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Collage Picture Frame Matte Gift

Kids Craft Project That’s For Adults, Too!

Apr 6, 2008 Jenn Greenleaf

Mother's Day is right around the corner and, with that, comes handmade gifts from both young and old! Find that perfect picture, and frame it with a mixed media matte.

Who does not love a handmade gift from that special someone in their life? This is particularly true for mothers on Mother’s Day. If you are unsure what to buy, make a gift instead! This gift idea focuses on the creation of a mixed media matte to place inside a frame containing a professional or candid photograph.

For this mixed media art project, you will need the following materials:

Photograph
Frame for the photograph
Picture frame matte
Decoupage medium
Sponge brush
Heavy-duty glue stick
Collage materials, themed around the photograph
Ephemera, themed around the photography
Decorative papers matching the photograph
Scrapbook embellishments, as flat as possible

Follow these simple instructions for creating a mixed media picture frame matte:

Create a background for the mixed media matte using the decorative papers and the heavy-duty glue stick. You can either use full coverage or add the paper in various areas of the matte. The choice is yours depending on how much of the matte you would like showing. Be sure to wrap the paper around the edges of the matte.
Using the heavy-duty glue stick, attach collage items so they wrap around the edges of the matte. Layer items over each other to create the look you are going after. (Option: add distress ink to the edges of collage items to give them dimension when layering.)
Mix in pieces of ephemera so these items are showing through the layers of collage materials in unexpected areas. Again, be sure to wrap these items around the edges of the matte. (Note: if these pieces of ephemera are items you are not ready to part with, like a play bill or theater tickets for example, make high quality photocopies to use in this project.)
Using the decoupage medium, layer scrapbook embellishments over the entire piece. Use stickers, definitions, metal text, and other interesting items to convey the theme of the photograph.
Seal over the entire piece with decoupage medium to ensure pieces do not fall off or fall apart. You may wish to add more than one layer. Set aside to dry completely before framing the photograph. (Tip: Speed up the drying time by using a heat gun or hair dryer.)

When the piece has completely dried, fame the photograph as you usually would. First, sign the back of the matte and add the date. It is a work of art, so you should add your mark. Now you have created a personalized piece of art and, if you also took the photograph, it will be that much more personal.

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The copyright of the article Collage Picture Frame Matte Gift in Mixed Media Arts is owned by Jenn Greenleaf. Permission to republish Collage Picture Frame Matte Gift in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.