Wow! This has been a project in the making since last summer! The photos have been lining the floor of the playroom for far too long……It has actually become a family joke! It has not been a difficult project, just very time consuming.
Yes my kids are 16 and 14 ! AND yes I still have make them visit Santa each year for a photo. My son’s first Christmas photo was in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza. Every year after that it was at Mitchell’s Photography in Greenville, SC. He has used the same Santa up until the last 2 years due to failing health. 🙁 There has never been a mention of “Is there a Santa Claus?” in our house. I think they are afraid if they mention it….then they won't get the Santa loot!
The photos have become so many over the years that I only displayed them at Christmas. Trying to find a spot for each one was crazy! I came up with the idea of a gallery wall for them. I didn’t want Christmas year around downstairs, but I had the perfect spot in an upstairs hallway off the laundry room and bonus room.
This project has so many mini projects within that I am going to divide it into several posts so be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss any of it!
This is a hallway with no natural light. I really struggled with my regular point and shoot to get the full wall in the shot. I ended up using my IPhone 5 for these pictures. It is a hallway so there is no way to get a nice straight on shot….all are on angles.
I have requested demanded that they sit with Santa through high school. Mitchell tells me that he does have college kids that still come for their moms so I have this hidden secret desire for more!!!!!
Now that this wall is complete the other wall looks kind of sad and mismatched. I’m sure it will be getting a makeover very soon!
The frames were all mismatched in different gold tones throughout the years. They were all unified with an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint treatment.
I kept checking Hobby Lobby sales for when the frames would go on sale for 1/2 price. I picked up 4 frames. Two of them are on either side of the chalkboard. Do you wonder why the scrapbook paper is in these??? We have 4 more years left and I wanted the gallery wall in place. The scrapbook paper acts as a placeholder until the photo is completed for that year. The paper was left over from my Christmas Angels Rejoice banner. This idea would also work great if you wanted to do a gallery wall of school pictures. You could use scrapbook paper and pintables to act as placeholders through the years!
The letters represent my children’s names, Woods and Ashlyn.
The wall shelves are from Goodwill at $2 a piece.
Framed print stored in attic turned into a chalkboard
Here is a before: The planning phase
Before there was a large framed print from my 16 year old’s nursery hanging of a group of Victorian looking children playing Tug-of-War. On the right wall are black and white canvas wrapped prints.
This print has just been filling space with original plans of changing out the mat color. Eight years later…..still the same mat.
I have really enjoyed the gallery wrapped canvases. There is a link in the sidebar to order your own!
Here is a the layout of the gallery wall. Laying it out on the floor like this allows you the flexibility of changing the arrangement around to fit. It sat like this on the bonus room floor for 3 weeks before I was able to start painting the frames.
Update: Painting the frames tutorial with ASCP is here.
There will be several blog posts for this gallery wall. Please subscribe for upcoming posts on:
- Prepping, painting and waxing of the frames and wall shelves
- Transferring the gallery wall layout to the wall and hanging
- Turning a framed print into a chalkboard
- Inexpensive cardboard letters finished with an antique brass look
- Mini moss covered wreath
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Christy, I LOVE this! Such a pretty display of great memories. I bet you smile every time you walk by it! I have to admit that I have missed quite a few years of Santa visits with my kids (bad mom!) and am regretting it now!!!
Hope you have a great week!
Tami Michel
Tami recently posted…Oscar Party Wine Bottle Stoppers (Repurposed Trophies)
Thanks so much, Tami! I do love having them out year around now. Reminds me…I need to add this past Christmas! So glad the kids don’t mind still doing it for me. They have no problem telling Santa all the loot they want! LOL! ~Christy
You already know I just love this wall! 😉 Thanks so much for linking it up at Project Inspire{d}!!
Nancy
Thanks so much! Good luck with the new party!!!
Your wall is a testament to you and your ability to get your two teenagers to still sit with Santa! I love the way you have put all the frames together and the letters of each of your teens. Brilliant! Chel x
Thanks so much Chel!!!! I so love looking at each day!
That is such a great idea! I often wonder what I should do with my kid’s photos so I will definitely keep this in mind. Many thanks for sharing this!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thanks so much Natasha!!!!
That turned out to be a beautiful gallery wall! Nice work! I love the different elements in it!
Thanks bunches, Katie!
What a great idea! A fun way to track the passage of time, for sure.
I would like to include one of your images, with credit of course, in a post I’m working on featuring mirror and frame walls. Hope that’s okay!
thanks!
Thanks so much Daena! I’d love for you to include it in your blog post!!!
Thank you!
My childeren (18,22) can now see I am not alone in my quest!
I love this idea! This was the first year I will be missing! Breaks my heart!
Hoping to bribe them this December 🙂
Thanks so much! Good luck with it! You’d be surprised what they will do for their moms!
Christy, what a fabulous idea! Love it! 😉 Bonnie
Thanks bunches, Bonnie!
Love your wall display. I only just got the kids Santa photos out last week and was thinking of how to do a wall display in the hall. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration. x Julie
Thanks bunches, Julie! So glad to have offered inspiration!
What a sweet collection! You did a beautiful job on displaying them! Love it!
Thanks so very much, Roeshel!!!
Great collection of photos! Thanks for sharing your talent on The Creative HomeAcre Hop!
