There are different ways and different materials you may
use to assemble your mats. The tools I use are linen hinging tape (the white
tape), acid-free painters tape (the blue tape), and a special backing board
that is about half the thickness of the mat (the sheet with the scissors on
top).
You can use whatever types of materials you like, and the
sales associates at an art supply store should be able to help you pick out
the right materials for your purposes.
Step 2.
Cut off two small pieces of linen hinging tape.
Step 3.
Line up the top of your mat along the top of your backing
board. Hinge the two together using the linen hinging tape.
Step 4.
Lay your artwork on the backing board approximately in place.
Step 5.
Close the mat. Press the hinging tape down securely at the
top and make sure the mat and backing board are aligned. Then, align your artwork
in the window to your liking.
Step 6.
Use the acid-free painters tape to secure your artwork in
place. For more delicate pieces or originals, I recommend using photo corners,
which do not put any adhesive on your artwork.
Step 7.
If you don't want anyone to be able to open the mat, glue
the bottom shut.
I glue the mats that I take to craft fairs, where I sell
unframed matted work. This way, when people remove the piece from the packaging,
there is no risk of the mat coming apart and potentially being ruined. However,
this means that the mat will have to be destroyed to get the work back out,
so use your own judgement as to whether you would like to do this step.
Note: If you will immediately put the matted piece into a
frame, the frame will hold the mat shut perfectly well, so there is no need
to glue it if you don't want to.
Step 8.
Close the mat and again align the mat with the backing board.
Press the bottom shut if you glued it.
