DIY Kids' Art Wall

 I think there are some pretty cute aspects to our home. There's the DIY toy bench mom and I made (and later recovered), the $5 "Canvas Prints," the whale mobile in Gummy Bear's room... Yet the feature that gets the most notice and compliments is the kids' "Art Wall."

The compliments must be nods to my kids' vast artistic talents, since the actual holder is as simple as it comes. To recreate it, all you need is:

• Small Command Hooks
• Picture Wire
• Wire Cutters
• Binder Clips

I got everything from Walmart (except the wire cutters, which I had on hand in our basic toolbox). The instructions? As straightforward as they seem: first, determine where you want your art wall. I slipped mine in the corner of our playroom over the craft table.

As you can see, I wanted mine four layers high, so I measured the "display" area to equally space my four rows and marked the spots for the hooks with a pencil. Following the directions on the command hooks, I attached them at my marked spots. (All it takes is unpeeling stickers, pressing the hooks in place for one minute, and then waiting an hour before hanging anything heavy. Easy-peasey.)

Then, I strung the picture wires from hook to hook as taut as I could, securing them by looping around the hook and then winding the end back along the wire. Once secure, I snipped the ends with wire cutters.

Next, I put several binder clips on each wire and voila! It was ready to hold art! So simple, so inexpensive, and so customizable! 

Mum has a version of this in her home, sometimes for the grandchildren's creations but also for her own watercolors. That sloth is to die for, mum...

Happy drawing/painting/crafting!

Children's Art Gallery

I have spent way too much time trying to figure out how to make a gallery for the grandchildren's school papers and art work. I wanted something simple, attractive, and at their eye level. There are a bazillion ideas out there, and I even bought the things needed to make one of them. But I opted out when I realized it would require making big holes in the walls. So here is my "why didn't I think of this earlier" solution.

I screwed two white cup hooks into the underside of some white molding along an archway in our kitchen. When I remove the hooks, the holes won't even be visible.

(I realize that not everyone has an archway exactly like this, but look for other possibilities that might work. For example, I did the same thing under the mantel to hang up seasonal decorations. The underside of laminate countertops/bars works well also.)

Purchase small curtain clips similar to this one. They are available at Ikea and at numerous online sources:

Using clear fishing line or sturdy string that blends into your wall color, tie one end of the string to one of the hooks, add the curtain clips, and then, keeping it taut, tie the string to the other cup hook. I used white kite string, and it is almost invisible.

Let your budding Picassos and Da Vincis hang up their art treasures--and enjoy.