Our next party goes live Sunday morning at:
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-creative-homeacre-hop-6.html
If you have a blog hop, please check out The Linky Love Party…a place to share your parties with other bloggers! Grab the button for an easy way to search for parties every week!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/lets-party.html
Thanks Lisa! You host a great party!
Como me gustan estas paredes con tanta foto.
Geniales.
♥♥♥
I wish I could translate, but I hope it means like due to the hearts! 🙂 Thanks
Wow great job, your wall looks gorgeous.
Karen thank you!!!! 🙂
I love it. What a beautiful wall of memories. It’s very inspiring and I’m sure your children do/will appreciate it.
Thanks bunches Heather! I am so happy that you stopped by!
This is a darling and sentimental post! I just love how thoughtfully you laid out your Santa wall! I hope your children will keep taking pictures for many years to come. What a treasure!!!!
Thanks so much, Yvonne! I love being able to view it daily opposed to them only out at Christmas. It has become quite the conversation piece!!!
What a fabulous idea!! Mine have questioned or at least the oldest one has. We have discussed that it is not necessarily about Santa per say but the magic of Christmas. He was satisfied with that thankfully. Thanx for partying at THT lady!
Thanks so much Pamela! It is all about the magic with Santa!
I love your gallery of pictures! We would love to have you share your ideas at our party. It is a Thursday party going live tonight (Wed.) at 8:00 p.m. MST ~ Hope to see you there.
Thanks again!
Joye & Myrna (The Busy Bee’s)
thebusybhive.blogspot.com
Thanks so much!!! I’ll be sure to check it out tonight!!!
What great photo collections/decor. How nice to have the Santa pictures through the years, although I’m surprised your teens will still agree to visit Santa : )
Bless you,
GAil
Thanks so much Gail! They actually don’t complain at all about it. My son grumbles a bit, but more just to aggravate me! LOL!!!
I love this idea. And the color’s you chose for the frames. But the Santa thing…My sister & I still did it together when our kids were in school. We would give them to our mom. After she passed 3 years ago, my husband found a picture of me and Santa when I was in high school. He has it on his desk. Great home & family.
Thanks Barbara Ann! Wow, what a sweet gift for your mother! I have a secret hope of through college….just depends on how close they are to home!
love the gallery wall….pinned….brand new blogger here. stop by if you get a chance
http://littlebrags.blogspot.com
Thanks Christine! I’ll stop by for a visit!
Yur gallery wall is beautiful and how wonderful to have those happy family memories daily in front of your eyes. Thank you for sharing and blessings to you, Patti@OldThingsNew
Thanks bunches, Patti! Have a blessed day!
What a special thing to have! This is so precious!
Thanks so much, Lisa!!!
What a gorgeous gallery wall! I am always so impressed with these, and yours is amazing! I found you at Not JUST a Housewife– thanks for sharing!
~Abby =)
Abby, Thanks so much for the sweet words! I really appreciate you stopping by!
LOVE your gallery wall! Looks fabulous!! Nicely done 😉
Thanks bunches, Brenda! 🙂
Love the chalkboard announcing the theme of the collection. Very nice touch and beautiful arrangements!
Laura from sundayview.blogspot.com
Thanks so much, Laura! I appreciate the visit!
Very nice………..Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
.
Thanks, Kathy!
I love the gallery wall, Christy. I think it’s a great idea to round up all of the Santa photos in one place. What a memory maker for your whole family! My daughter is 34 and I still tell her to this very day, “When you stop believing in Santa, he stops coming.” She doesn’t dare question his existence! lol
Suzy, thank you so much! What an honor to have you stop by. I love your blog! I agree…..always keep the Santa magic alive!
Very nice!! I’d like to invite you to participate in my Pin Me Linky Party. It goes Fri-Tue. I allow up to 3 links each week! I am a new follower!
Thanks so much Diana! I’ll be sure to participate in the party this Friday!!! Visiting you now!
This is such a cute idea! My dad plays Santa so I have to forward this to him. He had a big fall: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/12/boy-sits-on-santas-lap-realizes-its-father-in-law-15-years-later/
I love gallery walls in my own house. One of my favorites is our son’s growing up gallery: http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2012/11/growing-up-gallery.html
Thanks so much, Jen! I am going to check yours out as well!!!
really looks awesome great job
Thanks so much!!! So happy to have you stop by!
What a great idea! My girls are 13, 11 and 8. We still visit Santa every year! I have been wondering what to do with my pictures. . . Life to the full, Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
Thanks bunches Melissa! I am so glad that I’m not the only one still doing the Santa visits!
Your gallery wall looks great and what a wonderful idea using all Santa photos!
Thanks so much!!! I am so glad you stopped by!
Looks great Christy! I love the idea of putting the paper in the frames. How clever!! I would’ve never thought the letters were cardboard either! (love the canvas prints of your kids too!!)
Nancy
Thanks bunches, Nancy! It was such a fun project!
Christy first I have to tell you your kids are BEAUTIFUL!! LOVE LOVE the way this turned out! Love the chalkboard in the middle and love how you add their initials to the little shelves! Beautiful job!
Thanks so much Martina!! You are so sweet. I am very pleased with the project and now we can enjoy them all year!
Looks great!
Thanks bunches!!!
Gorgeous job girl!
Thanks so much Debbie! I really appreciate the share on Facebook!!! Have a great weekend 🙂