Hello! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite recent projects. As most of you know, I believe in using everything I purchase to the fullest extent possible. It’s the backbone of the Essential 25 and, I believe, one of the most important aspects of finding peace, tranquility, and gratitude. So after this beautiful Rifle Paper Co. calendar spent last year hanging in Olivia’s room, I decided to turn it into a wanderlust-inspired photo collage at the end of the girls’ hallway.
I adore this calendar but, unfortunately, it is no longer available in the full wall calendar version for 2021. If you’re okay with a smaller version (you’d just need to find smaller, size-appropriate frames), there is desk calendar version. If you’re sold on the larger version, I did go on a travel calendar hunt, and I found a few alternative options, which I linked to below.
So, how to get that little calendar up on the wall in a stunning gallery? That’s what I’m here to help you achieve. It’s not particularly difficult, but it does take some time, so be sure to block off at least 3-4 hours where you can focus uninterrupted. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll have to do it over the course of a few days in 1-2 hour segments. Just be patient and don’t rush!
Framing
First, determine what size frames you’ll need. This will obviously vary depending upon which calendar you choose. And don’t get discouraged if the images won’t fit the frames perfectly. You may need to make some editorial decisions. For example, the frames I found were just a bit small for some of the images, so I had to decide what aspects of those images I was comfortable leaving out of the finished product. It’s all a matter of personal choice, so do your best to choose a frame that allows you to preserve as much of each image as possible, recognizing it will not be perfect. Remember, those imperfections make it uniquely yours. Embrace them!
Details
Depending upon which calendar you choose, you may want to add matting or other details. This calendar had each city name in large block letters below the city image. I was hoping for a more vintage aesthetic, so I chose a soft blush textured wall-paper to serve as a mat along the bottom of the photo (to cover the city name). Over the wall-paper, I layered a small piece of antique paper with the city name and coordinates written in script. Canva has hundreds of different templates and fonts to choose from, so the possibilities are endless. Many of them are free, but you will need a subscription to access all of their inventory (including the font I chose for my photos).
I urge you to be creative here. Don’t feel limited by my design choices. If the cities or places in your calendar are of particular significance to you, document that somehow in your photos. The possibilities are endless!
Hanging
Now to the frustrating part, well for me anyways! Every creative project always comes with some technical aspect that is tedious … so just accept it, be patient, and work through it. The key to getting a wall collage up properly, particularly when symmetry is crucial, is to take the time to get the first row done correctly. The math will vary based on how many frames are in each row and column, but the best advice I can give is (1) measure accurately, and (2) double check your math before you start pounding nails in the wall!
Once you get the first row up it becomes easier, as that first row will help guide the placement of the additional frames. One more quick tip, lighter frames are much easier to work with, and use a photo hanging wire (far more forgiving for slight errors).
Then stand back and admire.
I also linked to a few of the items in the photos above. This pendant light may be one of my favorite purchases for our home. It’s stunning, and the price will blow your mind!
Have fun creating your very own wanderlust wall! And feel free to reach out with any questions, I’m always happy to help.
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