A woman’s first Mother’s Day is a milestone in her life and deserves special recognition. Give her a great gift of a treasured family photo in a picture frame that she can display on her dresser as a special keepsake like our silver plated picture frames or jeweled picture frames.

Jeweled Picture Frames will make any Mom feel like a queen and will give her a special frame to hold her favorite family photo.  One jeweled picture frame that’s a customer favorite is our Versaille Gold Picture Frame. This frame comes in 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 photo sizes and has a beautiful gold enamel and nice jewel accents in the corners. But if that’s not right for the mother in your life, choose an sentiment picture frame that tells her how special she is like this I Love My Mom Picture Frame.

If you’re looking for a nice gift for a grandma instead you can always surprise a grandmother with a bright, cheery collage frame filled with photos of her precious grandchildren. Use an archival mat and have the grandkids write a message alongside their photo like with this Tribeca Archival Black Collage Picture Frame.

This archival collage frame makes a great gift because it has an arachival mat, backing and UV glass so it will protect your photos from premature age and fading.

Special mothers deserve a loving and special treat, and the gift of a photo frame, whether cheery and fun, floral and jeweled or elegant and formal, will help to make her day one she will remember each time she gazes upon your very thoughtful gift.

In celebration of Earth Day, we all need to think how we can help make a difference in how we use our natural resources. Here at Your Picture Frames we’re always looking for frames that are made with sustainable materials or recycle-able products. Although our selection is still small, we’re always on the look out for quality made eco-friendly picture frames.

Some of the key features we look for are photo frames made from recycled materials or materials that are sustainable. What’s sustainable? To us, we’re looking at whether the material is like a plant crop that can be replanted and is done in an earth friendly way. We like sustainable materials like bamboo, mango and rubberwood as these are plant crops that have a short natural life cycle. So, for example, mango trees produce mango fruit but once the tree reaches a certain age it stops producing fruit and therefore is no longer valuable to the farmer. So, when this happens, instead of wasting the valuable mango wood, it’s used to create products like mango picture frames, bowls, vases and other products.

We also look for products that are made with earth friendly practices. One example of that is using water based stains instead of oil based stains that are bad for the environment. Besides the earth friendly benefits, water based stains are also safer for your family. Here are just a few of our frames that have water based stains: Shasta Natural Matted Bamboo Picture Frame, Shasta Rubberwood Matted Black Picture Frame and Teton Wide Bamboo Picture Frame.

So, the next time you shop for frames, consider shopping green and get an eco-friendly frame that is safer for your family and is better for the environment.

We are proud and pleased to offer this distinguished collection of archival wood frames. Elegant, dramatic, traditional, classic and timeless, this line has everything you are looking for in a fine wood picture frame. Each frame in this collection comes with an Archival 4 ply Frost colored mat, archival 2 ply mount board and UV glass so you can be assured your precious photographs will be protected from environmental damage and will look their best for generations.

The Casa Archival Black Picture Frame shows off elegance with its thin design and deep gallery profile. Paired with a double 4 ply mat, this matte black frame will easily become a favorite.
If you prefer traditional, the Tribeca Collection is a narrow flat top design that pairs beautifully with the 4 ply mat. Whether you choose the matte black finish or the rich walnut finish, this narrow wood frame has something for everyone.

Another striking beauty is the Mesa Archival Black Picture Frame with its dramatic angled profile and matte black finish. It has a double 4 ply mat and spacer to add interest and extra depth to your photo display.

These archival picture frames are museum quality frames because they consist of a complete archival system. It comes with Archival UV glass to protect against damaging UV rays, an archival mat and an archival mount board to protect against environmental toxins from degrading your picture and vertical and horizontal hanging hardware.

These metal picture frames are designed with beautiful finishes, an archival 4 ply Frost colored mat, an Archival 2 ply mount board and UV glass so you can be assured your precious photographs and documents are protected from environmental damage and will look their best for generations.

The flat top profile of the Studio Collection is a minimalist’s dream. Whether you choose a matte black or silver finish, the narrow touch of color paired with the white mat beautifully sets off your photo. Remove the mat to add a distinguished look to an important document or keep it in the frame for extra archival protection.  The Studio series comes in the following: Studio Archival Black Metal Picture Frame and Studio Archival Silver Metal Picture Frame.

