Here's a better image of it: (broom not included)
It's gone now though, I gave it my mom for her birthday. It's a wee bit half-ass as I did not have any glazing on hand and there's no backing paper, but what the hey moms will cut you some slack! Heh! The nice non-glare acrylic sheets I like give me some serious sticker shock too. It's like 40 bucks for a 32x40 sheet. Ugh!
I'll give a quick run down. Not as nice as a video, but if you poke around on YouTube there are framing-related videos out there.
To cut the mat: (with equal-sized borders)
1. Measure your artwork and subtract 0.25" to allow for overlap.
2. Decide what width borders you want.
3. Double that number and add it to the artwork size, this will be the outside mat dimenson.
4. Subtract the artwork size from the mat size, this will be your window dimenson.
5. Put the matboard on a sheet of foamcore and cut both at the same time with a straight blade. Don't use cardboard; it's temptingly cheap, but too acidic it will yellow your art over time
6. Set up the mat cutter for the size border you want.
7. Draw lines on the back of the mat and double check to see that the art will fit.
8. With a backing board underneath cut the mat window with the 45º blade.
9. Tape hinge the top edge of the mat to the foamcore.
10. Attach T-hinged mounting tape to the top backside of the artwork.
11. Place artwork face up against the foamcore and carefully lower the mat into position, making sure the art is centered with no gaps showing. When perfect, press down where the tape is.
12. Carefully turn the mat and artwork over and burnish the tape down and close it up. You should now have a finished sandwich. You don't want to tape anything except the top edge and you don't want to tape across the entire length of the art because it needs to be able to move with humidity and temperature changes. If you tape it up tight it could start buckling.
13. Also cut a piece of glass or clear acrylic at the same size as the mat.
The frame:
1. Cut the moulding pieces to the size of the mat adding .25" or so for wiggle room. Measure this from the inside rabbet, not the inside or outside edge of the moulding.
2. Check to see that it's square (heh heh!) and then V-nail and glue the corners
3. Place the glazing\matboard\art\foamcore sandwich into the back of the frame
4. Jam in glazing points all along the back to hold it down
5. Lay down double sided tape along the edges of the frame's backside
6. Stick it down to backing paper. This helps keep out dust and insects.
7. Attach wire and hardware
8. Attach felt or rubber bumpers to the bottom backside of the frame
9. Hang on wall
10. Bob's yer uncle
Boy, that reminds me of the instructions I got with my VMPS subwoofer!
