Well, if it isn’t those little photography note cards again. They’re the ones we bought from a local art gallery on our anniversary to hang in the bathroom, though you may remember other things from that post more clearly than the cards themselves.
Originally we intended to keep them in the bathroom, but then I noticed that some of the photo colors matched the framed scrapbook paper we already had. The tones were all in the same neighborhood, so we decided the note cards might work better grouped with the colored paper in the living room instead.
We planned to display the small square photos in the centers of the colored paper squares that were already inside each square frame, effectively using the scrapbook paper as an inexpensive mat. Since we didn’t have enough note cards to fill all eight frames, we bought four more from the same local artist to complete the set.
First we trimmed the rectangular note cards into squares. I used an X-Acto knife and a ruler to keep my cuts straight, though for placement I mostly trusted my eye. We left a thin white border around each photo so they read like miniature Polaroids, which we liked at the time.
Then each frame came down from the wall so we could tape the photos onto the colorful paper backgrounds. To center each photo we eyeballed it and then double-checked with a yardstick, aligning it across opposite corners and repeating on the other two corners to ensure even placement.
Once everything was back in the frames, we stepped back to see how the arrangement read in the room.
At first we weren’t thrilled. The small size itself was fine — it actually invited you to lean in and look closely — but the overall effect felt busy and too dominated by the layered squares. In photos the display looked better than it did in real life, but in person the white borders created a very defined separation between the photos and the bright paper mats. Instead of feeling like the colored paper extended the images’ palettes, each piece appeared as a tiny picture sitting on top of a thick, bright mat and then on top of another white mat. The result was visually heavy and a little overwhelming.
After a few days of living with the display and not warming to it, Sherry decided to take another pass at the trimming. With a steadier hand than mine, she used ordinary scissors and removed the white borders around the photos.
Her cuts were clean, and the change made a noticeable difference. The photos now read more integrated with the colored backgrounds, rather than isolated from them. In person the arrangement felt subtler and less shouty — it didn’t demand attention, but it rewarded a casual glance.
We’re happier with the new look. Admittedly, the photographic documentation doesn’t show as dramatic an improvement as we perceive in the room itself, partly because reflections in the glass complicate taking clear pictures. We haven’t upgraded to museum glass, so glare is still an issue when photographing framed pieces.
At roughly $4.64 per frame (about $4 for each note card plus roughly $0.64 for the scrapbook paper background), this felt like an affordable, low-commitment way to try something new on that wall. We don’t view this as a forever solution — we’re constantly evolving our house decor — but it’s a nice intermediate step. These small photos could easily be replaced later with larger pieces, or relocated elsewhere if we find something we prefer.
For now, the display makes us smile. Some of the images make me think of carnival rides and funnel cake, which is as good a reason as any to keep them where we can see them each day.
Have you made any small art updates recently? Tried using note cards or other unconventional items as wall art? We’d love to hear about what’s working in your space.
Psst — we also announced this week’s giveaway winner; check our recent post if you want to see if it’s you. The discount code mentioned in that announcement is still valid through the end of the month.