Take That, Pinterest

I'm trying to keep Pinterest from taking over my life by using it to

1. Organize my (formerly kept in hard copy form) idea file
2. Spur creative thinking
3. Pin good ideas and recipes that I want to try.

As far as the latter is concerned, I'm forcing myself to actually implement the good ideas or try the recipes within short order. I then delete the original pin and upload a new pin with the results of my test to my Hayley Daily pinboard.

Confusing? Hopefully not.

Anyway, I have a tried-and-true method for hanging a gallery wall. I cut out paper squares sized to match each of my frames, then use these templates to organize my layout and properly place nails. I used it to create our family photo gallery wall. Read more about that here.

Then I saw a different method on Pinterest that seemed to receive favorable reaction. I decided to give it a try for our master bedroom's gallery wall.

Take a large sheet of paper (or tape several pieces of paper together) that is sized to match the total wall space you intend to fill. Lay out your desired gallery display, fiddling as necessary to get it to look just right.

Trace around each frame, then flip over and mark the hanging hardware.

Hang the paper on your wall. Important! Use painters or drafting tape so you don't damage the wall paint.

Lightly tap in the nails and remove the paper.

Hang the frames, make sure everything is level and you're done!

Verdict: Is this easier than my other method? Yes and no.

It is easier to trace the frames on one large piece of paper rather than cut out individual templates. It is not easier, however, to make sure that the frames are level. Using the individual templates helps a great deal with that.

Either way, my gallery wall is done - well, done except for filling the frames. I want to take my time with that part.

The first morning after The Boy returned home from his business trip last week, he woke up and glanced at the wall. Apparently, he'd not really paid it much attention the evening before because his first words were:

I don't know why you bothered to hang all those frames.

I don't know a single person in any of the photos.

Oh, how I missed him while he was gone!