Ever come across a project and realize that you might have been ahead of the game and have finished something quite similar already!? Well, it doesn’t happen to me often, but this is one of those projects. I’m sure you have seen the family photo wall concept blowing up Pinterest and DIY blogs lately. Several years ago, I started a family photo wall of my own.

Family Photo Wall

It all began with a wood plank, a letter B, a stencil, some paint and a few unfinished wood frames.

The Letter B

• I used an unfinished wood plank from the craft store and antiqued it using a dark brown paint.
• I also picked up the letter B from the cut out wood section and painted it green as well as a few embellishing flowers painted in accent colors.
• After gluing the B and flowers onto the completely dried brown plank, I applied a clear varnish as a finishing coat.
• I used this piece as the focal point of the wall and hung frames around it. I opted for the stairway wall since it is pretty vast in its whiteness and to be honest it was unspoken for territory. It also lends itself nicely for pictures.

The Frames

DIY Frames

• I chose colors with a Tuscan influence – my favorite color palette!
• I applied two coats of paint and then an accenting color to stencil a pattern onto the corners.
• After letting the coats completely dry, I used an antiquing paint mixed with a dark brown to give the frames a rustic-antique look.
• I finished it by applying a clear varnish to give it a finishing touch.
• I cut down some of my favorite family pics to fit within the frames and simply placed then into each frame. I will admit, I am not a huge fan of the oval frames as cutting a rectangular picture to fit into an oval shape is not as easy as it should be.
• I started off making 5 to 6 frames. I try to make at least 4 at a time to build up a stock pile for a new wave of pictures. Some batches turn out better than others depending upon my level of patience that day, but I just like to think it adds to the DIY-charm of it all!

As long as you have wall space, your family photo wall can grow as your family does! I don’t think there is a perfect science to hanging them, however my husband apparently does so I just leave it up to him to get them on the wall.

Now that I have reminded myself how easy this project really is, I need to get to the craft store and build my stash of finished frames back up, because the pictures just keep piling up! I wonder how long it will take me to fill the entire wall?

Kelli- Kelli@Goodsmiths.com