Gorgeous Gallery Wall . . .

Hello there, Thrifty Decorator Ladies!  My name is Cailan from Everyday Lovely where I share simple ways to make and find the lovely in everyday living.

Today I'm sharing with you a problem you might have to: I take a lot of pictures of my kiddos and I wanted a way to display current photos and be able to change them out easily.  But, I did not want to be continually taking off the backs of frames and centering pics, cleaning glass, etc.  

My solution was this Quick Change-it-Out Photo Gallery.

To begin, I dug out all the dusty frames I could find.  I wanted an eclectic look, so I collected both gold and silver with bronzy ones for some color depth.  If you had a really odd assortment it would be easy to paint them all black or a fun color for a unified look. 

I took off the cardboard backs, took out the glass and hung them up like so. 

Since the frames are just balancing on a nail (unless you want to add a sawtooth hook to the backs) I added some tacky gum (from Hobby Lobby) to make them stable.

When printing out your photos it makes all the difference if you add a white border.  You can do this with Picnik or at Walgreens online (called a "Studio" border at Walgreens).  This helps give the idea of a mat on the picture and makes for a more finished look.  I also ordered some 5x7 as well as 4x6's to add some variety as to size.

Because I had a lot of frames around (and they are pretty easy to find cheap at thrift stores), this project was really only the cost of the pictures and the $1.99 tacky gum.  I love being able to put new pictures up as soon as I get a fresh batch printed...which reminds me I need to take some fall pictures quick!

Thanks so much for having me Nikki - can't wait to see that basement!


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Cailan, thanks so much for visiting!

I just love Caillan's blog!  And right now she's running a giveaway!  So head over and follow Everyday Lovely for a chance to win some of this Lollia Handcreme!

And we (well, my lovely dad!) are (is) routing the trim today for the beadboard in our "new" basement!!


There are Target coupons available for all of these supplies.

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PB Knock-off Clock

{A $2.00 piece of wall art....}

I've had this project sitting forever!  I started it back before I had a blog....and I just finished it this week!

Since I was never planning on "posting" about it, I didn't take pictures of the original steps.  Here's my best attempt to recreate.....

I was originally inspired by Alchemy Junk and her version....she gives a great tutorial for how to make the wood look old!

I started with an old piece of plywood.....we use it every year to put our Christmas Tree stand on it....guess, I'll need to get something new for next year!

I painted my wood with a white base....I then tried to age mine by mixing multiple acrylic paint colors or red, yellow and brown.  I never quite did achieve the rust color that I was going for.....

I didn't really have to "age" my piece of wood too much.....it was already pretty beat up.  I just tried to make the holes look "rusty."  I also went over it with glaze to "age" it.

You can see in this next picture all the colors that I added when painting.....I just kept layering....if something looked too dark, I would take a wet paper towel and smear it around....

I used the glaze to draw my circle....I first drew it with a pencil and had to erase multiple times...and yes, I did try the whole thumbtack/string idea...I don't know what the problem was! (It's probably that whole exact measurement thing...)

 



As I have mentioned before, I have no type of fancy cutting machine.....I only had a printer that was running out of ink!

I picked the Times New Roman font because it had the word "roman" in it and I figured, hey...."roman numerals!"  I printed it out...holding my breath that it would do all the numbers before running out of ink!

I used black acrylic paint to paint on the numbers and then took sand paper and roughed them up.....

And yes....I know that the numbers are wrong......all the numbers are supposed to face in toward the middle......the hubby didn't like it like that!  It's all about compromise....sigh!

Cost: 

Wood:  free, an old junked piece

Glaze:  free, had it

Paint: $2.00 for 2 bottles of acrylic paint in red and yellow

Total:  $2.00!!

Now I'm on the look-out for some rusty clock parts!

PLACES I PARTY....

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Old Window Hairbow Holder

{Old window idea....}

I LOVE old windows!  In fact, you can read about how I use them for STORAGE, CHALKBOARDS, and  WALL DECOR.

Recently, I had an old window in my daughter's room.  It was one of the first windows that I tried to repurpose myself.  Let's just say that I've learned a lot since them!

I've been wanting a place to put all of her hairbows, ponytail holders, headbands, and more ponytail holders.  So I refashioned the window into this hairbow holder!

I began by ripping apart the window and using a staple gun to attach chicken wire to the back.  It was really easy to do.  I just trimmed it with my hubby's wire cutters.....actually kind've fun!

The problem.....we don't just have hair clips.  We have ponytail holders, headbands, and more ponytails holders.....none of which she ever actually keeps in her hair!

I wanted to organize those too, so I ran to our local True Value hardware store and grabbed some hooks that twist right into the wood. They cost all of $1.25 for 5 of them!!

