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Nov
23
A couple of you asked how we did the wire art hanging whatsit I showed yesterday, and since I foolishly over-commited to this goddamned November blog-every-day business and need a filler post, like, pronto happen to have some photos handy, here’s a quick run-down for those who are interested.
The ingredient list basically consisted of picture wire, cabinet knobs, a sheet rock screw, and a drill bit.
Oh, and binder clips:
What we wanted to do was screw the cabinet knob directly into the wall, but since it’s designed to be attached to a cabinet, JB ditched the bolt that came with it and used a sheet rock screw instead. He used a vise grip to clamp onto the screw:
Then he cut the head off the sheet rock screw with a miter saw, using a metal cutting blade. Looka them sparks!
Afterwards, he used a grinder to narrow the top of the screw, so it would fit more easily into the knob.
The knob could then be attached to the top of the sheet rock screw, like this:
JB used a small drill bit to drill two holes into our kitchen wall (after using his stud finder, and AS ALWAYS, pointing the device at himself and grinning widely and waggling his eyebrows because HEY IT HAS FOUND A STUD GET IT HAR HAR HAR), then screwed the knobs into the wall. The wire could then simply be wrapped around each knob to create the line, and the art is attached to the wire with the binder clips.
Voila:
It’s not super fancy (if you’re really looking for cool art/photo-hanging inspiration this project is extremely awesome), but I like how it turned out. Our fridge is stainless steel so you can’t put stuff on there with magnets, which on the one hand is kind of nice because we don’t overload it with every little scrap we want to save, but we haven’t had a good alternative place for displaying temporary things like kids’ drawings. Now that we do, maybe I’ll actually hang a few of the eighty bazillion “art” projects that come home from daycare, instead of, um, round-filing them.
What? Oh come on, like I’m supposed to frame this . . . well, mysterious zen koan, or whatever the hell it is?
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29 Responses to “Crafty”
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I’m so jealous. I wish my husband was crafty + knew how to build/fix stuff.
Wait…you mean I don’t HAVE to save every adorable piece of crap–*ahem* I mean, creative masterpiece that my kids haul home? Why didn’t someone tell me this nine years and twelve file boxes ago?
I love the picture line, but all that screw retooling looks a little complicated…
P.S. My turtle also has circle. Must be an epidemic!
Sooooo, the circle & the paper plate are the turtle’s shell? Or the turtle from his school picture last year is from the 7th circle of hell? The questions, the questions!
Bre: an easier way would be to use two eyescrews or even just a couple of little hooks, then you wouldn’t have to fart around getting the knobs to work.
I like how it turned out… might have to give it a whirl…
Also, am very curious about the bra size ephipany- must know more. v.v. important.
For anyone interested in the more elaborate version … My boyfriend and I made a photo wall based on the one Linda linked to when we moved into our new apartment, and we LURVE it.
One recommendation: use braided wire, not twisted (otherwise the turnbuckles will unscrew themselves when you try to tighten the wire). Otherwise, it was pretty easy. You don’t have to do any re-tooling, but you will need a saw for the photo boards — unless you get someone to cut them for you.
Cheers!
Ohhh I don’t think this was a filler post, this was the best post EVER. I love seeing some serious toolbench equipment like the big ol’ chopsaw and grinder and drill press! I’m the handy one around here and I do the same thing with the stud finder… except I aim it at my husband and say “Hmmmm, it’s finding NOTHING.”
So proud that JB is using ear muffs and glasses. He could be on TV.
And I’d never have thought of retooling the screw to make it fit on the know, I’d have had two screws sticking out, no knobs. LOL
The studfinder bit….yep, my husband uses it on himself before finding ACTUAL studs, too. =P
I love those little projects from school, where the teacher would write whatever the kid says the picture is supposed to be of. Eric had a few of those when he was in preschool.
*LOVE* the display! I’ve had this: http://www.anh-minh.com/plexiphoto.htm in my bookmarks forever but your way seems easier.
Latest project I am “helping” hubby do: turn old drawers into underbed storage (drawers + wheels = me not stepping on toys!)
This has nothing to do with the project itself (which is cool, btw), but rather with JB’s shop. Would your husband be able to come to our house and show my husband how to organize his shop like that?
If you don’t happen to have a handy husband with a fully stocked and organized work bench… you can just use the screws and super glue something snazzy to the ends of them!
When I moved into our current house five years ago, I bought a thin roll of cork and attached it to the wall with mega double sided tape and nails. I can put up art with pushpins. I’ll take a picture of it if I think about it.
“My turtle has circle.” Mmmmmmm. I feel all mellow.
Thanks for the awesome post!! I lerve it! Thinking this will go down one of my hallways. After you posted the picture of it the first time I sat there staring at my walls trying to pick out the best spot.
And when JB is done at Emily’s house send him my way…my hubby has been “working” at organizing his workbench for over a year! grrr
Thanks again!!
Love the display. If your husband is lacking in the handy-skills, as mine is, you can buy a kit at Ikea. It’s not quite as cute but it works.
Super cute… my DH isn’t handy like that, but my dad is. Looks like I may have to go exploit his workbench once again! :)
Of course, Madeline can’t draw yet… but seeing the level of time it takes me to do ANYthing now, I’m thinking that starting now should have it done by the time she’s 3.
Was JB ever in the military?
I swear. The only guys I know who actually keep their tools and shop like that are my Dad (Vietnam Vet), crazy ex boyfriend and current fiance. All military. They love their TOOLS. hah!
Haven’t read all the commments, but love your art-display project. I have a similar taut wire setup in my kid’s playroom, but I cheated and bought a kit at ikea for about $8.
Um, why can’t you put magnets on a stainless steel refrigerator? I do, but now I feel bad about it. Is it okay if they are those flexible plastic ones?
for anyone interested, here’s the link to the ikea version of your project that we used. And I was wrong about the price, it’s like $15. they also sell handy clip hooks to go on it.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60075295
Abby, magnets don’t stick to most stainless fridges. If they stick to yours you must have a different kind than I do. :-)
Just like the salmon must swim upstream to spawn, so must every man who so much as touches a stud finder turn it on himself. It’s a law of nature.
My Turtle Has Circle just rocks. I think he should have his own blog full of his own thoughts.
My son can home from preschool with artwork entitled “Tom is hiding on an island in the middle of a river.” I can only assume Tom means Tom The Turkey and not some mysterious stranger.
Um, never mind my email… Thanks! Like I’m gonna get my husband to do THAT. Love yours in the eye and hearing protection – good boy! At our workplace shop there is a pair of safety glasses hanging on the wall with a screw firmly stuck in one lens. Landscaper got the screw mowing the grass by the freeway. For real. Maybe I can convince my husband to do eye screws and wire, though… My fridge is so full or magnets and other stuff there is no room for art. But I do have one of those big portfolios for the keepers, because I can’t bear to throw it all out.
JB’s sexy in them there red safety ear muffs (hehe I said muff)
Heh, my husband always does the same stud finder joke. Too funny. The more I read your blog, the more I know its a good thing our husbands don’t live next door to each other! Love the project!! I may steal the idea for our playroom!
Hi Linda, I’m Shannon’s at http://wilddreemer.blogspot.com/
mom. I love this thing I make my grand kids all kinds of things. Im going to make them this but I want to know how he got the screw to stay in the knob did he just glue it in. I took some clip boards and them painted bright colors and then hung 3 of them up at my shop for there art work and school calendars, but I think this will look really good at her house