The Cosmo Collection is a contemporary beauty. The narrow curved profile is available in two colors: Cosmo Archival Black Metal Picture Frame or a Cosmo Archival Gold Metal Picture Frame. Both finishes are great for a well-earned diploma or special family photo.

Traditional and always a perfect choice, the Tuscany Collection has a 2” flat top profile and Florentine finish. Whether you choose a black or silver finish, your precious photos will be beautifully displayed in this wide picture frame. You can get more information on both of these colors here: Tuscany Archival Black Metal Picture Frame or Tuscany Archival Silver Metal Picture Frame.

The simple beauty of a metal picture frame can bring a touch of elegance or contemporary styling to any of your precious photographs or documents.

Enjoy our single Galactic Blue Picture Frame with a contrasting white mat or group some of your favorite fun photos together in our Galactic Blue Collage Picture Frame. Or create a festive and fun display with our Cyber Green Collage Picture Frame with green mat or Raspberry Pink Collage Picture Frame with pink mat.

These metal collage frames are great for hanging in kids rooms and as accent pieces in a contemporary styled home or office.

When you really want to make a statement these vibrant frames won’t disappoint.   It just became easy to brighten a room and your mood  so let your fun side shine with these bold and beautiful metal collage picture frames.

You probably never considered hanging coconut shells on your wall, but you won’t be able to resist our uniquely designed Coconut Shell Rustic Picture Frame. Texture and dark brown color variations are a beautiful way to surround your special photo. Or, if you want a set of beautiful bookends to show off a few pictures then take a look at our Coconut Shell Rustic Picture Frame Bookends

We also have two other wood types: teak and mango wood. Our teak wood frames come in two designs- a triangular and rectangular pattern- both unique in their own right.

Beautifully handcrafted triangle pieces are individually placed so each frame is truly unique.  Wood grain color variations add to the allure and beauty of this Rustic Triangular Teak Wood Picture Frame.

If you are more a fan of rectangles then we have a Handcrafted Teak Wood Picture Frame. Our talented artisans creatively place handcrafted rectangular pieces that take advantage of the natural wood grain and color variations of the teak wood.

Or, if you’re looking for a frame that will really catch your eye, then check out our new Mango Wood Picture Frame. The mango wood has a stunning wood stained pattern on each frame that is truly unique.

These frames are made of pressed wood and have one side colored in green, blue or white and the back side in a natural wood veneer.

Whether you want to match a stylish modern home, a nautical-themed beach house or a baby’s nursery, these simple and versatile frames will work beautifully to add a personal touch to any room. The frame rests standing on its own wide base and both sides are equally nice looking, making this frame an excellent choice for a coffee table or countertop display that needs to look attractive from any angle. The two glass panels slide easily into place, making the job of inserting photos quick and easy. So easy, in fact, that these frames would be perfect for a seasonal arrangement where you change the photos as the months pass, creating a beautiful and interesting decorative display that changes regularly.

These great double sided frames would also be the ideal gift for a variety of occasions. So take your pick of any of these frames and get started with your decorating and gift-giving today!

What comes to mind when you think of spring? Sunshine and flowers or soft pastel colors? Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation – an awakening from a cold, dark winter. We are delighted to offer a wide variety of picture frames that will please your eye and bring the beauty of spring indoors to cheer your home and lift your spirits.

Tulips are one of the first flowers to welcome spring and our tulip picture frames will add a beautiful spring touch to your home. Enamel painted tulips bloom around our square picture frame for a soft look with this Tulip Garden Flower Picture Frame. These are great for any spring time photos like weddings or outdoor family adventures.

Irises come in a variety of colors and we have chosen the very best shades in our enamel painted iris picture frames like this Purple Iris Flower Picture Frame. With these colorful spring time flower picture frames, you’ll bring the beauty of the garden indoors and feel the happiness of spring all year round. Just imagine, the beauty of spring but without the spring time allergies!

If you want to celebrate spring with a more distinct look of nature then you can check out our beautiful selection of jeweled frames showcasing butterflies and dragonflies.

Our selection of butterfly and dragonfly picture frames will certainly make you feel like you’re in a lush wildflower meadow like this cute Butterfly and Flower Picture Frame.

