6.17.2013

Old School Pinning

Old School Pinning has been made possible by Shutterfly and Looksi Square.


You know what I miss about the "olden days"?  (Any period of time before 1995 if you go by my daughters' definition.)

I miss pictures.  

You know, like, photographs.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. "Is she crazy??  I take hundreds of pictures a day!  There are more pictures on my iphone than my parents took in their entire 50 year marriage."

And you're right, of course.  I can't argue with that.  

But here's the problem:  these days most of our pictures are stuck inside our phones, computers and ipads, never to see the light of day again. 

So I am on a mission, a mission to free the pictures!  I want to see them out on display in my house.  I want people to walk by and ooh and ahh over the cuteness and beauty that I have so brilliantly captured. Luckily my friends at Shutterfly (via my friends at the inspirational website Looksi Square) have offered me some free prints so I can get started on my quest.   

(That's right folks, it's a sponsored post.  My first.  And as I have previously stated, the only things that I share with you are things that I use and love myself.  That goes for the sponsored posts as well as the unsponsored ones.  I've been registered with Looksi since its inception and using Shutterfly for years.  Both are great companies, and not just because they hooked me up with some free prints.  So let's get back to the post, shall we?)



So here's another modern dilemma:  with so many pictures to choose from, it's hard to decide which ones to display.  For that reason it makes sense to have a rotating display, something that can be switched out quickly and easily.  

There are lots of display options out there and I decided to go with a pin board--a big one--something I could put lots of pictures on at once.  

The first place I looked was Pottery Barn where I was instantly smitten by this beautiful linen pinboard.  I was not, however, smitten by the price:  $159.00 for the largest version (plus $21.00 for shipping).  Ouch!  

I had a similar reaction to this $219.00 version from Ballard Designs (and don't even get me started on the $270.00 one from Restoration Hardware).

Just when it was looking like my pictures would stay forever trapped inside my phone, inspiration struck (as it often does) in the hallowed halls of Home Depot.  

It was there that I spotted this:

In case you're wondering, it's a piece of foam board insulation.  It's two feet wide by four feet tall and it cost a whopping $4.95.  There were other pieces (muuuch bigger pieces) that cost about $15.00.  AND the nice Home Depot men said they could cut the big pieces down to whatever size I desired.    The styrofoam is about one-and-a-half inches thick and it is super-light.

This is what it looks like on the other side:

  
I immediately saw its potential as a pin board and after putting a piece in my cart, I hightailed it over to the paint section and grabbed one of these:


That's right, a canvas painter's drop cloth.  Canvas drop cloths are right up there with paint chips and mason jars on the list of items that bloggers love to repurpose and craft with.

Are you starting to see where this is going?

(I thought you might.)

After I got home I washed the drop cloth and got to work:



As you can see above, I put the foam down on top of the drop cloth (which I cut so it wasn't so big), pulled it taut and fastened it with thumbtacks.  The thumbtacks weren't permanent; they merely held the fabric in place so I could staple it just the way I wanted. 



The corners were a bit of a challenge.  I ended up folding them over, kind of like I was wrapping a present.  They're not perfect, but I doubt anyone but me will notice.

And really, that's all there was to it.  I turned it around, popped a couple of Command Picture Hanging Strips on the back, and hung it up.  (The entire thing probably weighs less than two pounds so there was no problem using the Command Strips.)  


Isn't this a great way to get those photos off the computer and on display?


And the whole thing cost less than $20 to make.

It was so inexpensive that I am currently envisioning several of them hung side by side in an office or crafting space.  Wouldn't that be pretty?


Before signing off I have to link back to the Pottery Barn Linen Pin Board one more time because, really, they're almost identical.   (Click HERE to make the comparison.)


And please let me know if you make one yourself.  I'd love the chance to ooh and ahh over your pictures too :)

Looksi and Shutterfly have invited me to participate in a creative brand collaboration.  I have been provided with product compensation for this post, but all opinions are my own.

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41 comments

  1. Love it! That pin board is super cute. I've been meaning to do something similar to the cork boards in my office at work - I'm tired of brown! Congrats on your first sponsored post!!

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  2. WOW. How brilliant. I have corkboards up BUT this looks so much better. You nailed this version of a knock off perfectly. And, I love that you are liberating your pictures from your computer!

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  3. You are so creative, Elena! I love this idea...and I love the wall treatment behind it. :)

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  4. Genius!! You "nailed" it (pun intended LOL)Elena! I love the use of the drop cloth and you probably have enough left to make some as gifts. Oooh...maybe the perfect display of pictures at a wedding reception. Okay...yeah...I love it!

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  5. Fabulous look Elena! This is gorgeous, so copying you!!

