Freedom Frame

This Instructable is designed to show you how to let your artwork shine bright like the stars on the American Flag. By following these simple instructions you to can build a picture frame for any size piece of art using your bare hands: the way it was meant to be.

In order to best assist you in this building process the directions will be divided into separate parts:

1. Stringing Your Lights
2. Mounting Your Flag
3. Mounting Your Artwork

Required Materials

• 1 Picture Frame (Whatever Size You Prefer or Can Find)
• 1 Set Of Working Christmas Lights (Color Does Not Matter)
• 1 Obnoxious Light That Screams Freedom (Interpret How You Must)
• 1 Roll Tape
• 1 Displayable Piece of Artwork

*In the event your frame does not come already empty. The creator of this Instructable asks that you please remove the glass and picture encased using:

• Gloves
• Safety Googles
• A Clear Work Area

*We want you to display your love for your country, but this is one time you don't have to shed blood to prove it.

To complete this section you will need:

• Your Picture Frame
• Your Set Of Christmas Lights

The first and most important step of this section is to, as shown in the picture, find the portion of your lights that splits into a V shape.

To do this:

1. Stretch you set of Christmas Lights out until they are straight.
2. Chose and end, either works, and find where the end of the light comes to a split as shown above.
   • It is important to make note of where the plug for the wall is. The placement of your plug affects later steps.

Now that you have separated your lights into a V shape you are ready to start stringing your Christmas Lights.

In order to string your lights you must fasten them down to a corner in order to create an anchor.

To do this:

1. Find the bottom of your frame.
   • This was distinguishable due to the mode of hanging used for your frame. In this case, the frame was hung using a wire so this wire noted the top.
2. Once you establish the bottom of your frame, tie and knot (gently) your lights to the bottom of the left side frame.
   • Place the open end of your V on the front of the frame, wrap, and knot as seen in the picture above.
3. Now that you have your anchor, in a weaving pattern of over and under, weave your lights up the frame until you come to the corner.
4. When you reach the top left corner STOP.

Now that you have arrived at the top left corner it is important you place the lights correctly for support. This frame is meant to be sustainable in and of itself, because of this, your lights will support themselves IF YOU WEAVE THEM CORRECTLY.

1. Reference the pictures above.
2. When you reach the top left corner, be sure that before starting your weave to the top of the frame, your light is behind the front or face of the frame.
3. Once you have properly secured your lights around the top left of the frame, in the same pattern, make your way along the top of the frame.
4. When you reach the TOP RIGHT corner, STOP.

Check
Ask yourself:

1. If I look at the front of the frame, in the top left corner, can I see the light?
   • Your answer should be no.

Now that you have reached the TOP RIGHT corner of the frame, it is time to once again mount your lights to ensure a secure set up.

1. Reference the images above.
2. When you reach the TOP RIGHT corner, be sure that before starting your weave down the right side of the frame, your light is in front of face of the frame.
3. Once you have properly secured your lights across the top right corner of the frame, in the same pattern, make your way down the right hand side of the frame.
4. When you reach the bottom, like Step 2, gently tie and knot the lights.
   • Make sure you have taken all the slack out of the lights but tugging on the lights. This will ensure that your lights are sitting flush against your frame and will provide increased stability for mounting your light that screams freedom.

Check
Ask Yourself:

1. Can I see the light on the top right corner?
   • Your answer should be no.

This section of the instructions relies heavily on user preference.

Now that you have made sure your lights are tightly bound to your frame it is time to mount your Obnoxious Light That Screams Freedom.

To complete this section you will need:

1. Your completed frame
2. Obnoxious Light

In order to do so:

1. Lay the face of your frame, the side you will see when you hang the frame, on the ground.
2. Lay the face, the side you will see when you hang the frame, of the Obnoxious Light on the ground.
3. Position the Light where you would like it to hang.
   • This is where preference come into play. You can place your Light high or low it is up to you.
4. Once you determine your position, grab one end of your Christmas lights, you should have an end that is dropping down, and lace it through the back of your Obnoxious Lights.
   • Refer to the picture.
   • This may limit your placement due to length constraints.
5. Once laced though, proceed to wrap around the frame and knot.

Once you have one side of the Obniouxs Light mounted, repeat steps 4 and 5 so that your flag is supported by the Christmas Lights along the frame.

Once Again:

1. Grab one end of your Christmas lights, you should have an end that is dropping down, and lace it through the back of your Obnoxious Lights.
   
   • Refer to Picture
2. Once laced though, proceed to wrap around the frame and knot.

Now that both sets of your lights are properly secured to the picture frame, it is add your art.

To complete this section you will need:

1. Completed Frame with Mounted Light
2. Tape

This is as simple as it gets:

1. Using two pieces of clear tape, place your art on the bottom of the Obnoxious light and place clear tape on the top two corners.
   • Be sure your art is facing outward and can be seen.
2. With one long piece of tape, I used a stronger piece of electrical tape, run the length of the artwork. This piece of tape should cover the paper from the first piece of tape the second.

Now that everything is mounted and secured, plug the prongs of either light into the other.

Once finished plug your frame into the wall and LET FREEDOM RING. Let the artwork you have created wave with the flag of freedom. Let the light of this great country display the work you let a robot make. Nothing screams America more than making a frame from a picture frame from your bare hands (if you ignore the frame already being put together), but who cares because you can claim you made it yourself and no one will know the difference, and nothing is more 'Merican than stealing credit for someone else's work.