MOM'S GALLERY WALL AND RIBBON PHOTO MATS

In the past, I've shared with you how to do your own framing, how to cut your own mat, and how to make a custom fabric mat.  Today, I'm showing you one more option for a photo mat.

This week I've been working to put together a new gallery wall in my Mom's kitchen.  They've recently re-painted and she was ready for some updated family photos in the spot where she's always had our pictures in the past.  

She already had plenty of frames.  But often, especially with vintage or thrifted frames, the size can be slightly different than the standard print sizes these days.  It's especially aggravating when the frame opening is just  >>this much<<  too big for your photo.  So, here's how I like to solve that problem sometime.  With ribbon!  

Granted, you can always cut a mat.  But depending on the size, sometimes to cut a mat that would be thick enough to not look wimpy you'd be covering up too much of your photo.  Here's an example:

I printed our family photo as close to this frame size as I could get it.  However, there was still a gap and the top and bottom, even though the sides fit.  So, I dug through my ribbon stash and found the appropriate width that would cover that gap.

If we needed it, I cut a piece of poster board the size of the frame, I used my trusty Glue Dots once again to adhere the photo and the ribbon to it.  Just one in each corner and one in the middle of each side works great.

Then pop that entire thing behind the glass, put the backer board on and secure.  If you really want to get fancy you could miter the corners, but I found it fine to just cut straight edges.

For this fun photo of the cousins we used a wider polka dot ribbon.  I think this is our favorite photo on the whole wall!

I still have to find one more photo for the oval frame, and we've already tweaked the left side a little and moved a  few frames around.  That's the beauty of a random gallery wall...you can always squeeze one more thing in!

I hope you'll try using a ribbon in place of a mat sometime.  With hundreds of great designs available, you can easily add a big dose of personality to your gallery wall!

Do you have big plans for the weekend?  Tonight we're all going to see this guy:

Are you familiar with him?  If not, you'll be glad you watched.  Then you'll want to look at all of his clips on YouTube, including The Wife Song and Hand Raising and Sanitizer.  I promise.  Your family can watch with you too!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with:  Home Stories A to Z