How to Make Your Own Photo Mat

Do you ever find a great frame and it's close, but not quite the dimensions you need for your photos and prints? A pre-made photo mat would take care of the uneven edges for you, but even the cheap mats can get pricey. Making your own with traditional materials can get tricky if you don't measure and cut just right. Instead, you can make a quick and easy custom photo mat that will look great and be ready in minutes, with no special tools or equipment.

What You'l Need:
-Frame
-Picture(s)
-Ribbon
-Scotch Tape
-Scissors

First, start with your pictures and frame. This frame and mat looked good, but the pictures were slightly smaller than the pre-cut openings.

 I happened to have some narrow blue velvet ribbon that would not only even out the photo edges, but give the frame a nice little splash of color.

I cut four pieces of ribbon for each opening and taped them in place. The lengths don't have to be exact, as long as the exposed edges look uniform.

There you have it! It looks much better, and only took a few minutes. 

This also works if you don't have any mat at all - I used a wider ribbon for a situation like this:

Using your own ribbon allows you to be more creative, too. You can layer them for added color and texture, or use ribbon with printed designs to match your decor. The possibilities are endless!