September 04, 2010

How to make a homemade gallery

The final piece to my house remodel was to create a space to hang some of our artistic creations in our new craft room. The craft room has windows that had these ugly window treatments, not curtains but triangles of heavy material that served no real purpose. I decided to take them down and hang art from the remaining curtain rods.  My sweet girls helped me put it together. It took 2 days, I thought I would share it with you:

Day 1, we decorated some wooden pegs:

1) We took apart a whole package of wooden pegs, setting the wire joining things aside.


2) We painted the pegs (this one was done by Lily, age 8)


3) When they were dry, we stamped on the flat side of the pegs with Staz On ink:


4) We reassembled the pegs (I put all the wires back on as they are difficult to do, I used a two needle nose pliers so that I didn't break all my nails!)


Day 2, we added the wires and hung them up:

1) We cut pieces of wire about 12 inches long (yes, my daughters did help on this).


2) Next we threaded the wire through the round middle of the peg, bent a short tip over and twisted it. The photos should explain it better:




3) Then I attached the wired peg to the curtain rod


4) And then we used the pegs to hang up all our art work.


Viola: our own art gallery!

(next project - paint those craft room walls!!!)

There are many ways of making a hanging gallery in your house, but I like this one because of the painted pegs. I like that our 'art' has function. I like that we made it together. As the girls grow we are doing more and more crafty things together. I love it!!



THIS WEEK - a 'leave a comment' giveaway!
I would like to give away some of the pegs that I made to someone who loves functional art! I stamped them with some stamps from this collection over at Stampington & Co. I can't show you a photo as somehow my camera has decided to not communicate with my computer, but I hope to get it fixed soon and show you how lovely these stamps look on painted pegs. They look something like these ones that I made a while back:



So for a chance to win some of these pegs, please leave me a comment and I will do a drawing next Wednesday (9-8-10). 

81 comments:

  1. Wonderful idea. This is a great way to display your artwork.

    Trudy
    Host of The Artistic Mother's Art Group
    www.artisticcreationswithtrudy.blogspot.com

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  2. I just love the project and how it turned out, such a great way to display art.....and so sweet that the kids helped too....
    I love it!

    hugs
    Brenda

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  3. What a great idea! My children are always drawing, coloring and painting, but we have limited wall space. This is a great solution to that problem.

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  4. You do the sweetest things

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  5. Great project!!This is a great way to display your artwork. Thank you for sharing

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  6. beautiful. Inspiring. What else can I say? I need to go back to bed.

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  7. Functional, beautiful, and fun! I love how you invite your daughters to help and to create. it reminds of when mine were little and we would do endless crafts and baking projects together. They still remember, and I have to pull the items and ornaments out and smile...♥

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  8. Beautiful way to display art. We hang our paintings with clothespins to dry but I like hanging them this way for display.

    I'd love to win some of the ones you guys decorated.

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  9. What a fabulous idea! I can see many uses for this project all over the house.

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  10. you thrill me with your ideas . photos . talent..blessings ELK

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  11. What a wonderful way to show off art work. I love functional art and crafts and the pegs are great!

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  12. oh, I love them! Funny enough, I just did a project with these yesterday, but I would love to win yours!!!

    Thanks for all the inspiration. Combining mothering and art has truly made me complete!

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  13. thank you so much for this idea. Clothes pins are such a great reminder of childhood and clean sheets blowing in the breeze! I think I will copy this idea for my new art journaling/mail art space -- the basement and my son's old room in our house, now empty except for all my art supplies. Would love to have some of your decorated clothes pins to start my project! Thank you for your blog!

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  14. Thanks for sharing your creative ideas with us.:-) Please enter me !
    Lubica
    lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

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  15. Hi Shona -nice to meet you and thank you for stopping by my blog. That is too funny we were in the same Artful Blogging together! Your blog looks wonderful and I look forward to coming back with a mug of tea. I like the painted clothes pegs -how fun. Love your banner too!
    See you in class,
    Leslie

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  16. OH what a wonderful idea! My sister-in-law currently uses clothes pin to identify each child's towel. I had contemplated making a few with butterflies for my niece as her birthday is quickly approaching. Thank you for even more ideas and options! I have only recently heard of the StazOn ink and look forward to giving this a try. Maybe I'll request a set from our boys for Christmas... :) I love to hang laundry on the line to dry!!!

    Once again thank you!!

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  17. What a great idea, love it! I am struggling with what colors to paint the walls and floor of my new studio space. I have not yet considered how to hang art in it. This is definitely a unique solution.

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  18. I love this idea Artful Mother : ) I am off to make this with my daughter.

    Good day to you

    Lisa D.

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  19. love this project!

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  20. Great idea! Love that it's a project for all ages.
    Thanks for the chance to win :)

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  21. This is a great idea and the close pins are so pretty. I could see doing this for regular close pins so you'd have a colorful look on your close line. Lets have art everywhere...

