Thursday's Scrapbook Basics!

8 Tips for Embellishing Photo Mats for Scrapbooking

Matting photos is the most basic thing that you can do to embellish your scrapbook pages. Decorating those photo mats allows you to take your scrapbook pages to a whole new level. Here you can find eight quick and easy ways to embellish your photo mats for your scrapbook pages and add that extra special touch to each of your layouts. From lift-the-flap photo mats, to adding embellishments such as buttons and flowers, to techniques such as paper tearing and hand stitching, each idea comes with a link to help you learn how to re-create that design on your own scrapbook pages.




1. Triple Matting and Colorblocking Photo Mats for Scrapbooking
(page by Ludens)
Using a triple mat on a photo turns that picture into a focal point on the scrapbook page. By using two colors of solid cardstock in alternating layers the mats on the photo give a very finished look to the scrapbook page layout. This photo mat is also color blocked and embellished with a silk flower and a button.











2. Layer Photo Mat with Photo Corners
(page byCTMH)
On this gorgeous layout from Close to My Heart, decorative photo corners are layered on top of the photo mat to add texture and elegance to the scrapbook page.











3. Paper Tearing on Photo Mats
(page by Schmidt)
Torn paper can be used to add texture anywhere on your scrapbook pages but it is especially helpful in creating a focal point. You can simply add a strip of torn paper next to your photo on a photo mat to draw the reader's eye to your photo. On this layout, Jennifer Schmidt, used gray cardstock which she crumpled and tore to accent elephant photos.









4. Machine Sewing on Photo Mats
(page by Ludens)
Machine stitching your photo mats basically creates a textured outline around your photos. On this layout, the machine stitching is used as the main scrapbook page embellishment.













5. Split the Double Mat
( page by Ludens)
An easy way to add some interest to your photo mats is to try spliting them. On this layout the focal point photo is matted on patterned paper and then double matted on a pair of solid cardstock pieces. The split line draws the eye to the center of the photo mat.











6. Add a Button or Two or Twenty to Your Photo Mats
(page by Marmo)
I love using buttons on my scrapbook pages. They are quick and simple scrapbook page embellishments. Use them on your photo mats to add texture and interest.













7. Lift-the-Flap Photo Mats
(page by Ludens)
Lift the flap photo mats are easy to make and they have two great benefits: 1) You can hide your journaling and/or have much more room for journaling on your layouts, 2) You can add extra photos to your pages. This lift-the-flap gallery shows you how to create these photo mats and also how to put them in page protectors.













8. Use Unique Textured Photo Mats
(page by Quick Quotes)
Move beyond cardstock and paper when thinking about photo mats. You can mat your photos on fabric, cork, mesh, or as seen on this layout on a 4x6 inch canvas. Using a photo mat with both depth and texture will give your pages a little extra "pop."




I hope that you find this article useful. Rebecca Ludens is an avid and respected scrapbooker and she writes these articles on her blog http://www.scrapbooking.about.com/