You can brighten up a room quickly with your kids' drawings or inexpensive prints, just by putting them in discount frames. If you want to take it one more step, you can personalize the look with a few square feet of custom-colored burlap, and make your new framed collection really zing.

To keep things inexpensive, find a source of frames that include single mats. You can often find these in a variety of styles and sizes for less than $10.00.

Covering the mat with burlap will add a beautiful, organic look to your display. And you don't need to settle for the limited color range of burlap you'll find at the store. It's easy to "dye" the burlap after it has been glued to the mat by using a wash of acrylic craft paint in a color that compliments the artwork.

Choose a color of burlap that is as close as possible to the color you want your finished mat to be, or use a color that compliments it. Some of the burlap's original color will show through, adding textural interest.

You'll also need a small jar of acrylic craft paint in a color the will look great with the print or drawing that will be placed in the fram. Or choose a color that will compliment the rest of your décor.

Once you have assembled your burlap, your paint and your frame, it's time to customize your display. First, take your new frame apart to separate the mat from the frame. Set aside the glass, the backing and the frame. Place the mat upside-down on a piece of burlap that has at least 2 inches of extra fabric all around the mat. Be sure the threads in the burlap are in line with the edges of the mat so it will look neat when it's finished.

Fold the outside edges over the mat, miter the edges with scissors, and use a hot-glue gun to firmly hold the fabric to the back of the mat. Then cut a square or rectangle from center of the fabric, leaving at least 1 inch of fabric to glue onto the inside edge of the mat. Miter the corners as before, and firmly glue the fabric to the back of the mat. When you turn the mat over, you should have a perfectly smooth mat covered with burlap, with no wrinkles or gaps.

Now mix a bit of water with acrylic craft paint to make a consistency that will be easy to brush onto the fabric, but not so thin that it will soak into the cardboard mat. The color needs to stay on the burlap itself. If the cardboard gets too wet, the mat will warp.

Using a large brush, pick up some of your acrylic paint and then tap the brush against a paper towel to remove the excess paint. Then dry-brush the color onto the burlap. If the first coat does not give you as deep a color as you wanted, let it dry and paint the fabric again.

When the paint is completely dry, reassemble the frame, add your print or drawing, and attach the back to the frame.

You can also use burlap as a backing to a drawing, instead of using a mat. This is particularly effective if your print has a deckled edge, or if the drawing is done on heavy watercolor paper.

To do this, you will need to cut a piece of thin cardboard the same size as the backing board of your frame. Cover the entire piece of cardboard with your burlap. You don't need to overlap it onto the back, because the edge will be covered by the frame. Then paint the burlap the color you've chosen. Remember to keep the cardboard dry so it won't warp. Then center your print onto the mat, attach it to the mat with double-sided tape.

This project is so inexpensive and easy to do, you can easily cover a large section of wall with a print or drawing collection that will draw the eye and become your room's new focal point.

Jonni has been writing articles online for many years. She has also created a number of websites, including popular directories that help people locate trade show displays in Houston and restaurant supply stores in Dallas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonni_Good

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