Making a Flower Frame

[CHR]

I know Oasis now makes foam filled frames, but we had an order where the customer requested we surround a framed photo with flowers for a funeral service.

The flowers needed to match others used in family pieces and had to be attractive for a day-long visitation as well as for the funeral service the next day. Gluing flowers into a garland wasn't an option.

One of Phil's school assistants, Manny, built us a custom frame base with 1 X 4's and included a horizontal piece where he placed a large screw onto which the photo could be hung.

The wood frame was then mounted with mache' backed sections of Oasis (divided off from Oasis crosses).

It was great to be able to make the piece without worrying about damaging the photo or frame since the pic was removable. Also much easier to transport.

I've included photos of the steps below. FYI, the easel was painted silver (instead of gold) because the casket and all the other wood easels were finished in silver, too. (We also painted the back of the wood support frame silver.)

The photo of the deceased was intentionally blurred to post here. This family was so focused on their cultural traditions and mentioned specific 'luck' elements during the planning - often - so I didn't want to show anything that could possibly create perceived misfortune.

Hope this little 'how-to' helps someone that may have future need for a similar funeral design element.

 

[lil_goldie]

beautiful
Thanks for showing the steps. Very interesting!

 

[Joe Mioux]

this is a great thread, Cathy.

Obviously, my first look was at the wooden frame. then the rest of the pictures.

then i went back to the frame and my first thought was, I wonder how long it took Manny to make this. the second thought was "did he use pan glue?" as a mechanical adhesive.

but Then my last thought was I wonder how I could make that frame faster and stronger.

ding ding ding!!! I have an answer.

I have just the right little pocket hole/pocket screw jig to make those frames a whole lot faster and easier than what Manny had to go through.

http://www.kregtool.com/products/pht/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=30



I have this and a larger more complicated jig from the above listed company. These pocket jigs work great and they are strong.

for added security, I would suggest some carpenters glue, such as TiteBond III

http://www.titebond.com/WNTitebondIIITB.asp

hth.

joe

OH and I forgot to say, Great looking floral piece.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

beautiful Cathy! Thanks for the how-to's

for added security, I would suggest some carpenters glue, such as TiteBond III

my husband tries to get me to use carpenter's glue, plastic epoxy glue, all the 'proper' mechanical mechanic's muckity muck. I WAY prefer my pan melt glue for my ADD inspired impatience and typically very last minute projects. I also use it to hem or re-sole my worn shoes :tongue

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Fantastic Cathy!

Thank you for sharing your mechanics. Outstanding thread!!!!!

 

[Joe Mioux]

beautiful Cathy! Thanks for the how-to's


my husband tries to get me to use carpenter's glue, plastic epoxy glue, all the 'proper' mechanical mechanic's muckity muck. I WAY prefer my pan melt glue for my ADD inspired impatience and typically very last minute projects. I also use it to hem or re-sole my worn shoes :tongue

joe, who is just shaking his head in bewilderment.

 

[Rhonda]

Necessity is the real mother of invention.......superb!!

 

[roysecityfloristand gifts]

Tried to green dot you Cathy, but it said have to spread some around, so I'll say,
Flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and the frame sounds like something my hubby would build too. Anything for the customer. Great use of the mache backed crosses.

How sweet of you to blurr the picture in respect for the family, and for sharing this with us, you have so much to share. It just so happens that I found myself looking though your gallery yesterday, such beautiful work, and proper design which means so much to me as an old timer. Thanks again!

 

[Hal Conklin]

nice

Hey Cath, you still making those for $50 bucks ?

 

[clay]

Really nice! Could you please give me an indication on the amount of time it took to build this frame (based on the wood is already in the house)...including wiring/taking on the Oasis? Thanks.

 

[CHR]

The frame takes less than 1 hour with all the materials at hand. Six cuts for the wood pieces, apply glue to the seams for temp suppport, screw down the 6 metal braces, soak & cut the Oasis sections and then add them to the frame with bowl tape.

One other tip I forgot - be sure to leave an inch or so around the photo frame so that the greens and flowers don't cover up too much around the perimeter.

