the $10.56 bedroom gallery wall

11 April 2012

I wanted to display some favorite pictures in our master bedroom, but did not want to spend $20 a pop on gallery frames with mats. I checked on buying mats separately, or even cutting my own from mat board, but I wanted to keep it very simple and very inexpensive. here’s what I did:


2. find the least dented part of a piece of white posterboard and trace around the glass, then cut it out. I took a mat with a 4X6 cutout from another picture I had and traced the 4X6 opening in the center.

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3. cut the shorter 2 edges with my handy cutter, march 2012 020 1




4. then use a metal ruler and an exacto knife for the longer edges. Use cardboard underneath so you don’t slash anything up!march 2012 021 1




5. Insert your favorite pictures behind the posterboard.april 2012 044 1
























6. Love that you spent around $10 framing some of your favorite memories. :)

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(still trying to figure what to do with that alarm clock)


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breakdown:


poster board from Kroger~I used 4 because mine were pretty dented up. $2.76


4X6 pictures (5, then I framed a favorite note from him) $1.45




Total: $10.56


yesssssssssssssssss. :) You could completely stay under $10 if you found a couple of clean, undented posterboard for 2/$1 at the dollar store. Mostly, the savings was in the frames.Thank you Dollar Tree!signature

33 comments

  1. I love your display! I can't believe I never checked dollar tree for frames! This is perfect. I can't spend a ton on frames either and they're expensive everywhere, even at our thrift store. I assume since you ordered yours online that they don't have them in store?

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  2. melissa*320 sycamore1/8/14, 1:28 PM

    Yay, Cassie! Send us some pics :)

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  3. Love! Too bad they went out of stock before I saw this :(

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  4. Love it!  And you know we're all dying to hear what the note says!

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  5. Frankysportfolio1/8/14, 6:01 PM

    Simple, elegant and easy to do! Great post Lauren. Here are some great tips on how to make decorate a fabulous home. Enjoy!
    http://www.eieihome.com/blog/eight-fabulous-home-decor-ideas.html 

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  6. Hi Melissa,

    Amazing idea! I sell paintings, and the last time I needed mats I paid for one what you paid for your gallery wall!
    Never again, after reading this post! I have bookmarked your site!

    Val @ artsybuildinglady.blogspot.ca

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  7. wow this is such a great little project and cost efficient too! Great post! 

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  8. Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails}1/16/14, 10:44 PM

    Oh my goodness I love your dresser area! I'm linking to you today in my post about decrapifying my own Master BR dresser which has been sitting for two years, unpainted & collecting stuff.
    http://www.handbagsnpigtails.com/2012/04/decrapify-simplify-beautify.html You've lit a fire under me. Thank you!:)

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  9. This looks fantastic! I think I want to recreate this over our bedroom dresser. Thanks for the idea (and the budget saver!)

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  10. Christina Hull1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    Can't beat that price for such a great look!  Great ideas!

    BTW, the kitty litter inside the musty furniture seems to be working.  I'm still going to leave it in for a couple more weeks, but so far it has made a great difference!!

    Christina-As Time Goes By

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  11. Wow, look at you being all brilliant and thrifty! :)  It looks beautiful. 

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  12. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

     yay for the kitty litter trick!

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  13. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    I got them at Tuesday Morning.

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  14. You're killing me here!  That looks so amazing and the price is so right.  I didn't even know you could order dollar tree stuff online.  Oh my.  I'm in trouble now (not really cause it's so inexpensive!).

    LOVE IT!

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  15. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    thank you, Lauren!

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  16. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    Oh, I may have to do a post on it. It's the first note he sent me when we were dating and I have to wait until the lilacs bloom to tell it! :)

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  17. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    Kari, I love your enthusiasm. I heard you here in VA! :) you are the best.

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  18. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    Hi Kim! I *wish* I could say that they were a diy, but they are from Tuesday Morning. $40 a pop. Happy Birthday to me from my Grandma Reeva :)

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  19. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    I found a couple in the store and asked if they had more, and the lady said no, but check online. Jackpot!

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  20. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    I have heard horror stories about the precision and patience required with mat cutters, and I know I would not be a good fit with one. Posterboard it was!

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  21. melissa*320 sycamore1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    Richella, you could completely do that. I just liked the look of the picture behind the "mat." If you had a bigger scrapbook cutter, you wouldn't have to use an exacto. Cutting against the metal ruler really helped with the straight line, c'mon you know I am a clutz! I think they would look great floating on top as well. You have to order a pack of 18, but then you have LOTS of frames to do projects with :)

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  22. I love this! I love to frame notes too...I remember seeing that in an old Nate segment from the Oprah Winfrey show (she framed favorite notes from friends) and I thought it was so simple and so personal. Great job!

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  23. Lori Bernstein1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    What a great idea! And it looks way more expensive and classy than $10.56!!

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  24. Megan (Honey We're Home)1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    This is GENIUS!!!  I love it!  Pinned!!

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  25. So beautiful! I love the whole look! I'll have to go check out our Tuesday Morning and see if they happen to have those lamps...they would be perfect for our bedroom!

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  26. OMG  that is amazing!  Great idea!

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  27. I love the way your frames came out. I have a similar looking wall of photos. I wanted to tell you that I love your lamps and lampshades! I love the contrast of the shiny lamps with the texture of the lampshades! I just love the way they look!

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  28. I just love a cheap project that looks so elegant! Great job! And I'm nosey about the note... :)

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  29. Sarah Martina1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    This is exactly what I was going to ask! And we have a Tues. Morn. 5 minutes away. I've seen these and now I want them even more! :) Wonderful tutorial! Thanks for sharing! (Found you on Pinterest and now subscribing!) :)

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  30. This is awesome!!! What a huge savings. Definitely pinning this for future reference!

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  31. Bettsi McComb1/16/14, 10:49 PM

    That's so great!  I didn't even know you could order from Dollar Tree online.  I had to pin it!

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  32. This turned out great! I am going to try and duplicate. I have been toying with doing a gallery wall in my living room and didn't want to spend an arm & leg on frames. Thanks for sharing this!

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  33. Posterboard! Great idea! Love your blog and taste!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me a note!