So…obviously, this isn’t exactly a project, per se. But it’s an idea that has been slumbering in my mind for a long time now, and I finally set aside the time to put it together. It all started with a large open wall in our bedroom…and a vintage motto sampler…that led to another sampler…and another sampler after that.
Here’s the thing- I *LOVE* a clever phrase. Whether it’s sassy (or saucy) or funny or smart, I am a sucker for a clever slogan. I’ve been known to pull over and snap photos of a tongue-clucking church sign, and I can spend a lot of time pouring over stenciled signs at art shows and festivals. And over the past couple of years, I’ve inadvertently started a collection of vintage motto samplers. Some have come from thrift shops…
I’m a worrier- so I needed this!
And others have come from my junkin’ journeys…
…from North Augusta, South Carolina…
…and from Boone, North Carolina!
Eventually, they began to stack up and demanded to be displayed. Each one spoke to me in a different way but they all made me feel…good. Not as loudly as a pep rally, not as quietly as prayer- but somewhere in between. So, I gathered up my motto samplers in order to create a “Wall of Wisdom” in our bedroom. This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience.
A growing collection…
To create a gallery wall, I assembled my rotary cutter and craft mat, as well as some packing paper. You could certainly use newspaper, but I simply cannot stand the feel of it and I also didn’t want to get ink smudges on my samplers. My plan? To create a template gallery for easy hanging!
Let’s get this gallery wall started…
I placed a framed sampler in the corner of the packing paper and cut around the sides with my rotary cutter. Now that I had a piece of packing paper that was the exact size of my framed sampler, I wrote a quick title to the paper (so I could remember which sampler my paper template was for), and placed a small strip of painter’s tape to the top.
First one done!
I proceeded to do the same thing for each sampler. Then, I began placing the paper templates on our open wall…and moving them…changing my mind…until I was finally satisfied with the layout. This can take a while, but it’s worth it in the end, I promise!
I think this is the winning arrangement…
Once I was 100% certain of the design/collage, I grabbed a hammer and our box of nails. For each frame, I measured (or eyeballed) how far down the hanger was on the back. I then tapped a pinprick nail hole through the paper or tape (depending on where the hanger or wire was) for each corresponding frame. After removing the paper, I tapped the nail in all the way and hung each frame.
So far, so good.
Trust me, it takes way longer to decide on a layout than it does to hang everything! But the best part is- I have seven frames and just seven nail holes. No mistakes to patch up later.
Done! (for now)
I just LOVE how it turned out! And now I have all this wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration to greet me when I wake up…plus, there’s room on the wall for more. So I’m definitely not done collecting them yet!
Craft on!
S
PIN ME!
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