Flowers, jewels, dainty butterflies or dragon flies can all be found beautifully accenting our selection of picture frames to welcome a happy spring.

One of the advantages to giving a picture frame as your Valentine is the fact that almost anyone will enjoy and appreciate it, no matter who they are, if you put a little thought into the individual and their interests it. For example, if you want to give something to one of your child’s teachers, an empty frame for them to display their favorite photo might be the perfect gift. Or if you are looking for a gift for a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse, a romantic shot of the two of you is sure to be a special and welcome present when you place it in a beautiful Valentine-themed picture frame like this lovely Red Heart Picture Frame . And don’t forget the grandparents! The gift of a photo of the grandkids in a cute, decorative red picture frame will be a great way to show Grandma and Grandpa that they are loved.

If your loved one is fond of animals or has a special pet, consider taking a picture of their pet and framing it in a fun, themed frame. As you can see, there are many interesting and unique ways to use picture frames to make the occasion unforgettable.

So, this Valentine’s Day, think outside the (candy) box and consider giving an even more memorable gift to that special someone!

Make sure that the special Dad in your life is remembered. Whether you fix him a special dinner, spend the afternoon doing something together or giving him a gift to show him you love him, make sure you take some pictures together to remember the memories.

Come check out our new selection of archival photo albums. Every album has acid-free pages so all your photos will stay protected for years to come.

We’re focused on offering you a wide selection of photo albums that fit various sizes of pictures in both book-bound and expandable albums. We’ll also be adding scrapbooks shortly so you can enjoy creating scrapbooks and albums in a wide variety of sizes.

Here are just a few of our favorites we’re just announcing:

We’ll be adding even more photo albums in the weeks ahead so stay tuned:)

New Jeweled Picture Frames

These jeweled beauties will brighten up any room with their sparkle and decorative charm. With so many beautiful new ones to choose from, here is a small sampling of the new jeweled picture frames. The frames displayed here are Green Chards Jeweled Picture Frame, Pewter Beaded Circles Jeweled Picture Frame and Crowning Glory Jeweled Picture Frame. The second set of jeweled frames are:  Clear Pointed Jeweled Picture Frame, Baubles Clear Jeweled Picture Frame and Gold Swirl Jeweled Picture Frame.

New Round Picture Frames

Decorative round picture frames are such a nice compliment to rounding out any photo display and these jeweled frames will add a beautiful look to your home decor. These gorgeous faux crystals will give your photo a look of elegant distinction. The round frames displayed below are: Facets Round Jeweled Picture Frame, Gemstones Jeweled Picture Frame Trio and Diamonds Round Jeweled Picture Frame.

New Flower Picture Frames

Their new flower picture frames are bright and cherry and remind us of the beauty of spring. All of these flower picture frames are designed for table top display and are made of pewter with a beautiful enamel finish and highlighted with gorgeous faux crystals. The flower picture frames displayed below are: Morning Glories Jeweled Flower Picture Frame, Nancy Red Jeweled Flower Picture Frame and Sunburst Jeweled Flower Picture Frame.

There are a lot more beautiful new Ashleigh Manor frames to browse through so we hope this has given you a good idea of all the different styles of new frames available.

Want to help us celebrate the tough job of being a Mom? Then come join our Mother’s Day Photo Contest!  We want to see as many cute, funny, heart warming, inspirational and touching Mom photos as possible. To join the fun, all you have to do is enter your favorite “Mom” photo by going to www.facebook.com/yourpictureframes and click on the Photo Contest tab.  The Mom photo with the most votes wins a $100 to spend at YourPictureFrames.com!

Here are the details:

Step 1: Go to facebook.com/yourpictureframes and click the “Like” button at the top of the page.

Step 2: Enter your photo by clicking the “Enter Contest” button and then complete the form and upload your photo. All photos must be submitted between April 25-May 11, 2011.

Step 3: Tell your friends to vote for your photo starting on May 12. The photo with the most votes between May 12-May 20 wins! The winner is announced on May 21, 2011.

The winner will receive a $100 gift credit to spend at YourPictureFrames.com on any picture frames and photo albums offered on our website.

Make sure to tell your friends and family members so they can join the fun too!

