stark. Most everything I have is enhanced by a mat and I love the finished look.

How about a frame complete with mat cut out for three photos. Those are readily available. (I just tried linking to Crate & Barrel but could not.) You would need only four frames total. I think this kind of grouping would look better than 12 small frames. Of course the size of the cut out will likely be challenge but there are ways around that.

What I'm talking about: the 3-picture and 3-space "collage" frames here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Target framed mats

The floating frame lets you see both sides of the cards. I'd mount them in a fan frame--like a winning hand at some card game, maybe with one a little higher than the others, as a discard.

I agree that modern black frames aren't really suitable for those wonderful cards, especially with the old world look of your bathroom. They look like traditional Russian pollack art. I'd think about framing them in groups of three or four or perhaps even six (well that might be too many), in a brown-y tone. You could match the mats to the wall color, if that looked good. Something that won't clash with the mood of the room, which sounds lovely.

I agree with Amysrq about framing. We also collect art and have some very nice pieces (IMO, lol). But I've also had professional framing done for calendar pictures, postcards and $5 posters. Unlike sofas, rugs and paint jobs, art lasts forever, and makes a nice little inheritance down the road. Just my opinion, though.

Well, I've been busy! I went to PB and bought the gilt frames that blend in with my wall color.

I like some of the ideas that showed up while I was gone. The 3 in a fan like a hand is a neat idea, too.

As for mats, that would have to be custom done as nothing fits the size of the cards that comes pre-cut.

Here's what I have so far. I put one of my Zhostovo trays beside these. I have 4 frames and have put two together (nothing is permanently affixed and PB will let me return if I don't use these).

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I tried to get a better photo. (No, my toilet doesn't wear a sweater that's a towel so the photo wouldn't slide).

In a fan deck, the faces don't show up. On closer look, my Zhostovo tray is too red to go with the copper colors.

{{!gwi}}

I wouldn't mat them, I would put them on top of a backing done in the silk (or faux silk), and put the foam dots on the back (with removable adhesive) to elevate them just a tiny bit off the back fabric.

Sorry, I don't care for the floating frames for them (tho I do love floating frames). I think they don't enhance the detail of each card - they just become three things in a frame.

There is a great silk fabric shop nearby, so I'll take a look. I'll also ask the pro shop who does framing, but my DH just isn't going to go for spending $1000 to frame these.

Here's an interesting frame on eBay that is made for cards. It would get a bit pricey, but it's interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: frame for card

I have an idea - maybe someone with floating frame experience could tell me if this would work. Instead of fabric, there are wonderful interesting papers available at stores like The Paper Source. Some are just textural some are patterns so I'm sure you could find some thing to enhance your cards. Could you use paper as a backing (or in effect as a mat) then place your cards on top and secure between the two pieces of glass?

You should be able to buy standard frames. use spray adhesive to adhere the silk to a piece of posterboard or thin foamcore, and put the card on it yourself - the adhesive dots and spacers are in the scrapbook dept. No need to spend big bucks. The one thing you want to be sure of is that if the cards are of value and need to be preserved, that you use archival or museum quality things to assemble the project, from the adhesives to the glass.

I think they would look great in floating frames. It's the card that you want to highlight, not the frame. If you can't find them in black they can always be painted. I found them in Walmart for $5.00 each.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christy's Thrifty Decorating