Custom Fabric Picture Frame Mats + Free Botanical Prints

Hello everyone! I’m so excited to share today’s tutorial. These custom fabric frame mats are a simple decorating detail that make such a pretty impact to any space. If you’re a textile enthusiast like myself, you may already have everything you need on hand to make them.

Over the last few months I’ve been working in our daughter’s nursery, getting everything just perfect for her arrival. When I hung the botanical prints I realized that they needed a little something to really make them pop. A couple years ago I had purchased a vintage sailboat print for Charlie’s room that had a navy blue and white check fabric over the mating. I’ve always loved the extra detail and color that it added to that print, so I knew that fabric would be a way to bring in some extra pattern and color to the room. I loved the outcome so much that I also tackled four frames that hung in our dining room as well. 

I used left over gingham fabric that I had used years ago on a pleated lampshade. This fabric is a thin cotton fabric purchased from Hobby Lobby. A thin to medium thick fabric works best for this project. You want to make sure you have plenty of room to attach the back onto the frame once you’re done.

Supplies need:

• Mod Podge or a similar glue 
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Cutting mat (if using a rotary cutter)
• Small brush (to apply the glue)
• Fabric of your choice
• Mating

Make your custom mating:

1. Iron any wrinkles from your fabric and lay it flat. Place your mat upside down on top of your fabric, making sure your fabric is nice and straight. Cut the fabric leaving a 1/2″-1″ of extra on all sides. 
2. Cut an “X” in the center of the mat from corner to corner. I used my rotary cutter for this part. Cut the center flaps to 1/2″-1″. Trim the fabric on all four corners. 
3. Apply mod Podge to the back of the mat and fold over the fabric and press firmly. 
4. Let the mat dry completely and place back into your frame.

It’s such a simple touch that really adds something extra special to your artwork. I just love how sweet these prints turned out in Audrey’s nursery!

Free Botanical Prints

You can download these botanical prints free here:

(Simply click on the botanical print links below, save each print using “save as” and print at home or use from your preferred printers.)

Botanical Print #1  /  Botanical Print #2  /  Botanical Print #3  /  Botanical Print #4  /  Botanical Print #5

Last week I used some extra fabric I had from our custom shade in our pantry to cover the plain mat on our antique German etchings in our dining room.

This is a Lacefield Designs fabric called Ponce in the color Stone. This fabric is a little thicker than the gingham fabric that I used in the nursery, but it worked just fine. I didn’t have any issues with the glue adhering or the frame being too thick. 

I plan to eventually upgrade the frames of these etchings to a cleaner gold frame, but I love the detail that the fabric has added. 

Adding fabric to a frame mat can quickly become addicting. I find myself looking for frames around our home that need a little something extra. This would also be a fun idea to use at Christmas time! You could wrap miniature mats in fabric and attach vintage Christmas prints to the back and hang them on your tree with a little satin or velvet ribbon. Oh goodness, I’m already getting excited for Christmas! 

Here’s to a great upcoming fall season and I hope you have a wonderful week, friends!