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  6. I love this, pinning and I actually am going ton make this as soon as I get a chance to get to my hardware store. I've been looking for something to hang my dies off in the craft room and I think this will work...and if they're too heavy it will look mighty pretty :)

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  7. Great job Elena! I LOVE how it turned out- I also love how you write- I feel like we're friends by the way you speak through your writing.

    I'll be sure to link your project in my post as well!
    Best,
    Tracie Gulit- the bunch (fellow Looksisquare/Shutterfly Brand Collaborator)
    http://www.thebunchblog.blogspot.com

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  8. You are awesome! Love this idea...

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  9. Lady, you're a genius! I love this!

    (Also, congrats on the first sponsored post - I like your "Only if I'd use it myself" policy. It's a good one!)

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  10. Absolutely ADORE THIS!!!

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  11. Awesome idea - it looks easy to replicate. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Holly
    http://coconutheadsurvivalguide.com/blog/

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    Replies
    1. It should be very easy to replicate! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  12. Super cute - love the scale of it. I need to get my pics off the camera and onto the wall!
    Kelly

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  13. Your Pin board looks great!!

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  14. This is fabulous! I've been planning a pin board for my newly remodeled craft room, so I think I'll be borrowing your idea! Thank you!!

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  15. Super cool! I love to display *real* pictures, too. I found you thru a link on Facebook by Suburble. I'd love for you to share this at my linky today, I hope you can stop by!
    ~ Megin of VMG206
    Join me each Tuesday for Brag About It Link Party

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  16. What a cute project! Seems super easy and I can't wait to try it out! :-)

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  17. So cool and frugal!!! I am so doing this very soon!! Thanks for the awesome idea!
    Selene @ Restoration Beauty

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  18. LOVE. I've been looking for an inexpensive way to display pictures and this is perfect! Thanks for the idea, pinning!
    Heidi @ handmadefrenzy.blogspot.com

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  19. Wow! That's wonderful! I love that you used actual printed photos, you're right - so many of them just languish on our phones these days!

    Becky @sketchystyles.com

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  20. This is a lovely idea, I have a lot of pics, cards and photos I want to display and even an ideas board in my craft room. Thank you for sharing

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  21. So glad I found this post! I recently made a large wall calendar (http://craftivitydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-make-large-wall-calendar.html) and used foam board + cork board + batting. It was pretty pricey and I knew there had to be a cheaper way to get the same look. Foam insulation is such a great solution! Pinning!
    - Lora @ Craftivity Designs

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  22. Love this!!!
    Two questions.
    Did you put the fabric on the back side of the foam? 'cause it looks like you put what looks like "tacks" into the front (printed, smooth) side to secure the fabric after it was pulled around from (whatever side side you used) the front.
    Also, LOVE the "wood plank" background wall. Did you make it also? Do you have a link?
    Thanks so much

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    Replies
    1. Okay, so I put the foam board down on the canvas, with the silver side down. Then I pulled the canvas around and thumb-tacked it to hold it in place while I stapled. After the staples were in I pulled out the tacks.

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  23. Love it, love it, love it! The fabric was such a terrific choice-it could really go anywhere in your home. Thanks for such a great tutorial and idea!

    So glad you linked up with us at the BeBetsy BRAG ABOUT IT Link and Hop.

    We'd love it if you would link back to BeBetsy! http://bebetsy.com

    Have a great weekend~xo
    Sharon and Denise!

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  24. LOVE this idea! It's perfect for anywhere in the house! We would love for you to share at our first Super Summer Saturday party here: http://www.thechirpingmoms.com/2013/06/super-summer-saturday-party.html!

    Thanks!
    Julie

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  25. You've been FEATURED at the BeBetsy BRAG ABOUT IT Link and Hop Party No. 10. http://bebetsy.com CONGRATS TO YOU!

    Grab a featured button here http://bit.ly/11S2wN1 then tell all your friends and family - they will be impressed!

    Our next party starts at midnight tonight so let's go BRAG ABOUT IT-

    The very best to you,

    Sharon and Denise
    BeBetsy

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  26. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO with you going back to old school Elena!

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  27. Hey Elena - I agree, I like to see my pictures everyday and ooh and aah over them. Great job!

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  28. Could I do this with a canvas? I have a large plain canvas from Michael's I got to cover an ugly fuse box. I was going to cover the canvas with fabric, but I like the idea of pictures even better, at least until I find a fabric I like (which is proving more difficult than expected!).

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    1. Kridtin, the issue with canvas is going to be getting the pins to stay put. If you want to cover a canvas with pictures I would simply stick them on with Command Poster strips. Hope this helps!

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