DIY Photo Mattes

Since I'll be putting prints in the nursery, I figured I would need some frames.  On a trip to Ikea, I made my way to the frames section.  Before going in I had already made my mind up that I would get the Ribba frames.  Before getting to the Ribba, I saw the Nyttja.  It was the same size as the Ribba I was going to get, but they didn't have the mattes in them.  Mattes are a major thing for me.  I just think they make a photo look better in the frame.  They were also lighter in weight which was a good thing since they would be hanging over the crib.  They were a few bucks cheaper and I was thinking of the money I would save.  I thought for a few seconds and decided I can make my own mattes.  How hard could it be?  I grabbed the frames and checked out.

On the way home I went to the dollar store and got some poster board for my mattes.  At home, I laid out my supplies.

frames
poster board
existing matte from another frame
exacto knife or scissors
pencil

Start by opening your frame package.  Remove the paper insert from the frame.  This will be the size of the outside of your matte.  Trace the paper onto the poster board and cut out.

I used an existing matte as a template for the center opening.  Trace the inside rectangle and cut out.  Remember to trace on the side that will be facing in.  Don't want to see pencil lines on your finished side.
 

Put your new matte into the frame.
 

Put your print or photo into the frame.  You've got yourself a cheap matte.  Pretty clever huh?
 

I can't wait to fill all my frames with my DIY mattes.  Have you tried this?  The price of matted frames can be ridiculous don't you think?

Check out other projects from the nursery

Striped Wall 

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