Tutorial :: how I made a picture wall

i’ve been brewing on this idea for some time for the shabby chic guest room.  with guests arriving this week, i figured it was time to wrap up this project.

a few months ago, i took the kids to ikea.  it’s always such an adventure.  big A points at the arrows on the ground while lil G sprints around and jumps on all the furniture.  for some reason, ikea is fine with this.  so i am, too.

i picked up a bunch of white frames in different sizes.  the thought was to do a mix of old family photos with some of the kids as the central images.

1. after printing the photos and getting them into the frames, i laid out the frames to see how i generally wanted them to be arranged.
2. i didn’t want a symmetrical look, mainly b/c i knew i wouldn’t be able to get them aligned perfectly on the wall.  know your limitations!
3. i then flipped the frames glass facing down.  using butcher paper, i traced the shapes of the frames, marking where the hooks were.  then cut.
4. using blue scotch painter’s tape (love that stuff!), i marked each frame with a number that matched the cut out butcher paper.
5. i then took the cut outs and arranged them on the wall to mimic the look i laid out in step #1.
6. then i started hammering the nail hooks
7. carefully pulled the paper off
8. installed the photos
9. turned out better than expected
   

   lay ’em out

   

   numbering the frames

   

   using butcher paper, i traced around each frame. i then cut each out and labeled with the frame #.

   

   so easy to move them around to achieve the look you want

   

   marks indicate where to install the photo hooks

    

   

   carefully tear the paper away after you’ve nailed in the hooks

   

   here it is half way done

   

   used different widths and heights to create visual appeal

   

   not too shabby