Go Cubbies Matting

Framed by Kevin Pietro- owner of the Great Frame Up in Schaumburg, Illinois
Step 1:
My project is to frame the limited edition print called “Go Cubbies!” by contemporary anime artist Billy Tokyo. I used the new Cresccnt Impact Colors which has perfect color matches for sports teams with Crescent matboards. I selected Chicago Cubs team colors of  9554 (blue) and 9899 (red).

The outer dimension is going to be 37 3/8 x 32” and the inner opening is going to be 27 1/8 x 21 ¾ giving us a 5 1/8 mat width all around.

Crescent Impact Colors

Go Cubbies Step 1

 

Go Cubbies Step 2

Step 2:
Using top mat 9554 we first cut our V-groove into our top opening at 3 3/8 from the outer edge.

Once our V-groove is cut we then cut our top opening again at 4 1/8 so the V-groove is 3/4” away from the top opening.

Step 3:
Cutting our 2nd level of matting we decided to inlay the 9554 (blue – called Pharaoh) into the 9899 (red – called True Red) to give us 2 colors on the same level. The 9899 is cut at 4 3/8 from the outer edge.

To inlay we cut the 9554 the same size and insert the fallout back into the 9899 opening. I love this technique especially when working with team colors because I can give an extra pop to every piece I do.

Go Cubbies Step 3

 

 
Go Cubbies Step 4

Step 4:
Once your inlay is in place we cut the next opening at 4 7/8” from the outer edge revealing ½” of the blue – 9554.

Step 5:
We add one more layer of 9899 as our bottom mat cut at 5 1/8” revealing ¼”.

Before all levels are attached together we use 3/16 foamboard behind the uppermat cut ½” away from the inner opening so it does not show. This lifts our top mat up and adds dimension and interest. We did the same between the 2nd and lower mat.

Step 6:
We attach our print to he finished mat to create a spectacular look to compliment this spectacular work of art. We used Larson Juhl 210286 White to frame the finished piece.

Go Cubbies Step 3

 

 
   
 
Travel Label Shadowbox

Framed by Kevin Pietro- owner of the Great Frame Up in Schaumburg, Illinois

The four labels used in this framing project were reproductions of classic travel labels used in the early 20th century. They are not considered archival and are purely decorative.

I cut a Rag Mat slightly smaller (approximately 1/8 inch all the way around) in the same shape as the labels. I then attached the labels (which were peel-off stickers) to the matboard carefully, centering them on the boards. Once each label was on a matboard, I began adding spacers for height differences.
The "French Line" label and the lower "Wanted on Voyage" are the same height– using a single Fome-Cor® acid-free spacer to lift them off the backing piece of Bronze Moorman Suede (7182). Then a double Fome-Cor spaces the upper "Wanted on Voyage" label, to overlap the two lower stickers as shown. To add more dimension to the "Regina" label, I added 1 more layer of 8 ply to the double Fome-Cor spacers, giving that layer more height. All spacers were cut small to hide behind the labels. I attached all the pieces with silicone for strong adhesion to the suede board.

The final product uses Crescent's Moorman Polaris (7120) as the top mat, cut 2 7/8 inches. Moorman Marine Blue (7113) is the second mat, showing 1/4 inch, cut 3 1/8 inches with triple foam core spacers under the top two mats.