These eco-friendly frames are made using sustainable crops, like bamboo and rubberwood, so they don’t contribute to deforestation of our planet like most wood frames. Plus, these frames only use water based stain so you never have to worry about the use of harsh chemicals or oils being used to make your frame. And when it comes to packaging, even the packaging material is made with either recyclable or biodegradable packaging material so it won’t add to landfill waste.

And most importantly, these sustainable eco-friendly frames will look beautiful. Here are just a few of our new bamboo picture frames:

The Sierra Matted Bamboo Picture Frame has a beautiful wide 1 3/8″ molding that is available in two colors: Sierra Natural Matted Bamboo Picture Frame and Sierra Brown Matted Bamboo Picture Frame. The molding gently curves down to the opening of the frame and has a beautiful bamboo grain that gives this frame a beautiful natural beauty.

If you’re looking for a more pecan color, this wide Teton Wide Matted Bamboo Picture Frame is another frame where you’ll be able to see the gorgeous bamboo grain. This bamboo frame has a wide flat 1 1/2″ molding and is perfect for any photo that you want to have a warm look. The bamboo frame is stained with a warm pecan wood-like tone.

We also have some contemporary styles in a basic style in both black rubberwood and natural bamboo. They’re available without mats in sizes 4×6 and 5×7 as the  Shasta Natural Bamboo Picture Frame and the Shasta Rubberwood Black Picture Frame or they’re available with mats in the following sizes: 8×10, 11×14 and 16×20. These frames have a simple flat 5/8″ molding front and have a depth of 3/4″. They’re perfect for a simple style frame that’s environmentally friendly and affordable.

And, if you want a slightly distressed look with your bamboo picture frames we also offer two black bamboo frames with a slightly distressed finish.  We offer the Shiloh Distressed Black Bamboo Picture Frame that has the frame edge worn where you can see the brown bamboo wood underneath the black stain. This frame has a narrow 11/16″ molding so it’s perfect for when you want a narrow distressed black frame to accent your photo. If you’d prefer a wider distressed black frame, then the Tahoe Black Bamboo Picture Frame has a wider 1 1/2″ molding and a less distressed look than the Shiloh frame. The frame edge on this frame is only slightly distressed.

And this last set of new bamboo frames is perfect for when you want to give some extra contrast to your photo. This black bamboo frame style has a beautiful natural bamboo edge on the outside of the black bamboo stained molding. This frame will give your frame a distinct look and make your photo get noticed. This frame style comes in two frame molding widths. The Zion Black Bamboo Picture Frame comes in 4×6 and 5×7 and has a 1 3/16″ inch molding whereas the Zion Black Matted Bamboo Picture Frame is slightly wider with a 1 1/2″ molding and a white mat and comes in either an 8×10, 11×14 and 16×20 size.

We hope you enjoy these environmentally friendly frames and feel good when displaying your special memories.

Digital picture frames, if you haven’t seen them in stores, are electronic picture frames that allow you to display digital photos. The problem I personally have with digital picture frames, is that they require electricity and must be plugged in 24×7 if you plan to use them. Call me old fashioned, but this seems extremely wasteful when they are better energy-free options available. However, until now, I never really understood how much energy they used.

According to the Electronic Power Institute, if every home in America had ONE digital picture frame left on day and night (which is typical), it would require us to build FIVE NEW 250 -megawatt power plants. I don’t know about you but to me that screams wasteful.

It was really shocking to me that just one digital frame in every household could make such a horrible impact. So, the next time you think about buying a digital picture frame, think about the difference that you can make by NOT buying one…as together we can eliminate the need for this wasteful use of electricity.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you, think about the money you can save, by not having a picture frame plugged in all the time. For example,  in the average American household, 75% of the electricity used for electronic devices is used when the devices are shut off. According to the US Department of Energy, this energy used on electronic devices shut off translates to more than $100 per year spent on essentially nothing.

So, save money and be green by displaying your pictures in non-electrical metal picture frames and wood picture frames

Photo Courtesy of AlzoDigital.com

This is a great video series on what to buy when it comes to studio lighting equipment. It doesn’t give specific recommendations, but it does explain in detail all about the basics of lighting and the different types of studio lighting equipment. The explanation is thorough and you get to see each piece of equipment so it makes it clear and easy to understand….I thought it was very well done. This video series was created by Digital Photography 1 on 1.

