I’ve had this idea for a while: to create a family photo
gallery on top of a silhouette of a tree.
First I collected all the photos that I wanted to use. I found black frames for them with white mats. The frames vary in size and design. Some hold two or three photos. Some were plain and smooth while others have
a slight tapering angle to them or grooves that add some dimension and
interest. 
I started by cutting out pieces of white butcher paper to
match the sized frames I had. I stuck
them on the wall with blue painter’s tape that could be easily removed and
repositioned on the wall without removing any paint. I started with one large photo that would
serve as a focal point, an anchor with all the other photos and elements
radiating from that one. I established a
few lines within the layout to keep the photos looking organized. I wanted an asymmetrical layout without it
looking haphazard. I thought about
taking similarly sized photos and placing them on opposite sides of my imaginary
horizontal and vertical lines that I’d created.
Once my design was finalized and I had all the templates
taped on the wall I used a pencil to outline the silhouette of the tree. Then I removed the templates and painted the
silhouette using paint that was one shade darker than my wall color and one
finish shinier. I was able to make my
silhouette using a sample size from the paint counter. It was a little tricky to paint because one
shade darker matches the wall color when wet.
I felt like I was using invisible paint!
I painted along the pencil line, covering the pencil as I went. As it dried it darkened a bit revealing the
subtle look I was going for.
The next day, when the tree was dry I marked where the
hanger needed to be for each frame and taped the paper templates back on the
wall. I hammered the picture hangers
right through the paper template and then ripped the paper from the
nail/hanger.
I’m very pleased with the results and hope you can use these
tips to make a personalized family photo gallery in your home!
