Junk Style Photo Board

A few weeks ago, I took you up the gondola on Aspen Mountain with me and my family, as I celebrated "the big 4-9". 
As I told you then, I am really looking forward to my 50th birthday, but there's just something special about the year leading up to a milestone birthday. 

My forties have included some of the most painful experiences of my life, and I want this last year of being in my forties to be unique and memorable for some happy and fun things! Amen? 

Last weekend my two oldest girls {22 and 16} and I went up to Aspen (my daughter's treat!) for a super fun film/concert event with the band Switchfoot. 

I am a pretty big Switchfoot fan, but nothing compared to my 16 year old. She has admired these guys practically her whole life, and standing shoulder to shoulder with them, singing her heart out was a dream come true for her.
Thank God for being 49 and being able to have a blast at a rock concert with my girls! 

Okay, back down to earth now with a little junk style decor :)

Last week I shared our Nature Inspired Fall Foyer and  stairway.

Today I just wanted to share a last detail in that area, that I didn't mention in the last posts, which is the junk style photo board next to the large pine armoire in the entry area. 

Several months ago I was poking around at one of my favorite thrift stores, and spotted this crusty old industrial style metal shelf behind a rack of clothes. Surely, I'm not the only one who looks behind and under everything in the thrift store? : )

I asked the clerk how much they wanted, and she said she didn't even know it was there! 
"How about a dollar?", she asked. Sold!

I was thinking since I have ZERO shelving in my chaotic mess of a garage that this might be useful. The truth is, this wouldn't even make a dent out there. Sigh..

Clearly, it was meant to be a junk style photo board! This is how I did it:

I slipped a vintage wooden hanger through the end of the shelf.

I attached an old cabinet hinge to the wall to hang it from. Let's just pretend we don't see whatever else was going on back there the day I took this photo, okay? 

The shelf is pretty heavy, and I wasn't sure the old hanger could carry the weight of it without coming apart, so I also added a few screws for extra support. 

That old key chain belonged to my grandmother. When I was in California this summer, my mom said I could take it, since no one could remember what any of the keys went to anyway!
I hung a favorite Autumn quote from one of the extra hooks on the key chain.

I hung some old book covers with tattered ribbon, and pinned some vintage family photos to the covers with my grandma's antique hat pins. Those little blonde girls on the hay wagon are my mom and her twin sister! She says growing up on a farm has given her some of the best memories of her life.

This old watch also belonged to my grandma {pictured here}. I think I'm going to turn it into a necklace.

I just added a few clips and some twisted wire. I love how easy it is to change up whatever I want to have displayed here! I'm going to use the brackets for another project. 

We are getting in the Christmas mood over at The Penny and the Pearl! We will be listing more handmade and vintage items this week, so be sure and pop over to say hello and see what's new!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, friends. I appreciate you coming by for a visit today!

 Jeanette

Linking up at these fun parties-

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors 

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop  

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style 

Be Inspired at Common Ground 

Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo 

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

 

Nature Inspired Fall Foyer {Pt. 2}- The Stairway

As I sit in my living room writing this post this afternoon, this is the view from my window. Brrr!

All that cold sure makes for a pretty view though, right? 

If there's anything prettier than fall trees in all their glory, it's fall trees with a bit of snow in the background. 

 Just gorgeous! {she says, from her toasty living room}

In my last post I welcomed you in out of the cold into our Nature Inspired Foyer.

As you step into the entryway, the stairs are straight ahead. When we moved into this home I saw the grand potential of this 2-story wall along the stairs. Oh, the possibilities for this expansive space!

I've had visions of a gallery wall of family photos, and my kids' framed artwork. Or how about one or two giant handmade pieces?

Fast forward nearly 3 years (!) and the wall was still a big blank canvas of potential. Knowing I didn't have the supplies on hand {or the cash} to create some of the ideas that have been spinning around in my brain, I figured I'd finally just get moving on creating something with things I already have around here.

After picking through my junk, I decided to use three unique, but similar, wood pieces as a starting point to add some interest to this stairway wall.

I started with the chunky wood piece that sort of looks like a section of fence. This was a curbside freebie I picked up last spring. I recently tried using it as a doormat on my simple Fall front porch, but ultimately decided I was too likely to trip on it!

One top of each of the white wood pieces, I layered three identical rustic frames {thrift store purchase, several years ago}, and placed a simple collection of items from nature. In this first frame, a feather and egg.

Heading up, the second white painted wood piece I used is the lid from a toy crate that once held some sort of a building set. The toys are gone now, but of course I just knew the crate would be useful for something. 

Again, layered with a rustic frame, this time framing a fall leaf and an abandoned wasp's nest I found outside our home.   

 

 The last white painted wood piece I used is an old cabinet door from when we remodeled our kitchen at our last home. Why do I still have this cabinet door, you ask? Uum... well... I knew I'd need it as wall decor some day? 

Anyway, now it is wall decor. Layered with the last rustic frame, an acorn and...

...this cute little guy I swiped from my daughter's toy animal collection. 

What I really like about this set of layered frames is how easy it will be to change out the items inside the frames whenever the whim strikes me! 

On the upper stairway wall I hung a large canvas with the frame side out. I bought the canvas at a thrift store a couple of years ago for around a dollar. 
Someone had spray painted something decidedly unattractive on the front, but I have painted over it more than once, most recently as a sign for a friend's wedding this past summer. 

I like the "deconstructed" look of the back of the canvas, and simply tacked a fall branch to it (sorry, blurry photo)

What is this? Well, it's a vintage beach chair that I turned into a beach-y towel rack some time back.

Sometimes when you need something for a certain area of the house, you just have to swipe something from another space, right?

I just covered over the beach print with a piece of an old canvas bag and placed one of my upcycled paper wreaths over it on a vintage hanger. 

{before. well, I mean after it was a chair}

When you are on the stairs, this is what you see out the upper window. At least for a bit longer, until all those beautiful leaves disappear!

This antique suitcase was a recent thrift store find. I'm still deciding if I'm keeping or selling.

At least for a little while it will look cute here on the landing ; )

I was able to add some much needed personality to this space {without spending any money} by using items I already had, and pulling in simple pieces from nature.

I only wish I'd done it sooner!

I'm so glad you came by today. Being able to share our home with you adds so much joy to every project! It just wouldn't be the same without you. 

Blessings-

Jeanette 

See you over at...

Be Inspired at Common Ground  

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 

Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo  

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors  

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

The Scoop 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable 

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style