How to Create a Wire Photo Hanging Picture Frame for Under $15

Have you seen this new trend? Okay, it’s not really new, but I’m not crafty, so my following of craft trends is far behind the curve. (I’m actually pretty sure I’m at least four years behind on this one.)

Regardless, there are these open frame wire photo hanging picture frames that you clip pictures, cards or other small flat items in the middle of the frame, switching them out as you choose, with the ability to move items around quickly and easily. Some use chicken wire instead of a gauge wire.

I once had the great idea to actually do this, to create my own version of this wire picture hanging frame with the intent to hang up Christmas cards we received on it. I also really want to display pictures of family and friends we knew (most of which came from cutting out the pictures that we received via Christmas cards) so that we could pray over them as we said our dinner prayers. I wanted it become a sort of Prayer Picture Frame.

I made it myself because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, and I actually thought it would be fun to do myself.

I found a few tutorials online for how to do it, mainly using this one on open frame wire memo board (from 2012 – so yes, I’m four years late to this trend, but in my defense I actually made it 1.5 years ago, but am only just posting about it now in 2016).

How to make your own Wire Photo Hanging Picture Frame

I went to Hobby Lobby to buy most of these supplies, so the prices I list come from there, but am linking to Amazon for your shopping convenience. Whatever craft store you prefer to shop at, great. Be sure to grab the in-store 40% off one item coupon most offer when you’re checking out!

Supplies (to purchase):

• Picture Frame – $5 (I bought a large used framed picture from Goodwill that had a hideous picture in it to save money! Frames are definitely the most expensive part, so this is a great way to do this craft project inexpensively. Walmart also has cheap frames usually.)
• 22 Gauge Wire – $3.99
• 50 Mini Colored Spring Clothes Pins – $2.99
• Super Glue – $1.99
• Brass Thumb Tacks – $0.99
• Acrylic Paint in color of your choice – $0.79+

Needed Supplies you likely have on hand:

• Hammer
• Paintbrushes
• Sandpaper
• Flat Head Screwdriver
• Newspaper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Level
• Wire Cutter

Instructions

1. Remove the glass and backing from the frame. I had to use a flat head screwdriver to remove mine, and then the backside of a hammer to remove the metal staples. I removed a few extra staples from the corners as well.
2. Sand any rough spots on the (used) frame lightly with sand paper. I just had a sanding block on hand so I used that instead.
3. Lay down newspaper or other material to protect your work surface under your frame.
4. Paint the frame in the color of your choice, both the front and the back.
5. Let dry.
6. Measure how far apart you want your rows of wire to be and mark them with pencil on the backside, with level marks on the left and right side.
7. Wrap the wire around a tack and hammer the tack into the backside of the frame gently, at a slight angle, applying a dab of super glue to the tack hole as you do as they have a tendency to want to pop off if you don’t on your pencil mark. You may want to keep newspaper underneath the frame to catch any excess super glue drips from ruining your work surface.
8. Pull the wire taut across the width of the frame, and wrap around another tack and gently tap and glue it into place directly across from that one,
9. If your frame doesn’t have them, attach sawtooth metal picture hanging hooks to the top edge of your frame on the backside.
10. Hang on the wall, using a level, hammer, and nails.
11. Attach pictures, postcards, notes, and anything else you like with the mini clothes pins.
    

When we receive Christmas cards in the mail over the holidays, we display all the cards we get on the wires, and then after the holidays, I cut out the family pictures people sent us in their cards and leave them displayed year round!

It’s a fun, frugal, and fabulous way to re-purpose Christmas cards and see my friends and family smiling faces year round. It helps me to think about them and perhaps say a quick prayer for them. It seems many of them know some great tips for good family pictures!

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Be sure to check out the following posts too!

40 Ways to Recycle and Reuse Old Christmas Cards and Wrapping Paper

6 Good Reasons You Should Still Send Christmas Cards in the Mail

27 FREE DIY Christmas Stocking Tutorials and Patterns