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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Stairway Gallery Wall

Merry Christmas everyone!  What's that you say?  I'm a few days late?  I know I have been MIA for a while, but I can't wait to show you all of the things I've been working on.  I kind of overcommitted myself this December, but I am so happy with the way our family got through it.  More on all that in future posts...
For now, I want to show you what I did yesterday at my mom and dad's house
My mom has been bugging asking me to help her hang pictures for over a year now.  Seriously, I was happy to do it, but I knew it would take a major time commitment and some concentration to get it done.
Here is what her stairway looked like before.  It's beautiful, but needed something.  Ignore the Christmas garland.
I'm sure you've seen tutorials before on how to go about assembling a gallery wall.  I took a few of my favorite techniques and merged them for this project.
We started gathering all her favorite frames.  We decided to include both a cherry stained wood and painted black styles of frames, some with and without mats and a few mod podge photo canvases that my sister and I made my mom for Christmas.  For now we weren't concerned with what was going into them, just the shape and size of each frame.
We laid everything out on the floor to get an idea of how everything would look on the wall.  I took rough measurements of how tall and wide it should be and went to work.
We started with the biggest pieces, which we wanted to use as focal points, and began arranging around them.  I approximated 2 inches between each frame and tried to be sure not all the frame edges matched up exactly.  We didn't want it to look sloppy, but we didn't want it to look like a team of mathemeticians put this thing together either.
Next we got our tools for hanging the frames:
2" blue tape
hammer
nails
ook hooks (for frames with a wire or hook on the back)
level
picture-hanger contraption thingy
this thing was awesome and we couldn't have done the project without it.  I first saw the idea at the Scrap Shoppe blog.  She used a clothespin; we knew we would need something longer and flatter so we used an old piece of wood.  You hang the frame from the nail on the wood, lightly tap the frame to make a small hole where your nail hole needs to be, and then take the frame away and hammer your nail into the wall.



The big frame went up first and we worked our way around it.  I took the photo of all the frames laid out on the floor and used it as a basic reference.  We used the blue tape as spacers between the frames.  It ensured everything was approximately 2" apart.
Here it is as a work in progress
closer
and done!
Let me know what you think!  This was a gargantuan project compared to the gallery wall in my son's room.  I think it was worth all the work, though!
Thanks for stopping by; I'll be back soon (I promise)!
Blessings,
Jamie
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68 comments:

  1. that looks awesome! and you are so organized with how you do it... i pretty much eyeball all gallery walls i do. really.

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  2. It's totally amazing.... Even in the tiny picture on my screen, my eye moves around to all the different photos. It must be fantastic in person!

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  3. Jamie...the stairway wall looks fabulous! Love all the pictures and the way you hung them! I am sure your mother is thrilled with the way this project turned out. What a wonderful gift you gave to her!

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  4. I am doing a gallery wall on my staircase also and you have given me some great tips. Thanks a bunch! It looks great.

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  5. I want to do this in my stairway, but have been intimidated. Thanks to your idea of laying it out and taking a picture.. I may just tackle it.

    Thanks, Patricia

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  6. This looks fantastic! I love it. I have to long walls in my family room I've been wanting to do, when are you available? :) Love you!

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  7. This looks fantastic! I love it. I have to long walls in my family room I've been wanting to do, when are you available? :) Love you!

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  8. Your wall looks great! And I love your paint color! Would love love love for you to share this at my Best of 2011 party going on now http://space46.blogspot.com. Happy new year! My

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  9. Thanks for the tips. We've been collecting fans and pics we want to include in ours! We haven't painted out entryway or stair wall yet... these things may take some time!

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  10. This is AMAZING! We really to start to work on ours and this is such inspiration! I am pinning it to show my hubs later!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Gorgeous, I have always wanted to do this going up my stairwell. This is proof at how well it looks :) Thanks for sharing. I am a new follower. I would appreciate it if you followed me back at http://milliemorganmedia.blogspot.com!

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  12. Hi Jamie, I love gallery walls and yours looks amazing! Great job!

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  13. This looks fantastic Jamie! I love this idea. Happy New Year and can't wait to see all your creativity in 2012.

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  14. LOVE it! You have inspired me to do my wall! Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!!

    HeartAMZ1@aol.com
    Debbie Chapman

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  15. great idea! Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

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  16. VERY well done! I especially like the idea of taking a pictures of your original layout and using that as a reference point. BRILLIANT! : )

    Oh, and I love how you incorporated wood tones with the black. What a nice Christmas present for your mom!

    Would also love for you to stop by for a visit!

    P.S. I'm your newest follower! : )

    ~Abbie (www.fivedaysfiveways.com)

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  17. Love it...I have been looking at my stairway just the last couple of days and thinking of doing all black and white pics like this. Nice to see what it will look it. Now, I need to get busy.

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  18. This is gorgeous and well-worth all of the hard work! Your mom has A LOT to be thankful for!

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  19. This came out great! I love the little wood hanger thingy tip. A little extra time in the process was well worth the result. Happy New Year!

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  20. It looks fabulous, I would love it if you shared this idea here:

    http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2011/12/show-your-stuff-4.html

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  21. You did such a fab job with this! I would love for you to link up at my party going on right now!
    http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-schooled-saturday-4.html

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  22. Wow! What a wonderful picture wall. We hung pictures in a stairway once upon a time, with one picture on each level. This is amazing. It looks well thought out and so personal.

