How to Mat and Frame Photos Cheaply
Personal photographs are all over many houses, in albums, boxes or frames. School photos, large landscapes, collages of family and friends-these are all cherished memories to show to visitors and loved ones. Taking photos in to a studio or frame shop to be matted and framed can be expensive, but you can do it yourself with a small budget and some effort and creativity.
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Things You'll Need
- 11 by 14 inch frame
- Paint or stain (optional)
- Paintbrush (optional)
- Poster board
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Scissors or craft knife
- 8x10-inch photo
- Tape
Instructions
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1
Take glass and existing photo or paper out of the frame. Paint or stain the wood if wanted and set aside to dry.
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2
Measure, mark and cut an 11 by 14 inch rectangle from the poster board.
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3
Cut an 8 by 10 inch opening from the middle of the 11 by 14 inch mat, leaving 1½ inches on each horizontal and 2 inches on each vertical side.
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4
Tape your 8 by 10 inch photo to the mat, allowing the picture to show through the opening. Make sure to hide the tape by placing it on the backside of the photo and mat.
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5
Put the glass and matted photo back into the frame and hang on a wall to show off your creative talent.
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Tips & Warnings
Use black poster board and a white frame for more drama.
Buy extra poster board in case of mistakes.
Cut multiple small boxes in the mat, showing many photos in one frame.
Look anywhere for old frames. You can buy them at a department store-check the bargain bins-or find them at garage sales. You may even have some sitting in storage. By painting them or reusing them in a new way, the frames can look completely different.
Don't stain frames that are not made of wood. If you have frames made of plastic or some other material, make sure you have paint suitable for the material.