The first video gives an introduction to the video series on what to buy when it comes to studio lighting equipment. It then goes into some basic principles of lighting. You can see the first video here: Intro Studio Lighting video

The next three videos explain in detail the different types of studio lighting equipment and how they’re used.

Video Episode 4a: Introduces the three categories of lighting equipment : grip, light modifiers and light sources.

Video Episode 4b: Talks about things you can use to control where the light falls.

Video Episode 4c: Talks all about light sources.

This video series is great for someone wanting to learn more about studio lighting so they can master the art of taking portraits. And once you start taking incredible portraits with your new found lighting knowledge, don’t forget to frame them in one of our wood gallery picture frames

Have Enough Resolution

With most people using digital cameras, often people end up with poor quality pictures when they go to enlarge them.  Often times, the problem is that the image doesn’t have a high enough resolution.

If you’re going to print out your pictures, make sure you use your camera’s highest resolution.  However, if you want more information on resolution, check out our blog post All About Resolution. Just remember, that if you’re shooting with high resolution, you can always resize the picture to a smaller size.

Have the Right Kind of Light

Good lighting is critical if you want great pictures. However, sometimes people think they have to spend a lot of money on lighting equipment in order to get quality light. Although this post is not about the basics of lighting, if you’re on a budget and want great lighting simply go outside.

Natural lighting is best when you choose specific times of the day such as the hour after dawn or the hour before sunset. Both of these times give soft light compared to the harsh shadows and bad bright glare of the sun at high noon. Obviously you want to avoid direct bright light (such as noon time) like the plague as it will wash out your pictures and generally give you bad results.

Composing Your Pictures

With photo composition there is lot to learn but one helpful tip you can start using right away is to “fill the frame.” Filling the frame means that you want to have the subject of your photo be the focus and have it take up the majority of the image. This allows your subject to be the focus and will usually result in a photo with more impact.

Often times, people will include a lot of extraneous “stuff” around the subject that is later cropped out. For example, if you’re taking a picture of Suzy swinging in the yard, you should zoom in on Suzy swinging and ignore all of the other activity in the yard like Grandpa barbequing or the dog playing with his toy. Simply by using this techniques you’ll start to see a noticeable difference in the appeal of your pictures. And once you’ve learned that, you can always learn other composition techniques like the “rule of thirds.”

Keep it Steady

It doesn’t take much movement to create a blurry picture and is a common problem with many pictures. With digital cameras, there is usually a delay from the time you press the shutter release and the time the picture is actually taken. This is called shutter lag and varies with each camera. So, the best trick to avoid blurry pictures is the following:

• Use a Tripod when using a slow shutter speed to make sure the camera is steady.
• Get used to the delay with your camera and keep the camera still until the green light on your camera flashes.
• Steady yourself by keeping your elbows down close to your body and your feet evenly planted on the ground.

Hopefully these tips will help you get improved results with your camera so you’ll have more pictures that you can enjoy displaying on your picture frame wall.

In most cases, wood frames are what we think of when it comes to installing hanging hardware. That’s because metal frames have too hard a surface and therefore, must have hanging hardware already attached to the metal frame.  Here is just one example of a metal frame that has a metal hanging clip that easily comes on and off depending upon what direction you want to hang your frame. So, the next thing you must consider is the weight and size of the frame.

Ready Made Frame Hardware

For most frames that you buy online or in a store, these are called ready made frames and often include hanging hardware already attached to the frame.  Many of these frames have a hoop or triangular piece of hardware riveted on the back of a frame already for hanging.The most common type of ready made hanging hardware is a hoop or ring. With these all you have to do is put a nail in the wall and hang your frame. These are found on small to medium sized frames that aren’t very heavy. However, when the frames get larger in size and heavier, that’s when you generally have to install your own hanging hardware.

Alligator Hooks

This type of picture frame hardware is what is often called an alligator hook. Alligator hooks have a jagged edge and are secured to the frame by small nails. They are super easy to install and come in different sizes depending upon the size and weight of the frame you want to hang.  To install them on the frame, all you have to do is center the hook on the back of the frame and place a nail on each side of the hook. Super simple. Alligator hooks are generally designed for solid wood frames that range in light to medium weight.