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  23. Looks amazing and I love it. Here's a tip for the next time. Lay it all out on top of unprinted newspaper rolled out, taped together to the size of the area you are hanging it on. Place photos where you want them to be with all the correct spacing you want. Using a pencil, trace around the picture, and then using your finger, put it under frame until you can locate where the nail should go that will hold up your picture. Remove the picture while holding the spot for the nail with your finger. Mark it with an "X". When all the pictures have been removed, tape the paper to the wall, make sure it is in the correct position and then put in all your nails. Remove the paper and hang all the pictures. Easiest way to hang pictures! Thanks for sharing your picture layout with us!

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  24. Great job! Thanks for the tip. I bought black frames last year but haven't gotten my gallery wall done yet.

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  25. FABULOUS GALLERY WALL!!! winks, jen

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  26. That is AMAZING!! I want to do that one day in my home!! You did such a great job!!

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  27. I've always wanted to do a wall of photos but never had enough nerve to do it. with your tips here i think i might just tackle a project or two! thanks so much.

    laura smith

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  28. Nice job-working on my own gallery wall this week-this is a great visual!

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  29. Thanks for the post, just what I needed!! Courage to start my wall!

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  30. Thanks for this tutorial. this is next on my DIY plate :)

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  31. This is amazing! I love they way it turned out and I wish I could create a gallery as awesome as this! Way to go girl!

    Amanda
    everycreativeendeavor.com

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  32. I'm sure that was a lot of work, but it looks fabulous now that it's done! Great job!

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  33. wow! that looks great! Worth the effort for sure! I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can! Happy New Year!

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  34. Great tutorial, thank you! We just moved into a house with a stairwell like that and I want to do something similar, but it seems so daunting. I love the nail in the wood tip and the 2" blue tape tip! I'll use them for sure.

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  35. I've been wanting to do for a long time. Thanks for the motivation! Would love for you to share this at my link up party!

    http://threemangoseeds.blogspot.com/2012/01/do-it-ya-self-monday-link-up-par-tay.html

    Hope to see you there,
    Clydia
    threemangoseeds.blogspot.com

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  36. great tips! This must have been a big project. But it turned out soooo well!

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  37. Thanks for linking up! I linked you on Skip to my Lou's facebook page.

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  38. Love your wall gallery. It is on my to do list for 2012. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

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  39. Great job..I am totally in love with mod podge canvas pictures. Yours are super.

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  40. That is insane. LOVE it!

    I am having a Feature Friday Linky Party and would love for you to link this up.

    http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/2012/01/feature-friday-linky-party.html

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  41. We had something like this, then the roof leaked and we had to have that area re papered and we never put anything back up. :-(

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  42. When I get a large stairwell to decorate - I want it to look just like this! Beautiful work!

    Sarah @ dwellonjoy.blogspot.com

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  43. Ahhh! <3 this! <3 from an avid follower and fellow {brand-new} blogger! You inspire me! I wish I had stairs just so I could do this!
    ~Misty
    www.413sparrowlane.com

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  44. I'm featuring you tonight at Once Upon a Weekend! Thanks for linking this amazing project!

    www.familyeverafterblog.com

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  45. That looks so nice! What a great idea. We would love to have you come share this at our weekly link party every Saturday! -The Sisters
    www.sixsistersstuff.com

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  46. Excellent tip! My sister is gathering supplies for a gallery wall. Shell be excited to hear about this.

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  47. that is awesome.... I have a completely blank staircase hallway wall... I really should do something with it! HA

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  48. great tips- I am pining for future reference.

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  49. Looks beautiful! My sister gave me a much(!) more complicated store-bought version of your picture hanging contraption. Yours is WAY better. I'm so doing that! I just started a stairway gallery wall, but it is very much still a work in progress. I have a handrail that makes the pictures hang much higher than yours and fear I will need a ladder to complete it. Bummer!

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  50. Thank you so much for being a part of the creative spirit and camaraderie on "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday at Rook No. 17. I hope you'll feel inspired to join in again this week!

    Warmest wishes,
    Jenn

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  51. Thank so much for sharing this.... The last 3 weeks I've been trying to research and wrap my head around doing a gallery/collage wall along our stairs - and poof - right in my inbox! Perfect timing and gorgeous tutorial! Thank you!

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  52. Thanks so much for linking this up last week. I think it turned out simply amazing! I featured it today at Creations by Kara. :)
    http://www.creationsbykara.com/2012/01/look-what-i-made-link-party-1-11-2012.html

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  53. Thanks for linking up at DIY Thrifty Thursday.....You've been featured! Stop by and grab an "I was featured button"! Hope to see you again this week!
    Michelle @Thrifty 101
    www.thrifty101.blogspot.com

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  54. I am featuring you tomorrow night:>

    www.blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com

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  55. Wow, this looks great! I so want to do something like this in our basement:)

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  56. I have looked through pages and pages of staircase arrangements trying to put my finger on what I like and don't like ... I still can't put my finger on it, but I LOVE yours!!

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  57. I know this is an old post, but I love it. I have been trying to get inspiration for my hall and stairs, and this is it... thank you xx

    Love Dawn @ http://prettyshabbyuk.blogspot.co.uk

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  58. You are soo good at creating photo walls. I'm jealous! I'm in the process of creating a photo wall for my stairway and have been looking for layout ideas and thankfully I your post!! It's by far one of the best i've seen. Thanks for sharing!!!

    Jessica @ www.myloveofstyle.com

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  61. A stairway gallery wall is a creative way to display artwork, photographs, or other decorative items along a staircase wall, adding visual interest and serving as a focal point in your home. To create a stunning stairway gallery wall, follow these tips. Plan your layout: Consider the size and shape of your staircase wall, as well as the placement of the stairs. You can create a symmetrical arrangement with evenly spaced frames or go for a more eclectic look with varied sizes and shapes Abogado de Delitos Sexuales Fairfax VA.

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