Frame Art Without A Matte

I will show you how you can frame your art without using a matte in this easy simple tutorial.

Frame artwork without matte - So Much Better With Age
I’m always looking for an easy way to frame artwork especially without using a matte.
I also have many beautiful postcards that I’ve collected over the years from some of my travels and never know what to do with them.
I love framing them but the mattes are expensive and sometimes hard to find the right size.
This is a very easy alternative to buying mattes.
Let me show you in this tutorial how to frame postcards without using a matte!
Easy Artwork, Frame A Postcard Without Using A Matte graphic.
 Here is my framed Eiffel Tower postcard. And there is no matte!
Can you believe I just used a piece of watercolor paper?
A black frame with an Eiffel Tower picture inside it.
I had three old white frames. I spray painted them a flat black. Each frame is actually a bit different but the color makes them look the same.
Three matte free framed pictures in the bedroom.
All you need is some of this watercolor paper from your arts and crafts store.
I got this one at Michael’s.
Watercolor paper from Michaels.
Place a postcard on top of a sheet of watercolor paper. Glue or tape into place. Then just pop it in a frame! It’s that easy! Anyone can do this DIY project.
Placing the postcard on top of the paper.
The pictures hanging up.
These types of frames are the ones that stand up on their own but you can still hang them on a wall. I tied some jute rope to the back. I left it a bit loose so you can see the rope when hung on the wall. It gives it a bit of a rustic look.
Tying the rope on the back of the picture frames.

I like how they turn out. Although I might be moving these to another part of my house one day soon.

A large bed with white duvet and the three pictures hanging up.

Yep, the decorating never ends!

Frame art without using matte graphic.

I hope you try framing your own artwork without a matte!

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24 Comments

  1. I love these! Great idea! I totally cheated in Landry’s nursery with her vintage nursery rhyme prints and didn’t use mats! So expensive! I love those postcards!!

  2. Water color paper is an excellent backing paper as it’s nice and strong with a great texture. Your post cards look great in your frames, which I love for the embossing on them. Very nice. You were very clever to use water color paper.
    I use watercolor paper for so many things, it’s very versatile, can cut it easily enough and looks nice with objects. I was making a wood flag for 7/4, had intended to stencil stars on the blue field but I seem to make a mess, after working so hard to keep the stripes and star field neat I decided not to take a chance on messing it up. I traced a star shape off my stencil onto watercolor paper and glued them on the star field instead. I think the little raise of the stars helps to make the flag look little nicer. It turned out nicely, instead of having to worry about messing it up with paint. I know my faults and steady hand is not always one of them, steady eyes either. Hope somebody else loves my flag also. Happy Summer

  3. Hi Jamie – I love this! I collect old postcards and really need to frame some of them, so this inspiration and how-to is perfect! Thank you so much for sharing at Best of the Weekend and hope you join us every week. Will be pinning to our board. Have a wonderful weekend!

  4. Love these, Thank you so much for linking up to my linky party. Hope to see more from you next time.

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