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  22. lovely idea! thanks for sharing

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  23. What a fantastic idea! I have used plastic chip bag clips to hang my daughter's art over my table ... but these are MUCH cuter.

    I always marvel at the amazing ideas you come up with! and i am blaming you and trudy for my new sewing habit (several tote bags and now am making a roll up case for my paint brushes)

    have a great weekend :)

    xo lis

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  24. What a great idea! I love how creative you are.

    I would love those pegs, and I would hang some of my art and jewelry crafts from them.

    I'm so glad you have that with your girls! That's a wonderful treasure.

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  25. Oh how lovely! First that it was a project you did with your girls, and second that your artwork looks fantastic hung around the room! I used to have my own craft stall and I did something similar with painting pegs so I could use them to hang handmade cards from my stall. It was funny how many people wanted to buy the pegs more than the cards!

    Since I already won a lovely little notebook from you, don't enter me into this giveaway, but I wanted to leave a comment to say how lovely this idea is. :)

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  26. What a wonderful idea. I love them. Hope you have a great weekend.

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  27. What a fantastic idea! i want to try this in my studio to hold inspiring picts and artwork. I love the pegs! Oh, and I love the red collage with the pink dress hanging from the scissors...so cute!

    Esther

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  28. What a great idea! Love the pegs you created!
    Great giveaway!

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  29. Your curtain rod looks great. I especially like the art that's hanging from the pegs!

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  30. What a great idea! And those clips are darling! I play music and I like to use clothes pins. It would be so much better if they were pretty like yours!

    Genevieve
    jenny(at)ykwc(dot)net

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  31. This is the best idea I have seen yet! Would love to win some of those clothes pins.

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  32. Oh I love this idea. I have been looking for a way to display my sons artwork so that we can change it when new pictures need to be displayed.
    Thank you!

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  33. I love those painted pegs and that this is a prohect you can do with your kids. I always wanted to do that and never did. Very very beautiful!

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  34. I love the pegs -- they're adorable! Thank you for the opportunity to win some -- and the tutorial in case I don't! :)

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  35. This is a fabulous idea. I loved seeing the photo of the gallery pegs in use. I also think it is great that you are getting your daughter involved in art now at an early age. Crafting, painting, etc. is such a great stress releaver and now days even our little ones are facing stress related ailments. Your art is fabulous and I love the painted and stamped clothes pins. If I win I will share with my granddaughter and make her an art gallery in her room. I already have the wire.
    Tess

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  36. I adore your gallery idea and love that it was a together project. You are creating an inspired atmosphere for your children. I'm so impressed.
    I love visiting...

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  37. Wonderful pegs! I love how each one is a work of art in itself.
    I already have a little hanging gallery across this (my home office) room - but all I am using is boring paper clips to hold up the beautiful pieces of art. Your clips would be SO much better!

    heidig@gmail.com

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  38. Anonymous11:21 PM

    Hellooo...
    its me...and yes, i adore these pins...and have them here at my place...though i must admit i am not using them as creatively as you...lovely grand idea...gives me a thought...an inspiration really to hang some of our darling whimsys
    ...sigh.

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  39. Wow, that is the greatest idea. It looks fabulous!

    I would love to win the clothes pins. They make me smile.

    THANKS!
    jj

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  40. Oh! I love this! What great idea! I was just trying to think of a way to hang some things up without putting a bunch of holes in the wall. Thanks for the tutorial! (and I hope I win!) Those stamped pegs are SO pretty!
    All the best,
    Marguerite

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  41. Not only a good idea, but awfully cute in itself. I have looking for ways to display the art that my daughter makes... this idea of yours is very nice!

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  42. I was reading your book this morning, looking for some inspiration for Christmas presents when I realized I hadn't visited your blog in awhile. I'm going to do that more. And it is coincidental (maybe if you believe in them) that the Name Plate you have hanging is the first project I decided to do for my niece.

    Also, love the clothespins, I love your use of stamps, you are so very clever!

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  43. Brooklyn Chick8:07 AM

    Thanks for the idea! I want to use this to make an art gallery at school. This will make it easy to change the work more frequently and it will look good in between hangings too!
    vmbute@excite.com

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  44. We are getting our classroom set up and I was trying to figure out something for art! I LOVE this idea! Thanks for the chance to win!

    www.ourbrokenroad.blogspot.com

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  45. Great project. In your blogging class. This looks like a fun site.

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  46. These are soooo sweet, I love them. I can now see a lot of things that could be done with pegs, so beautiful and functional. Love them! And yours are so artful, of course I'd like to win some!

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  47. THANK YOU! I don't think that I have been more excited about clothes pins in my whole life. I would LOVE to win yours but I will for sure fine a way to use this idea. Super cool.

