Cardboard Art Gallery

I’m partnering with Adobe Photoshop Elements again to create a fun photo project. A couple years ago I thrifted some frames, spray painted them gold, and hung Henry’s artwork in them to create a gallery in his room (details on this post). We’ve had it up for a long time now and I thought it was about time to re-visit it with some handmade frames Henry could help make, new images and current artwork we could rotate through.

It was really liberating to create a frame of any size, shape and design. I didn’t have to cut images or artwork to fit the pre-made frames! It doesn’t look fancy, but I think it’s perfect for a kid’s room and a nice opportunity for them to help design and decorate the frames. Henry loved it and is already asking to make more.

It was also the perfect opportunity to use some images from instagram (which I’ve been just obsessed with lately, I’m @liz_stan), and also mix in some of his current artwork, like the crazy monster mouths he’s been into drawing.

Here’s how to make one…

Open your image. I’m using Photoshop Elements, which has a really easy way of ordering prints. In the ‘create’ tab on the right, you can select from a couple popular online sites to order, or you can upload your local Costco or Pharmacy where you usually order prints.

I’m using Shutterfly, so it immediately takes me to the site and I select the size I want for the two images and order.

Next I’m building the frames. I liked the idea of re-purposing cardboard boxes. I measured each image and pieces or artwork I used and cut some strips of cardboard to create frames and some simple shapes on top. Glue gunned it up.


These are the four I created for the 2 pictures and 2 pieces of artwork I wanted to display.

I spray painted them white, let them dry and then Henry did his Jackson Pollock magic on them. I was nervous about splatter painting all four so I let Henry do two and left the other plain white. I’m still not sure if I made the right decision with that though? Should we have splattered painted all of them? None of them? (Also, remember his notebook tee I made?)

I taped the photos or artwork onto the back and hung them with strong tape. Or a simple nail through the cardboard into the wall would work too.

Great Adobe promo going on! From now until August 6, you can save $50 on the Photoshop Elements/Premiere Elements 10 bundle here. Also, you can get 30% off Photoshop Elements alone here.

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Comments

How adorable! I was looking around for a good screenshot of one of our partner sites to put on the intro slide of a proposal I’m working on right now, and I think this post will work perfectly! You take the best photos!!! The colors are always great! 🙂

Cat

How adorable! I was looking around for a good screenshot of our partner sites to put on the intro slide of a proposal I’m working on right now, and I think this post will work perfectly! You take the best photos!!! The colors are always great! 🙂

Cat

This looks glorious! You are a wonderful example of how having children and having fun with design need not be two separate paths in life. I love the scatter paint effect, too. I think this kind of project would make a perfect adult ‘activity’ too, dare I say it! Let’s call it a design DIY project, in order that I don’t upset the wider blogging world (aha). Splatter-painting by colour theme and voila! I shall certainly think about re-purposing this lovely little project of yours in the future.

My son would flip over doing splatter paint frames. Love the bright colors. I think all of them painted would be nice too.

I remember that gallery wall you made before, this one is really cute too! I like to using my daughters paintings with clothespins. Makes for easy removal!

Very cute project! I love how involved your son was in the process

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