How to Cover a Photo Mat with Fabric

I wanted to give a quick little 4 step tutorial on how to cover a photo mat with fabric.  I'm sure many of you already know how to do this, but I figure someone somewhere will probably appreciate a little how-to.  It's the easiest little project in the world and gives you so many great design options.  You can find the directions on how to add the gold corners here.

1. Choose any fabric you like and use your very best fabric cutting scissors.  I promise you the scissors matter.  Leave about an inch to an inch and a half all the way around the mat. 

2. Cut a small hole in the center.  From that hole cut towards the four inner corners.  Don't cut all the way into the corner - stop at about 1/8 of inch from the corner.  When you're done you'll have 4 little triangles in the middle. 

3. Use masking tape to tape the triangles down.  (Masking tape works really well and allows you to make a fabric change or just uncover your mat later.  Hot glue would work also, but I prefer to use tape.) 

4. Tape the sides all the way around pulling just a little to make the fabric smooth on the front. 

That's it folks!  Easy!   Your inner corners will be somewhat rounded.  This depends a lot on the thickness of the fabric you use.  Typically the thicker the fabric the more rounded the inner corners look. 

I added some gold thumb tacks to mine but you could also use some grosgrain ribbon to embellish.  Covering a photo mat with fabric gives you a nice custom framed look and with so many fabrics to choose from the styling options are endless.  It's also a great way to give new life to an old thrifted goodwill frame. Any project that delivers instant gratification is a good one in my book! 

I wish I could say the making of the horse cookies that I told you I was going to bake yesterday was an instant gratification project.  I was reminded mid-project why I don't bake very often.  IT TOOK FOREVER!  But, it did keep me distracted which was the goal right?  Thanks for all of your sweet words yesterday.  I very much appreciated them!  I wish I had some horse cookies to give you.  ;) 

I used the derby printables I told you about here to add a little pretty to the packaging.  They're far from perfect but my daughter's kindergarten class isn't on Pinterest so it won't matter.  ;) 

I'm off to the horse park today for a fun-filled field trip or rather a horse-filled one!  Hop on over to Thistlewood Farm for a little mint iced tea action in celebration of Derby Week! 

*Linking up at At the Picket Fence