Fun craft - Disney Photo Mat

posted on July 15th, 2014 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort

---

If a picture says a thousand words, I say a picture frame can say a thousand more. In this new “Show Your DIY Disney Side,” I’m making quick and easy photo mats using Disneyland Resort tickets and guide maps.

As much as I love sharing pictures with friends on social media, there’s something special about good ol’ unfiltered, un-hashtagged photo prints. What better way to put these beauties on display than with a unique photo mat? I used Disney Parks tickets and maps because they’re bright and colorful (Plus, it’s a great way to show your Disney Side).
If you have the materials, it’s fun to theme your mat to your photo – admission tickets for a concert photo, a street map for a road-trip snapshot, leftover gift wrap for a birthday photo — the options are endless!
Supplies:

• Any decorative paper (I used my old park tickets and a guide map, but any other decorative paper will work)
• Picture frames (I used 8” x 10” and 4” x 6” frames)
• Craft knife
• Your favorite photos (I used a 4” x 6” photo for the bigger frame and wallet-sized photo for the smaller, but you can use whatever sizes you’d like)

Step 1: Take the picture frame apart, separating the frame, cardboard backing and glass.
Step 2: Lay the guide map or decorative paper out flat over a tabletop.
Tip: Since we’ll be using our craft knife on this surface, make sure to protect your tabletop! A thick paper bag or some cardboard will do.

Step 3: Cut your desired paper to fill the frame (you can use the glass as a guide). This will form your photo map.
Tip: If using park tickets instead of a guide map or large decorative paper, you might not need to cut anything at all! Skip to Step 5.
Step 4: Place the photo over the center of the photo mat. Using the craft knife, cut out the center of the mat using the photo as a size guide.

Step 5: Place the photo face-up in the center of the picture frame and place the photo mat (or neatly arranged park tickets) on top of (or around) the photo.

UPDATE 7/16/14: I wanted to share this great tip from my fellow cast member, Gray, who works at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – “As a photo preservationist myself, I would like to suggest that you only use copies of photos and never the originals, as the tickets and maps are acidic and will degrade photos over time.” Thanks, Gray!

Step 6: Carefully place the glass on top to lock everything into place.