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How to Decorate & Paint Picture Mats

Photo mats are used along with frames when you want to display your pictures. Mats come in a variety of sizes and colors and the amount of border that surrounds the picture can be narrow or wide. If you are using a photo mat that has a wide border you can decorate the mat with stickers, stencils, paint or clip art. When done, your picture will not only be protected in the frame it will become a unique piece of art.

Things You'll Need

Stickers
Stencils
Clip art
Paint
Detail paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Determine a theme and color for the mat. Select stencils, clip art, stickers and paint that you will use to create the selected theme.
- 2
  Lay a blank piece of paper to one side of the mat and lay out the stencils and sticker before you place them onto the mat. This will give you a design you can follow and adjust before applying to the mat.
- 3
  Paint the mat with a small detail brush. Do not use too much paint on the brush. Photo mats are paper-based, and if you use too much paint it may bleed or run. When done painting, let the mat dry thoroughly before you apply the stencils, stickers and clip art.
- 4
  Remove the stencils, stickers and clip art from the white piece of paper and place them into their final position on the photo mat. Remove the backing from the stickers and clip art and carefully apply to the mat.
- 5
  Place the stencils over the area you want them to appear in, and paint over the stencils using the same small detail brush you used to paint the mat.
- 6
  Allow the stencils to dry and your decorated and painted mat is ready to be used.

Photography