Gallery Wall ~ Generations of Love

The idea for a gallery wall of Tootsie’s grandmothers and aunts fell into my lap. Literally.

As I was cleaning out the newly inherited dresser an old black and white baby picture floated out. It had been lost between the knitting needles and scraps of fabric that were crammed into the drawers.

An image of my frail grandmother as a young mother popped into my head. Her tucking this photograph of her last chubby baby carefully into drawer. A memory snapped with a camera.

As I removed another drawer, I discovered an envelope from the newspaper office here in town. It contained the same aunt’s bridal portrait.

After that I was on a mission to collect other images. And frames. Lots of frames.

Here’s my collection of family pictures and Goodwill frames. The brown frames got new life with spray paint (bright white and Krylon’s “Ballet Slipper” Gloss).

Gallery walls are fun but hanging a collection of pictures can be tricky.

Here’s is my fool proof way of doing it:

Measure out the wall space you want to cover. Tape together several pieces of newspaper  to fit that measurement. I recycled pieces of craft paper from Hobby Lobby for my wall measurements.

Next lay out the frames onto the paper. Play with the arrangement until you love the way it looks.

Balancing the color of the frames and the color of the images is important. Each grouping has equal numbers of pink and white frames. Each also has a mixture of black and white plus color portraits.

“Yes, baby girl. I see your cup.” As always, she is my happy little shadow.

Once you are happy with the grouping, trace around each frame.  It’s helpful if you write yourself little notes about what picture goes where. 😉

Attach the template to the wall with blue painter’s tape then start nailing! Most of my frames only needed one nail but a larger frame will need two nails to balance it out. Use a level to help decide where to place the nails.

Tear the paper template away from the nails when you are finished.

Use your level to balance out all the frames. A small. looped piece of blue painter’s tape on the back will help to hold them in place.

All the smiling faces add another layer of happiness to this already sweet room.

The chubby blond baby in the upper right hand corner is yours truly. The other photographs are Tootsie as a newborn and a chubby baby herself. Thank you to Bethany Robinson Photograph for capturing that baby sweetness.

My mother is the toddler celebrating her first birthday. Mama swears my grandmother used sponge rollers to get those bouncy curls.

You will notice two frames don’t have photographs. They have been filled with pretty scrapbook paper.  The wall still needs smiles from Tootsie’s other grandmothers and aunties.

The mirror reflects our Rock-a-Baby Corner where we have read Princess Baby. Over and over again.

Project #1 to finish Tootsie’s Big Girl Bedroom is finished.  But now…

Don’t you worry! I’ve got plans for that blank space.

 

I link up with these fun parties!

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