Is there an easier way to mat photos.....

[KaitlinsMom]

I love to mat photos - but is there and easier way than using my friskers slide cutter (not sure what the proper name is for that thing) -

I am sure there is - they make everything else for scrapbooking!

 

[carolinagirl]

I have two words for you......Perfect Layers. Perfect Layers is a product carried exclusively by QVC that was created specifically for matting photos. I have a set and I use it on almost every layout I do.

I don't know how to describe how you use this product in words. It is much easier to understand if you see it in a demo on air. Basically you get a cutting mat, a razor (like an Exacto knife) and two "rulers". Each side and edge of the "rulers" have a lip that are different sizes. They range from 1/16th to 5/8th inch. You go ahead and attach your picture to whatever paper you want to use. Then take the ruler and pick the size you want. Say 1/4". You "butt" the lip of the ruler up against the side of your photo and use the razor to run along the flat side of the ruler to trim the paper. You repeat the process along all four sides of your photo. Waalaah.....you have a perfect matt for your photo. You can repeat the process to double, triple matt....as much as you want.

It sounds way more difficult than it actually is. It is really very simple and saves me tons of time on layouts. If you go to QVC.com and search for Perfect Layers you can see what it looks like. I think it is the best $20 I've spent on a scrapping tool. I very highly recommend it!

 

[nicki dahling]

I second perfect layers.

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp...eferrer=QVC&txtDesc=perfect+layers&Submit4=Go

Cyndi

 

[KaitlinsMom]

See - I knew there was something out there!

Thanks Cyndi for the link - I ordered it - But it is on backorder, so it looks like I will have to wait a bit -

Now - Will I be able to figure it out when I get it - I mean, since I didn't see a demo? Does it come with instructions?

I am sure it is so easy to use - But it is always the first time using something (like refilling my hermafix)

 

[PigletsPal]

I ordered mine last year and it took 3 months (also on backorder)and I'm so glad I waited......LOVE IT!!!!! I had a little bite of a problem at first then the light bulb went off and I finally understood how it worked. There is ridges(which is the width of your boarder) on the back of the rulers that you place up against either the picture or paper you wish to use

 

[Pin Wizard]

No matting here! A friend of mine got me hooked on white borders only. After seeing someone else's GORGEOUS work, I now have my prints developed at Wolfe Camera WITH white borders around!

 

[Mamu]

I use my CM cutters and make beautiful mats. I use two different papers, a solid back-ground paper, and a flowered or printed front.

I mix up the cutters, sometimes a squaree back-ground and a circle or oval center opening. Sometimes the new heart or flower shape cutter. You can let your imagination go wild trying different shapes.

Example:

Using the heart cutters
1. Using the large heart, and the solid paper. Cut the outside using the green blade.
2. Now cut the printed paper with the red blade on the outside of the cutter.
3. Take the printed paper and the small heart cutter, position the cutter in the middle of the heart shaped paper and using the red blade on the outside cut a heart inside the heart.
4. Glue or tape the 2 hearts together, larger heart on the bottom.
5. Once the papers are together it's time to cut the opening in the center. Use the small heart cutter and green blade. Center the small heart cutter on the top of the papers. With the green blade on the outside make your final cut.


You now should have a double heart mat, the bottom layer should be 1/8 of an inch larger on the outside and inside of the photo mat.

 

[WDWAurora]

Coluzzle cutting system. I love it for this reason. It's reasonably priced (7.49 for blade and same for patterns, available in circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, hearts, stars, letters, etc etc etc) and each pattern has around 12 sizes, so you have plenty to work with, and it's all on a flat piece of plastic that travels easily to crops...I cannot say enough good about Coluzzle...I never matted a lot before I used this! Now I mat quite a bit and they're always perfectly proportioned.

 

[MikeScott8]

Cindy Cindy Cindy!!!

what are we going to do.. You making me spend money like this! That link makes it so easy for me to spend money on that.

It sounds GREAT!

I always have trouble matting pictures straight, adn the different tips I tried never worked for me. Even using the CM cutters, getting mats I know are a set amount bigger than the picture trimed, I can never get thing lined up right.

This sounds like it will work prefectly for me. And the description on the useage sounds easy to follow (and something like an idea I was trying to formulate for doing them)

Mike

 

[nicki dahling]

Sorry Mike. But I promise you will be happy. Its helps me set my pictures so that they almost look like they are inside a framed. See example below :


http://gallery.lifetimemoments.com/showphoto.php?photo=34803&password=0&sort=1&cat=500&page=1


I agree it was the best money I ever spent ( well that my daughter spent, it was a gift ). It will be worth the wait.

Cyndi

 

[mcnuss]

I have it and I don't love it...what's wrong with me???

 

[nealymouse]

I have the perfect layers from QVC.

My problem is when I put the perfect layer up against the paper or picture most times it wont stay.

Any tips on how better to use it ??