DIY Gallery Wall Art {Tutorial}

Hello friends! I have a tutorial for you today!

I wanted to build a pretty substantial board/gallery/wall art thing behind the couch to hold my vintage botanical prints. I thought it would add a lot of charm to the space. 

So, I thought, and thought, and thought... and this is what I came up with. I knew that I wanted it to have a vintage feel, have numbered clips for the prints, and fill up the big space. I hit up the local ReStore {again} and found a long piece of beadboard for $3 and the trim for $1.50 {I took this picture after I had spray painted the trim black}. I crossed my fingers all the way home, hoping that it would be the right size... and it was PERFECT! 

I wanted the clips to have the look of vintage reciept holders, but I didn't want to pay that much. So, I hit the dollar store and grabbed these mouse traps. At 4/$1, you can't beat the price! 

So, I will show you how I transformed them.

First, I just clipped off the unnecessary death trap parts with wire cutters.  

Until it looks like this...

Then I spray painted them with a base of black spray paint. I lightly painted over the top of that with a raw umber craft paint until they look like this... 

I used my Silhouette to cut out a stencil for the numbers {you could also use your printer and the technique I show here} and penciled them onto the top, flat area.

I filled the letters in with a creamy white paint and lightly distressed them.

I painted the piece of beadboard using layers of my favorite creamy white paint, and a light brown with the technique I show here. Then all I had to do was attach the trim with wood glue, and attach all of the mousetraps and I had a place to display my botanicals! 

I loved the look of the loose papers. I played with them in mats and thin frames, but when it came down to it, I just really loved the whimsical, artistic feel of the free papers. I have had these botanicals in my stash forever. I purchased them off of Ebay a long time ago, used them for different things and have always loved them. You can tell they are a bit crumpled, but I really love that about them. 

The total cost for this project was $6.50 since I already had the prints on hand! Love that!

Our bonus room/family room is really coming together. I keep working on it, little by little and I am so happy with how it is coming together. 

Here is what we have so far... From a couch I never would have picked on my own, to a room I am completely in love with. It isn't finished, but it is getting there! I have to warn you, I am going full steam ahead on my bonus room redo project, so I will keep sharing as I go.

To see the other before/afters in the room, click on the links below:

Refinished Side Table with Lots of Storage:

 

Old Door Turned Fabulous Floor Mirror:

 

Thank you for reading! I hope you are having a wonderful week!