DIY clothespin picture frame

 

Anyone else have about a million pictures on their phone but none on their walls? I'm awesome at taking pictures. I can click that button like a pro. But that's where it ends. I mean, they get sent straight to my computer, organized and saved -- thanks to a lovely combination of Apple products -- but there they sit. For months and months.

I have good intentions. I really, really do! But then there's life... it tends to get in the way of trivial things like updating the photos on my wall. So I've been thinking about starting 'Project Life.' (I would love to hear what you all think about it!) And I thought a good test of whether or not I would do well with 'Project Life' would be this photo frame. Fits 4x4 photos (which I have a plethora of) and easy to change out. Just a little clip! Since I have an ever-growing puppy, nephew and all sorts of other adventures to capture, I'm hoping this is the answer!

You can build one too! For about $4. Whoop!

Materials:

1- 1x2 @ 8'

Nails (Whatever you have lying around, I used 1 1/4" finish nails)

wood glue

wire (I used 18 gauge)

mini clothespins (Mine were from Wal-Mart, you need 16)

Paint or stain

Tools:

Miter saw, or hand saw with miter box (or a friend with a miter saw!)

Staple gun (You could probably use hot glue!)

Hammer

Wire cutters

I started with one 1x2. I just used cheap pine!

And cut it into 4 pieces, with 45-degree mitered corners. Each piece should be a little under 24" longest point to longest point, ends not parallel.

 

I used wood glue and a hammer and nails to make a big square. And I sanded it down to get all the sharp edges off and prepare the wood for the stain.

I used a small foam brush and dark walnut stain. I put it on and then wiped it off after about 10 minutes. My small clothespins were unfinished wood so I just put them in a small plastic dish with a little stain.

After letting it dry, I was ready to put on my wire grid. I used a staple gun, but it's such a light project, I'm sure hot glue would do the job!

I ran 4 pieces horizontally across my wooden frame. I spaced them a little under 5 inches apart, with the top one really close to the top.

Then I ran 3 wires vertically, looping them around the horizontal wires as I came to them. I used my pliers to tighten them up.

I added a sawtooth hanger to the back for hanging it on the wall, and then added my little clothespins. Aren't they cute?

Done! I printed my pictures straight from my phone to Walgreens, used a coupon code and then picked them up when I was running errands. I think I paid about $2.50, which won't break the bank when I want to change the pictures out! I love how simple it is, and it looks fabulous above my Planked-back bookshelf. I think it really makes the top and variation of the stain in the back of the bookshelf pop!

These are so cheap and simple to make you could make a few. One for each kid with all their school pictures (or artwork!), one for grandma, one for the guest room with pictures from all your guests' visits. So many options!

Thanks for stopping by. For pictures between posts, find my on Facebook or Pinterest. And, if you don't want to DIY, you can buy from me on Etsy!

Here are a few more pictures...