Screw Eyes

This type of picture frame hardware is a little harder to install but is designed for larger and heavier frames. Screw eyes are screws with a circle like end that is designed to hold a wire. To install them you put a screw eye on each end of the frame and then connect the two screws eyes with picture frame wire. Here is an example of how the screw eyes are used. As you can see when you string the wire between both screw eyes, you want to securely wrap the end of the wire around each end to make sure the wire won’t slip off.

Just remember that anytime you install frame hardware yourself, remember to size the hardware to the frame you’re hanging. So, if you’re hanging a small frame, then you can use smaller hardware and smaller nails or screws.  Whereas, for large heavy frames you want to use frame hardware that’s designed for the extra weight. Also make sure that the length of the screw or nail is appropriate to the thickness of the frame as using too long of a nail or screw can badly damage or even ruin your frame.

Tip #8: Access and Preservation Go Together

When it comes to protecting your special items, you have to remember that as important as they are to preserve, you also must also be able to enjoy and admire your collections. So, here are several more tips you can use to protect them and ensure that others can enjoy them for years to come.

Make sure to document information about your photos or documents. Although some people write very carefully on the back of photographs, you can also create a digital reproduction of the image and have the information included there or keep a record book describing the items together in a special place. It’s important that you keep your collections organized and properly label things so others will understand their importance and details. It also helps to store them in properly labeled enclosures so it will minimize the items being damaged because someone was rummaging around in a box.

Another thing to consider, is that if you’re displaying an item, consider giving it “a rest.” Have it out and then put it away for a while and let something else go in its place. You should also consider making an inventory and detailed list of all your special items in case of a disaster. This will be important if it’s necessary to make an insurance claim.

Tip #9: Be Informed

Like anything, it’s easy to get bad advice when it comes to protecting your valuables. Here are just a few excellent online resources that offer solid advice:

Library of Congress Preservation Directorate

National Archives and Records Administration

American Institute of Conservation

Tip #10:  Have Professionals Do Repairs

When something you treasure gets damaged, ask yourself how important it is to you. If it’s something with a lot of value either sentimentally or monetarily, have it professionally repaired. Unfortunately, most people try repairing their important item or keepsake and end up damaging it even more. Here’s a link on how to find a good conservator.

A special thanks to the Preservation Underground for this wonderful information!

Tip #7: Preserving Non-Paper Collections

There are many different types of items that may need protecting, but this post is all about non paper collections.

Photographs and Home Movies:

Pictures and film are very sensitive to the environment so you need to minimize the dust, light pollutants and handling that can damage them. Like we’ve discussed before, try to protect them in pH neutral enclosures (pH 7.0) or archival products.

When it comes to protecting home movies, always have a duplicate made and keep the original in a safe place. And, for your old movies, it’s always best to get them digitized. If you don’t have your special movies, made it the latest digital medium, you run the risk of having trouble watching them because of the technology changes.For example if you have VHS video tapes or something older, make sure to transfer them to DVD or MPEG format.

Textiles:

Many people have special textiles they keep, like family wedding dresses, baby clothes, christening gowns or other items that have special meaning.

Like photos, textiles are also very sensitive to environmental factors. You have to watch out for high humidity, exposure to light, insects, pollutants like dust or cooking vapors and alkaline environments.  For those that may not know what alkaline is- is a pH above 7.0 also called basic (the opposite of acidic).  All of these factors can degrade the material and decrease the longevity of your special item. A good way to protect your textiles is to store them in pH neutral enclosures. For cleaning e a special piece of textile, always consult a professional.

Digital Items:

With so much information stored digitally, it is critical that you protect your important digital documents.  Unfortunately, digital items are vulnerable to format and hardware obsolescence, chemical instability and unpredictable failure. The best thing you can do is create multiple copies and send them to different family members for storing.  Or, for some items, print them out and store them in a safe place.

Another important thing you should do is perform regular back ups of your electronic media. When backing up your digital information, consider keeping a physical backup in a safe place or doing a remote backup using a service. Just remember that if you need to access your remote backup, you’ll need an internet connection to access the information.