I finally did it!

I have been wanting to do a gallery wall forever.  I took these down because I was over the blue and . . .

Ta Da!  Here it is:

I gotta tell ya, it wasn't easy and it took me most of the day.  But I wanted to do it right and with minimal holes in the wall.  (You're welcome hubby!)  There are so many tutorials out there for gallery walls.  I'll spare you another one and just let you in a few things that helped me.  

Don't skip this step.  I know it's a pain but it's worth it.  Oh, and I would suggest 

using flat paper so yours don't roll up like mine.   

Make yourself one of these.  

I saw it on a show with Sabrina Soto once and have used this sucker so many times.  

Hang the picture from the screw and once it is where you want it, push the frame into the wall.  It will leave a little hole indicating where you need to hammer in your nail.

And lastly, don't get discouraged.  Things will go wrong.  Like hardware mishaps and lack of nails but find a way to make it work.  I hot glued brackets onto the back of some of the frames and stapled string to another.

This wall is more than just pretty pictures on the wall.  

It tells a story about me and my precious family.

 1.  I have a fascination with keys.   I think it has something to do with independence.  It started with keys to the house when my mom went back to work for a while.  My sister and I came home after school and ate jelly sandwiches (because we weren't allowed to use the stove) and watched Gilligan's island until she returned.  Then my keys to my car.  Which led to keys to a yogurt store that I was entrusted to close up on my own.  And onto to keys to an unfamiliar dorm.  And, most recently, keys to our first house.  I secretly wish that I had saved them all.

2.  This little symbol screamed my name in Hobby Lobby.  It is a perfect reminder to just BE here.  Not in the past and not in the future.  I am @ home.

3.  A memorable wedding present.

4.  This plaque hung in hubby's grandparents house for ages.  When they moved out of that house they had to downsize and this was the only thing hubby chose.  High Flight is the name of the poem.  Since Popo recently passed away it is especially dear to us.

5.  A pretty framed mirror I found on a "Honey, I have GOT get out of this house" trip to the local antique store.

6. Simple words to live by.

7.  I printed this up for a social at another house years ago.  It says:
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
I don't do socials anymore and I sure do miss them.

8.  My bridal portrait that, in twelve years, has never been hung on a wall.  In my life, I have been taken care of.  The woman that I babysat for every week in my first two years of college was taking up photography.  She offered to take my pics to practice so I got a session for free.  I got my hair done, my mom picked up roses from the pricey grocery store and she hung up a sheet in her living room for a backdrop.  A priceless memory since we really didn't have the funds for a formal session and it couldn't have been more perfect.

9.  My beautiful kids and my first "bloggy" project after moving into this house.  I don't remember who came up with the idea to trace over your kids profile on the computer screen and then fill it in with a sharpie but it was genius.

If you're still here.  Thanks for reading.  I had fun sharing it with you.

{Linked up to:  http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2011/08/show-share-3.html}