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  48. Way fun! I love to use clothespins for different uses other than hanging clothes.

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  49. great idea, i use clothes pins to hang things but never decorated. would love to have some of yours.

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  50. What a great idea! They look lovely all full of artwork!!

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  51. I have been looking for some creative way to make "Den Doodles" for my Bear Cub Scout Den. We need a creative way to hang a piece of leather strapping with earned beads. I need something:
    Small
    Cheap
    Fun
    Easy (9 year old boy easy)
    These are not only perfect – they are adorable! I think I will use the rare earth magnets on the back vs. the hanging version. That way we can display them on the chalkboard each week.
    You couldn't have shared at a better time! I am thinking about some cute ones for my fridge as well :)

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  52. These are GREAT!! It's so original and I love, love, love this!! Thank you for sharing this & I'd love to win some of these too :)

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  53. These are so pretty! I've always wanted my own clothes pins to decorate, but over here all the clothes pins are plastic. >.<

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  54. what a fantastic idea -i was just wondering how to display all my kids art work in a lovely way and what great timing..... thanks so much

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  55. Pretty! Thanks for the great idea.

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  56. oh my gosh THESE ROCK! I am so very in love with them! THANKS FOR OFFERING THEM AS A GIVEAWAY!

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  57. These are darling and I LOVE how it turned out!!!!!!!!!!

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  58. Beeautiful and creative! I love it!

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  59. What a wonderful idea!! I never knew you could take them apart. You are so creative!! Thanks for the opportunity to win some.

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  60. I love this idea!! I am glad I found your blog. I am now a follower. Thank you for the chance to win!!

    brz352@yahoo.com

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  61. Anonymous2:50 PM

    I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

    God Bless You ~Ron

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  62. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these! Thinking of ways I can display a few things should I be so blessed and win them!!

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  63. These are so pretty! I'd love to have some to display all the artwork my kids create.
    :)

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  64. great project! i have been thinking of how to hang up some art in my little cubicle and this seems like something i can do. thanks for sharing!

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  65. What a great idea. I've been looking for a sweet way to put up my grandkids' art. I'll have to give this a try. They can each make their own set of pegs. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  66. Love them! I can't wait until my daughter's old enough to craft with me!

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  67. Such a wonderful idea! I love these pegs! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to yoU!

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  68. Wonderful idea! Having two school-age children, art projects come home and this is such a great way to display their work, and add art to any room! Thanks!

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  69. Anonymous9:12 AM

    Love the colors and imagery on the pegs! Thanks for sharing this simple and delightful project!

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  70. Shona these are just amazing and beautiful! Wow--you could make a fortune selling these. :o) I LOVE the hanging art idea and I know the children must be thrilled. I used to do the same thing with my kids when they were little..but no cute clothespins and our art was very primitive without your great know-how and supplies. :o) We hung the string down a long hallway. :o)

    Thanks for visiting so much. BTW, please pray! The kids had to take August to Texas Children's last night. He's still having breathing troubles. I've got Lena and we will be taking her to visit at 5pm this evening. It was a pretty sudden decision but August is fine just not well. His oxygen level stays lower than normal without help. Pray the doctors figure out what is wrong.

    Love,
    Donna

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  71. Anonymous9:52 AM

    Good ideas. I would have just used the regular unpainted pegs and it would look terrible, lol.

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  72. Shona, I hate to bug you on your blog, but actually it gave me the opportunity to read and pore over your blog and be so encouraged and inspired! Love the way you think and create!!

    I was wondering about the Collage Directory. I posted my blog on there about a week ago and was wondering if I didn't include something to be a part of the list. I just love the idea that you've started connecting other collage artists.

    Thanks!
    Pat
    http://patchapman@blogspot.com

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  73. They are lovely. I hope to try some soon.
    Cheers.
    cheer4soccer at gci.net

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  74. great idea ... I tend to look for the old wooden clothes pins without the metal ... may have to look for these now too!

    thanks for sharing!

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  75. I have been thinking of ways to set up my new art space (moving in few weeks) and I LOVE the pegs idea... Thanks for such a simple but lovely lovely idea :)))
    I hope to post how I do my art space in the coming months... Its building....

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  76. Such gorgeous pegs! And what a great way of hanging art instead of putting more pin holes in the walls :)

    http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

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  77. I have bookmarked this page. I've been really itching to get into ATCs, and this would be a great way to display them. Maybe this is my Christmas holiday project!

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  78. These are definitely a can do project. Very nice!
    flowerpower0097 at live dot com

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  79. I know I'm too late for the giveaway, I waited until it was over to comment. I won one of your weekly giveaways so I didn't want to be greedy. But I wanted to tell you what a fun idea I think this is, to make personalized clothespins for your display.

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