Thursday, April 28, 2011

My name is Tracy, but you can call me Martha: BB&B Collage Frame

Crafty Post! While my husband and I were creating our wedding registries I fell in love with a collage frame at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Distressed Wood Photo Collage

I absolutely love it but $139.99?!?! Yea, I don't see myself spending that on a picture frame (even if it is 7 frames in one- that's $20 per frame!). Flash forward a couple months and it is after our wedding and we are trying to figure out what to do with all the wedding paraphernalia strung about our home. The big head scratcher was what to do with the 12 custom size photo moulding centerpieces my dad made for us:


Image Courtesy the Best Wedding Photographers in the World, Carden's Photography

(In case you can't tell from the photo, we placed square picture frames over a round floral tray and filled the inside of the frames with flowers and candles.)

Once again, genius struck (that keeps happening these days!) and I remembered the BB&B collage frame. So, here is what I did. I picked a few of the larger centerpiece frames that were my favorites, as well as few of the smaller frames we used around the wedding (guest book instructions, favor sign, etc). I played around with the composition for awhile on the ping-pong table in the basement and then- very important!- I drew a diagram of the final layout. (The first time I got the layout just right I attempted to move them and got all sorts of confused. I had to redo the final layout and I'm pretty sure I preferred my first attempt better- not that we'll ever know now!)



You can pick up an inexpensive frame hanging kit from just about anywhere. I think I bought mine at Target for around $5, but here is an option I found on Amazon.com.

I prefer the D-rings (brass hanging brackets with the loops shaped like Ds at the top). Attach two of those to the back at opposite sides and hang. I wish I could offer a tutorial on how to hang the collage, but since every one's collage will be different I'm not sure I could effectively write instructions.

If you do not have glass for the frames you are using Michaels Craft Stores sells standard size picture glass (5x7, 8x10, etc).


Here is how my final collage frame turned out (I left the 40-something inch TV screen in to show scale):


I still prefer the BB&B Collage Frame but all this project cost me was a couple bucks for the photo prints and $5 for the hanging kit. What do you think? How did I do??

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4 comments:

  1. Quite crafty...are all frames attached to each other or independently hung?

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  2. They are all attached with metal brackets in the back. I tried to find the best way to support the weight of the collage with the least number of brackets (aka the least amount of work). :)

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  3. You did a fantastic job! I have a large box full of pics in frames (still unpacked since my last move!) and this idea just might get them out of the box! Thanks so much!

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  4. Wow what a great idea I fell in love with the bbb frame too love the rustic look but I think I'm going go start looking for those type of frames thrift store hassles etc and attempt thanks for the suggestion regarding brackets in back ? Was there any glue involved

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