Back in January I brought these fruit drying racks home from a large estate that I was working at. They were tucked away in the loft of a barn and it was pretty amazing that termites didn’t completely devour them! Someone suggested that we put them in the dumpster but I suggested that we put them out at the estate sale I was having. My sales pitch to buyers was the idea that they could make picture frames with them and they quickly sold out (I am so glad I put 2 aside for myself!).
This is what they looked like before, lots of potential…
I wanted to create something that would encourage me to print more photos and allow me to switch things around frequently. My idea was to install eye hooks on the sides and wind twine through so I could attach clips for pictures. Chris helped me with this project and here are the steps…
1.) Start with a few simple supplies: twine, eye hooks, a hammer, binder clips, and a can of spray paint.
2.) Measure the frame and decided where to install the hooks. With the measurements of the fruit racks we decided to install the first eye hooks 5 inches down, then the next hook 10 inches below the first, and the last hook 10 inches below the second. So 5, then 15, the 25 inches.
3.) Used the hammer to start the eye hooks.
4.) Screwed the hooks into the sides of each rack.
5.) Wrap the twine through the eye hooks.
6.) We decided it looked best if we wrapped the twine 5 times.
7.) Double knot the ends and trim off the extra twine.
8.) Install picture hooks on the back of each rack.
9.) Admire your handy work.
I looked at a few office supply stores for cute binder clips but I came up empty handed. I decided that I would just buy the standard silver ones and spray paint them chocolate brown to match our living room. I also wanted them to blend in with the frame, if you are more daring you could use just about any color that you like.
I laid all of the clips out on cardboard and sprayed away.
I really love the magic of spray paint!
I printed my photos in a variety of sizes with a matte finish so they wouldn’t reflect the light. After I fiddled with the layout I clip them up to each row of twine.
It is so great to have some of our favorite pictures up, it makes our living room feel more like home. I mixed in old family photos and wedding photos with shots from our recent trips to Napa, Tahoe, and Michigan.
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love, Love, LOVE this Amanda! You are so inspiring and I miss you lots!
It looks even better in person.
Love this idea! So very cute!!! I can see making something very similar with pallet wood. Thanks for the inspiration.
You could definitely do something similar with pallet wood, I hope you try it!
so clever! Love it!
Looks great, Amanda! Leave it to you to find a way to turn other people's trash into treasure; I bet you do the same thing when organizing for a client too.
I always try to reuse what I can!
These look really great!!!
I LOVE these! So cute and you are right, they would be perfect to display those special Christmas cards!
LOVE this!!
I love this idea! One question though: do you think the brown paint on the clips will leave a mark behind on your photos? Thanks for this project!
Good question! I checked the paint and nothing rubbed off. Thanks!
How cute! I absolutely love that you painted the clips, such a great idea!
This is a great project! Would you consider linking it up to my Pinworthy Projects Linky Party over at Just Us Four?
Looks amazing!
I love this project! They would look great in my house! And, I love taking photos so this would free up the fridge which is always COVERED in photos. Check out my 1909 Home Tour when you get a chance. Cheers, Mgal watchmediy.com
What a cute idea! Very clever and creative!
Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
what cute simple way to share photos!
BTW: If you have any projects that are unfinished and need motivation to start, please consider joining the UFO challenge http://www.addhousewife.com/2012/04/ufo-partay.html
Im going “garage saling” this weekend and I hope I find something as cute as those wood drying racks!! Great job!
I would love for you to link this project up at my link party – Well Crafted Wednesdays! You can find it here:
http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/2012/04/well-crafted-wednesdays-link-party-1.html
I love this!!!! What a super idea!!
I love this idea! Now I'm going to be on the look out for these. Thanks for linking to the party. I'll be featuring these!
This is a great idea! They turned out super! I love this 🙂
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Beautiful!! I can't believe someone would want to throw those in the dumpster! Nice save. 🙂
Yay!! Christmas gift for my bestie!! <3 it thx!!
Wonderful – love the idea and have rebloged your lovely tutorial ;D
How do keep the photos from curling? Can and would it look good if they were laminated? Any other ideas
I swapped them out to a thicker print from printstagram and I didn’t have an issue. I think laminating them would leave a glare.