Photo Mounting Project

If you love photos and don't love the expense of, or clutter created by frames, consider going frameless. Here are the steps to getting photos mounted on foam core.

If yo don't already have these supplies, get:

1. A full sized sheet of foam core (less than $3)
2. A bottle of spray adhesive ($7 and lasts forever)
3. An Exacto knife, plenty of fresh blades ($10)
4. A T-square, metal is best ($10)
5. A rubber mat ($10)

Once you have all the stuff, spray a section of the foam core about the same size as what you'll be sticking on there (do this outside) and to the back side of what you'll be sticking on there (I usually lay it face down on newspaper and over spray a bit). The bottle of adhesive will say how long to wait before putting the two pieces together. Usually not long. You can try to line up the edges with the foam core, but don't worry about doing it perfectly. Do push down in the center first and then smooth out the picture to the sides so you don't end up with bubbles. Now you are ready to cut. Line your t-square up with the side you want to cut first. Hold down firmly and make about two passes with your exacto knife. Then, line up the T-square with another side, using your first cut as your guide for what is square. Again, making about 2 passes with your knife. Cut remaining two sides. After cutting out a 12x18 image, I throw away the exacto blade (key to getting exact cuts is s fresh blade).

My sister-in-law puts pictures out on the shelf in a stack and periodically shuffles them. I've hung some on the walls with 3M Command Removable Interlocking Fasteners as seen in the photo at right.