Tuesday, August 2, 2016

MODify: DIY Poster Board Artwork Mat for Customized Home Gallery Walls

I'll never forget taking a prized poster to the frame shop to ask what it would cost to get it professionally matted about a decade ago. The price was OUTRAGEOUS, like well over 100 what-the-hell outrageous. Ever since I've always been creative when hanging and framing art, tending to use what's on-hand or thrifted. It might look common sense to fellow crafters, but here's how I assembled a new matching gallery wall for my bedroom.

Supplies: Helix T-Square, Cutting Mat, Krylon Black/Matte Cover Maxx (optional, for frames to match), frame(s), poster board (I got mine at Dollar Tree, two for one dollar)


I measure the whole piece I'll be cutting out a "mat" for and cut that out.


And measure how much I want the mat to cover the art piece. I didn't want the mat to cover "moon" on my poster (it's from my first telescope) so it's a bit small and imbalanced for the frame, but at 50 cents for the "mat" I can change it later if it starts to drive my pedantic designer-brain crazy. (Not likely.) The mat ended up being about 1.5 to 2 inches.


After measuring the mat size I cut along the guidelines I cut out where the picture will show, running my x-acto knife along the t-square.


Then I see how it looks in the frame! To make all of my hodge-podge old frames match I gave them a coat of Krylon Black/Matte Cover Maxx Ultimate Coverage which has a nice satiny finish that makes it look like the frames were always black.

This DIY is also a good option for oddly-shaped pieces there are no pre-cut mats available for. The result is not as gorgeously polished as getting a piece professionally framed, but it's a nice way to get your favorite collection or art pieces looking nice on the wall. You can always get it professionally done later if you have the money and want to support the frame shop.

Do you have any hacks for getting collections on the walls? I've been playing around with ideas and have a few more to share soon!
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25 comments:

  1. Compared to you, I mat like a peasant! I just use cardstock. I cut it to fit the frame, center my photo, tape it down and voila! I know this isn't actually matting, and for most people is probably super cheap-looking, but I can't believe how expensive professional framing is. For cheapos like me who aren't sticklers for perfection, if you use this method and put it behind a glass frame and hang it, it's not that noticeable from afar.

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    1. I've done that too :D Looks good with screen prints that have texture or frayed edges so you can see them. But I use poster board instead of gorgeous thick cardstock usually because; cheap. I agree, I'm too cheap to go the professional super gorgeous route, anytime I've even had a 50% off coupon or something and got an estimate I wanted to faint. Putting it behind glass is enough to protect the art and make it look nicer for me.

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    2. I feel ya :P I only have so much cardstock because I got it from a friend and she never used it!

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    3. My favorite way to obtain things, haha ;) My tv, playstation, tv stand, etc. were hand-me-downs from friends who didn't want them.

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    4. Ok, those are major scores. I mostly just mooch clothes and stationary and books. I need better friends!

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    5. Ok, those are major scores. I mostly just mooch clothes and stationary and books. I need better friends!

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    6. Haha :D They know I'm cheap so they ask if I want anything before they get rid of it.

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    7. Haha :D They know I'm cheap so they ask if I want anything before they get rid of it.

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  2. Perfect timing! I just got gifted an artwork of the phases of the moon :)

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    1. That is awesomely appropriate! I love all moon art :D

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  3. This is such a great hack, Vanessa. Thanks for sharing:) I do agree that getting them professionally matted and framed is insanely expensive. We had to have it done for our wedding photo....gaaaaaaah!

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    1. Oh the pain! :O Just buying new picture frames from the store at the sizes I want ($17ish give or take) is painful the hundreds to get it professionally done...nope, can't :O All personal photos live in a box , haha.

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  4. Yep, getting posters professionally matted and framed is super expensive over here too! I usually buy frames from IKEA. I love how you arranged your wall art!

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    1. I *love* IKEA for frames, I was thinking of them as I wrote the post, haha. The nearest one for me is 2 hours away or I'd be in trouble...

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  5. Your gallery wall looks great vanessa! I can't hardly believe how much it costs to have something framed either!

    Tania

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    1. Thanks! I haven't been back to one since the second estimate with a coupon, haha.

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  6. In spite of the fact that the greater part of these poster printing administrations are costly, there are reasonable poster printing administrations accessible for discount, rebate and shoddy rates.55 printing

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  7. What's more, print strips are long, bringing about broad print runs that kill the requirement for you to reload the printer or scramble for inkjet cartridges. Printing

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