Suggestions for Re-Furbishing a Frame w/ Print Still In It

[muyhippie]

I'm hoping that I posted this in the correct section...

...anyway, last night I was lucky enough to bid (and win!) a really great cat-print already matted and in a frame.  The price was a bit high but since all of the proceeds were going to HIV/AIDS research and outreach, I went ahead and dropped the cash for it.

That said, I absolutely hate the frame - its this very traditional, gold-speckled frame that is very basic and does not fit my home's decor at all.  My question is for suggestions on how to alter the frame without taking the print out (it was professionally matted and framed and I don't want to tear through the butcher paper on the back to get at it)...should I just tape off the glass and attack it with some spray paint?  I want to maybe do a black or even an avocado green, but I want to make sure I won't damage the glass...

Any help would be greatly appreciated - I've attached the photo of the print just because I love it so much!

[dustyfro]

You could VERRRRRY carefully cover the whole glass with painter's tape to protect it as you paint it.

[sweatereyes]

I just finished working on a frame that I was also unable to get the art out of (mine was an old painting I found, with a seriously god-awful gold and wood frame).  I wasn't able to tape the art, since it didn't have glass in the front.. so I cut a piece of cardboard (from a cereal box, so it was on the thinner side, a little flexible but still thick enough to protect the art) that fit into one end of it (this did take a few minutes to make sure it was really snug and in place).  I made sure that it did go more than half way down the frame (mine was longer and skinnier), then I just painted it with a brush.  I really wanted to use spray paint, was too afraid of getting even a little dot of paint on the art and thought this was "safer".  I did really thin layers with the brush, alternating between the top and the bottom (acrylics dry so fast) until it was covered to ensure there are no brush marks or a defined line between the top and bottom.

[jo_mama]

the great thing about paint is that if you get it on glass you can just scratch it off   honestly, i would sand and paint the frame with a brush.  no need to tape it off, cause the paint will likely bleed through and it would have been a huge waste of time.  if anything just slip paper between the frame and the glass to save cleanup time.  if paint gets on the glass just scratch it off.

after painting i would return to the paper idea (slipping between the frame and glass) covering the whole glass.  tape it all together with masking tape.  spray the frame with a clear coat spray.  this will seal in the paint, cause i am guessing the paint won't want to stick to that frame.

i painted a very large mirror this way and it worked great.

jo