How to Make Fabric Mats for Framing Pictures
Crafters use mat board to frame pictures within a larger, more rigid frame. Typically, people choose to mat their art or photos in a solid color of paper-based board. However, you can also mat images with fabric to provide extra depth, texture or embellishment to the project as a whole. Displaying a fabric-based mat in place of a paper-based mat does not mean you will forgo using the paper product altogether. To shape the fabric properly for framing, you will apply it to mat board.
Things You'll Need
- Mat board
- Exacto knife
- Fabric (amount depends on the size of your mat)
- Scissors
- Craft glue
- Foam paintbrush
- Ruler
- Pen
- Heavy book
Instructions
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1
Cut the mat into the size you want the fabric mat to be if you are not using a pre-cut mat.
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2
Spread the fabric in front of you, face down. Lay the cut mat on top.
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3
Mark around the outer edge of the mat on the fabric.
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4
Measure an inch out from that boundary and draw a new line two inches wider and longer than the finished product should be.
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5
Cut the fabric out following the outermost line as a guide.
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Lay the fabric back on the table face down with the mat on top.
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7
Trace the boundary of the inner window of the mat.
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8
Measure a half inch in and draw a new window one inch shorter in width and length than the desired window.
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9
Cut out the window following innermost lines as a guide.
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Cut four diagonal lines in the inside corners connecting the corner of the present window and the marked corner where the visible window will begin.
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Lay the fabric face down on the table.
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12
Brush the top of the mat with a layer of craft glue.
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13
Place the mat glue side down onto the fabric. Make sure you line up the mat board with the boundary lines you drew on the fabric.
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14
Press the mat down to affix the fabric to the glue.
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15
Paint the visible fabric in the window of the mat board with the glue.
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16
Bring each of the four pieces up, pressing them into the back of the mat board.
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17
Paint the visible fabric that is beyond the edges of the mat board with the glue.
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18
Fold one of the long sides over the edge of the board and press it down to the back to affix the fabric to the board. Fold and press all the way across the fabric, even where there is no mat and the fabric comes in contact with other fabric.
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19
Turn the mat board so the other long side is facing you. Repeat the process for folding over the glue-painted fabric.
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Turn the mat to do each short side. You may need to apply a little extra glue to the corners of the fabric where you pressed it to other fabric in the folding process.
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21
Follow the glue manufacturer's instructions for drying times. Place a heavy book on top of the mat while it dries to keep it flat.
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References
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