Yep, Hal - $50 gets you a lot at our shop. :>

Joe - great tips and I wouldn't expect less from an experienced wood worker. This was a get-'er-done-with-what-we-had project, as with so many orders in a flower shop.

 

[elmo]

Cathy, designing on the fly in a shop leaves me whipped at the end of completion. Great design .... you- got'er- done and with class may I say.

 

[Joe Mioux]

The frame takes less than 1 hour with all the materials at hand. Six cuts for the wood pieces, apply glue to the seams for temp suppport, screw down the 6 metal braces, soak & cut the Oasis sections and then add them to the frame with bowl tape.

One other tip I forgot - be sure to leave an inch or so around the photo frame so that the greens and flowers don't cover up too much around the perimeter.

Yep, Hal - $50 gets you a lot at our shop. :>

Joe - great tips and I wouldn't expect less from an experienced wood worker. This was a get-'er-done-with-what-we-had project, as with so many orders in a flower shop.

The reason I like this thread so much is that more and more family sympathy work is cremations.

We have a problem to solve and that problem is maintaining similar dollar sales for cremation arrangements as we have for traditional casket spray revenue.

Your frame serves as a good example of a customizing a design to fit a picture and most importantly, keeping the flower revenue up.

The other problem is that companies like Oasis won't always have the premanufactured size we need for any given picture.

having some scrap wood, a saw and some screws (or a few basic wood working tools) is probably worth having around our shops for these types of orders.

joe

 

[TGDragonfly]

Nice piece Cathy. I love it. The mechanics are solid looking but can I offer a suggestion to save time and add to the strength?

From a production standpoint, I would make two layers of board and stagger the pieces at the corners and secure with 1 1/4" drywall screws.
With basic calculations one aught to be able to cut and assemble in 10 minutes. I would not rely on glue at all because all the twisting from transport would break the seal anyways.

For the foam I would fasten Oasis Bars (you know the ones that have a plastic base and are wrapped in green seran) with nylon zip ties. Would probably use a bit of clay between the bar and board for some bite.

 

[Joe Mioux]

I would not rely on glue at all because all the twisting from transport would break the seal anyways.

yes and no.

Today's wood glues actually provide greater strength than the wood itself.

However, given the amount of time we sometimes have to make an arrangement and get it delivered, I wouldn't rely on the glue to be fully cured.

I like at least several hours, 12 or more is best.

NOTE: end grain wood to face wood does not provide much strength when glued, face to face glue ups - excellent strength.

 

[CHR]

Tom -

We considered the Oasis bars but they are wider than the cross forms. My concern was that the flowers/greens would start to overwhelm the photo since the finished design would be at least a couple inches wider. Plus more oasis = more weight. (We had two of those 24" solid hearts for one of the services and they are literally back-breakers.)

Over the years, I've seen a bunch of designers use too much foam and under-estimate the finished size (and weight), especially when using orbs.

 

[TGDragonfly]

Joe, respectfully, we are talking about some awkward weight that will twist and warp during transport. Glue might be strong but pine board is not. Dry stacking corners and fastening with a few screw provides strength and a little give.

For this design after looking at it again, I'm not so sure one would need to build a frame. Why couldn't one just fasten boards cut to desired width right to the wood easel with pre-drilled holes and nuts and bolts? 3 would do horizontally.

 

[CHR]

That would work too - with a much more sturdy easel. The wood on these is pretty soft and nailing through can/has actually split it.

 

[Joe Mioux]

Joe, respectfully, we are talking about some awkward weight that will twist and warp during transport. Glue might be strong but pine board is not. Dry stacking corners and fastening with a few screw provides strength and a little give.

For this design after looking at it again, I'm not so sure one would need to build a frame. Why couldn't one just fasten boards cut to desired width right to the wood easel with pre-drilled holes and nuts and bolts? 3 would do horizontally.

I wasn't disputing the use of screws, just clarifying your previous glue comment.

Titebond III is water proof and has a psi 4000lbs

 

[Joe Mioux]

That would work too - with a much more sturdy easel. The wood on these is pretty soft and nailing through can/has actually split it.

drilling pilot holes or using self tapping screws, such as the pocket hole screws I referenced earlier will eliminate splitting.