Metal Frame Kit Instructions

How To Place Your Art Into Your Metal Frame Kit

simply framed metal framekit Mitered corners can be sharp. Use of gloves is recommended.


What's included:

simply framed metal framekit

Step 1: Prep Your Workspace

  • Choose a clean, dust-free surface with room to lay out the frame, artwork, and mat.
  • Unpack your Frame Kit and lay the frame face down. Make sure to hold onto your Hanging Hardware Pouch and Hanging & Care Instructions. 
Simply Framed Metal Frame Kit supplies

Steps 2 - 4: Remove the Spring Clips and Framing Materials

  • To remove spring clips from inside the frame, push them down towards the backing board and slide them out. Set aside. If hard to remove, use a set of needle nose pliers to gently push springs down and pull out. These clips apply pressure within the frame and keep the insides in place!
  • Determine which side of the frame will be the top. Loosen the screws on the corner brackets that connect the top side of the frame and slide them out, removing the top part of the frame. Do not attempt to fully remove the screws.
  • Slide the backing board, acrylic, and mat out from inside of the frame. If you ordered a frame with no mat, slide out the acrylic and backing board.
simply framed metal frame kit

Step 5: Insert your artwork!

    1. No Mat:
      1. Line up art on the backing board.
      2. Please Note: Never tape on the front of the artwork.
      3. If you’d like to tape your piece in place (recommended for pieces above 16x20), turn the work face down and gently apply two vertical strips of tape to the top side of the back of the artwork, with an extra half-inch of tape at the top.
      4. Fold the extra half-inch of tape so the sticky side is now on the back of the print facing out  and adhere to the backing board by aligning and pressing in place.
    2. With a Mat:
      1. Line up art on the backing board with the provided mat as you’d like it to be displayed.
      2. Please Note: Never tape on the front of the artwork.
      3. To create a T-hinge, turn the work face down and gently apply two vertical strips of tape to the top side of the back of the artwork, with an extra half-inch of tape at the top.
      4. Turn the artwork over into an aligned position, with the sticky side of excess tape now facing up.
      5. Apply two horizontal pieces of tape on the backing board above the top side of the artwork to cover the vertical tabs, making a T-shape.
      6. Place the mat on the artwork so it is positioned correctly. Stack the acrylic, mat, artwork and backing board.

    Step 6: Put the Frame Back Together

    • Slide the insides ( your stack of acrylic, mat, artwork, and backing board) back into the frame by holding the stack like a sandwich.
    • Slide wire hangers into the hardware track on each side rail of the frame to about 6 inches from the top.
    1. Tighten the screws on each wire hanger to secure them.
    2. Re-insert the corner brackets into each side of the top of the frame and insert back into the bottom half of the frame. Align frame and tighten the screws to keep in place.
    3. Re-adjust corners as necessary. Secure the insides of the frame by flexing and reinserting the spring clips in between the frame edge and the backing board.
    4. Loop the wire between the hangers and knot, wrapping the excess tightly back around itself or cutting off excess.
    simply framed metal framekit

      Step 7: Hanging Your Frame

      • Please follow the Hanging & Care Instructions in the foldout provided.
      • Visit our blog for more!
      • Bask in Glory!
      • Share your happy walls by tagging @simplyframed or use #simplyframed on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.