To "fancy up the window" a bit, I went into my stash of fabric and made some twisted fabric flowers.....and just attached them with hot glue!  Love that stuff!

It's now a functional decorative piece in her room!

How do you organize your hair accessories??  A better question..how do you keep bows in your tomboy girl's hair???

Click HERE for places I party.

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Old windows as wall decor

Here are some ideas for ways to put old windows on your walls....

This wall is still a work in progress.....I ordered this vinyl from Jill at Utah Vinyl.  I browsed that "other vinyl" online magazine....not mentioning names but it has U and L in its initials....I got an idea and sent it to Jill and the total cost for this was only $5.00!!  Isn't it so pretty!

My goal is to find scrapbook paper or material to put behind the panes and matte black and white family pictures in them......I have some pictures, but I've been boycotting Joanne fabric...(it's my own personal campaign since I had to stand in line so long the last time I was there!)

And that GORGEOUS painting of the farm was hand-painted by husband!

My husband pulled this frame out of the garbage somewhere...I'm not sure what it even is, but if you look on the left-side, there's a really cool old handle.  I just put an old tin star in the middle of it....

Of all my windows, this is the one of most significance...it's a family "heirloom".....actually I stole it (shhh!) from the barn of my Great Uncle Ted....the only problem is that at the time of its "removal", the house belonged to another owner...not a member of our family!

...Do you like the red paper chain??  My daughter is so ready for Valentine's day!... and I am still loving my Epsom salt jars and my silver stick on my winter mantle!

......a little beady stuff and an old Christmas ornament make this window look great against the red of the wall in my half bathroom....

This window has actually had many different "homes" in my home....at one point it hung horizontally and it had hooks across the bottom.....I loved it as it hung in our entryway and was used as a coat-rack.  My children coat's just grew too large and heavy for the poor thing and I was afraid that it was going to break, so it took another spot in the hallway....

I hope that these ideas have inspired you to try putting windows on your walls!

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Goodwill frame turned shadow box

Once again.....go to the Goodwill gross and ugly picture section.....Did you know that Goodwill has a DISCOUNT CARD!!!!  For a mere $4.25 you can purchase a discount card for Goodwill. (Doesn't that seem like a contradiction????)  Check your local stores because they run daily promotions.  On Tuesday, I can pick from a fishbowl for up to 30% my entire order....I think this $2.97 frame was "marked down" with my discount to $2.30!

Find a chunky ugly frame....take it apart and spray with Satin Black.  Rustoleum has a gorgeous "Canyon Black" color. (I think that's the name.  I better check!)

You will need a handy husband (or dad) to take their scrapwood and build you a box to attach to the frame.  I'm not sure how he attached it.  I would have used Gorilla glue......

Spray the box. (Don't look at my drip marks....I was rushing!)

Go back to Goodwill (because you forgot to buy anything to put into it!!) and look at their EXTENSIVE glassware section!

Find some matching glassware.

If you are craftier than me, fill it with cute things.  This is in my laundry room and would look adorable filled with tiny little clothes pins, but again, my closest craft store is MILES AWAY...so they sit empty!

I think that I may back the whole thing with this fabric.  What do you think?

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Children's Art

Okay---so I am terrible about putting my children's artwork on the wall.  Are you ready for a confessional....

This drawer is stuffed with years! of my kid's artwork.....

The rest go here...



Yes...my children (and husband!) have been known to dig through the garbage to look for special momento's that I toss.  Really, now, can I save EVERYTHING????

Recently, though--after stumbling across my local Goodwill and some amazing blogs, I have come up with this:

(Please don't judge me on my ability to create a straight line....I was rushing!)

Directions:  Go to Goodwill....go to their large selection of gross and ugly pictures.  Find 3 (because I have 3 kids!) frames that look relatively similar.  Bring them home and GET OUT THE SPRAYPAINT!!!

Now....if you are doing it the "right" way and NOT rushing like I was, you will prime them and they will look gorgeous.  If you are in a hurry like me, you get the glossy white out, crack the garage door, throw down some newspaper and start spraying.  Because I didn't prime, they needed a little bit of help.....a few more coats than I would prefer.

Now....our local Walmart is about 20 MILES AWAY (The craft store is like 25!!!!!!!!!).....so getting cute fabric was not an option.  But....we have a True Value hardware store....and they sell burlap....by the foot!!!  It's $0.99/foot, but it's like 60 inches wide.  So I asked them for a foot. 

Of course, they brought out some WITH WORDS ON IT!!!  I kindly looked at the man and said, it was for a craft and I couldn't possibly have words on it.  Giving me a strange look, he went and cut me another piece.

And voila!  A little bit of hot glue and I have a backing for my pictures and my kids art is not sitting in a local dump somewhere!

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