Four TOP HOME DECOR BLOGGERS COME TOGETHER TO SHARE DIY INSPIRATION GIVING FOUND OBJECTS FRESH LIFE IN THE MONTHLY SERIES, NEW AGAIN.
I’m so excited to be joining some talented blogging friends for our monthly series, New Again. We share how we are giving a face lift to old pieces we’ve had laying around, thrifted or found. Thank you so much to Jen of Noting Grace for organizing! Find links to all the participants’ posts after my tutorial for how I turned a book of wildlife prints I found for $3 at the thrift shop into a gorgeous gallery wall.
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If you are new to my blog, Welcome to Camp Paradise! I’m so glad you came to visit!! I hope you will become a regular! For all my followers, I’ve been anxiously waiting to share this with you!!
Camp Paradise is our lakeside log cabin home in The Northwoods of Wisconsin where my family lives surrounded by pine and birch forests on the shores of a gin clear lake. White Arrow Signs point your way throughout our community. The nostalgic signs inspired my blog name.
When I was a little girl my parents had a big book of beautiful animal illustrations I loved to read through. It was called Character Sketches from the Pages of Scripture. There are two different volumes. The one I found at the thrift was Volume II. Find options for purchasing the book here.
The Project
Last year as I was walking through the local thrift shop I found a copy of that book for $1! I thought the illustrations would be beautiful framed and hung together.
Gallery Wall
Making the gallery wall was such a simple and inexpensive project. I started out by cutting the string binding so that I could take out the pages. I would cut each page down the middle of the crease and stack the pages I wanted to frame in one pile and the other pages back into the book.
As soon as I found the book and got the idea to frame the wildlife illustrations I started buying simple black frames at Hobby Lobby when they were on sale a few at a time.
Then I simply put the illustrations in the frame.
Brian hung them up and then I moved them around to try to space out the birds, butterflies and mammals.
Room Details
We hung the gallery on a wall of our guest house family room. There’s an alcove between one of the bedrooms and a bathroom.
With the gallery wall hung, the prints looked like they were floating. They needed to be grounded somehow so Brian put up a barnwood wainscoting.
We had a long wooden tall table we had had made for our kitchen island in our last home that had been looking for a place to land at the cabin so we moved it into this space and added bar stools around. I put a decorative tic-tac-toe board on top. It’s a perfect spot now for a homework or game table. A few of my vintage snowshoes from my collection leaning up against the wall complete the rustic look.
So this gorgeous gallery wall cost under $40! It was quick and simple and makes a big impact! What vintage, old books can you look for the next time you thrift to take apart and frame? Animals, maps, children’s books, landscapes?
Follow the Tour
A Blue Nest / French Provincial Dresser Makeover
Noting Grace / How to Make Old Shower Doors New Again
Repurpose and Upcycle / Vintage Milk Can Makeover with a Copper Finish
White Arrows Home / Create a Gallery Wall from a Thrift Store Book
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What a statement wall! I love it now!
thank you so much Lindsey!
I just adore this idea! I am always hunting for vintage books when I go thrifting and will now check out picture books as well! What a great reveal!
Thank you so much! Happy hunting!
Love this!! Any chance we can get the name of the book?
Hi Sherri! I just emailed you I think :), but it’s Character Sketches. I updated the post with a link to options to purchase.
love love love this gallery wall, Kristin!
Thank you so much Molly!
Just fabulous! your thrift find created an entire creative space using mostly materials on hand. that’s one thing I feel this stay-at-home is doing for me. i remember those character sketch books. we didn’t use them but my friend had them & the art is beautiful. you can use them as jumping off points to tell you grandchildren stories about how you grew up.
The art is these books these stunning! Thank you so much for your comment Pamela!
What a beautiful gallery wall. You nailed it! I think it is the major focus of the room. I have always loved bird/animal/butterfly prints!
Thank you so much Kathy, I love animal prints too!
You cut up a book.
The Character Sketch books had a special place in our home while I grew up, and also I used them for Bible class when I homeschooled my kids. Nature and Scripture together, a wonderful combo! The artwork is definitely worth framing… great idea, my friend!
Thank you so much Julie!
I love this idea! It looks so fantastic! You picked a. great book for the project. Thanks for sharing. I found you at anything pink. Saturdays. Have. a great day.
XO-
MaryJo
https://www.masterpiecesofmylife.com.
Oh my gosh I love this gallery wall! I’m a sucker for vintage art and books in general. How great you found this one! Also great that your husband added the paneling — awesome! Thanls for sharing at Vintage Charm! Pinned! xo Kathleen
Thank you so much Kathleen!
That looks awesome! What a wonderful idea!
Just beautiful! What a good idea to use plates from a vintage book. Wow, Wow, wow–your wall makes quite a statement!
Thanks for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace! I’m featuring you this week.
Thank you so much Richella, I greatly appreciate the feature! Hope you have a great rest of your week!
This is so impressive. I have bought some calendars years ago with the intention of doing the same thing.However, With my crazy schedule, I keep putting off all side projects. That is a beautiful display, I truly believe that your guests will enjoy the sight.