Friday, February 13, 2015

FLOATING GALLERY WALL

I could title this post so many things and of course, no sooner did I label all of my pictures "Beach Gallery Wall", did I decide "Floating Gallery Wall" would have been better.  Anyway....
This idea started when my friend Donna at Distressed Donna Down Home sent me a package that amongst other things, contained some sand dollars.  She knows I love beachy stuff for my beachy master bedroom.  (Thank you Donna!!)  She told me they were kind of dirty.  She told me I should bleach them and put them out in the sun.

Hmmmm...it's the dead of winter, not much sun and with temps in the 20's, not really excited about opening windows for ventilation.  I will confess to you right now that I laid these sand dollars out on my craft table and looked at them for a couple of days while the song, "Dirty White Boy" by Foreigner kept running through my head.  (Oh how that tune plays on my libido memories.) 
I decided to give them a couple of coats of Annie Sloan Pure White and see what happened.  You can see what a difference it made with just one coat on half.....
No bleachy smell, no long wait for them to dry and still Foreigner banging around in my brain.  Then the issue of how to get them on my wall became the dilemma.  I kind of wanted a gallery wall, but I really didn't want lots of frames and big nail holes in my new master bedroom wall. Soooooooo.....
I got the brilliant idea of hot glueing thumbtacks onto the back side of them.  
Now, when Foreigner is playing in your head, you might possibly have some kind of flashback and get the crazy idea that "more is better".  I started putting thumbtacks on the backs of all kinds of shells, glass pebbles and starfish as well.
Before the mood left me, I headed into the bedroom and started pinning them on the wall.
Then, just like in the late 70's, it became difficult to know when to stop.  Just like in the late 70's, I kept going.
I didn't worry too much about all the little thumbtack holes in the wall because I knew they'd be easier to patch and repaint later, if I get tired of this look.  I do kind of wonder what Sam will say when he gets home tonight, but then.....
"I've been in trouble since I don't know when
  I'm in trouble now and I know somehow I'll find trouble again
  I'm a loner but I'm never alone
             Every night I get one step closer to the danger zone"
*sigh*
Maybe he'll be impressed with the way my reading light throws shell-ish shadows across the wall at night.  Maybe he'll find that romantic.  Maybe.
Maybe he'll notice how well it goes with my beach wreath.  Maybe.
Beach Wreath
I know I keep hinting at my bedroom makeover with projects like this.  I'll get around to doing a post on that whole big project one of these days.  In the meantime, please let me move "Dirty White Boy" from my head to yours.  Feel free to rock it on out accordingly, but maybe "know when to say when".  LOL!
Disclaimer:  I have no regrets about my fun in the 70's.  (I do have some hair regrets about the 80's though and we should all have some music regrets about the 90's!)

Linking up:
My Repurposed Life Savvy Southern Style


The Enchanting Rose
The Dedicated House

32 comments:

  1. What a cute beachy vignette! Really puts you in the mood for some beautiful warm weather - especially on one of the coldest weekends ever!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful Danni! I love that it reminds me of an ocean wave in the way you have it arranged. So very pretty. The tacks are genius! We could solve almost any problem with chalkpaint! I'm still loven that wreath. Foreigner ... now that is a flashback! Jukebox Hero was one of my "memorable" tunes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Holy Crap! what a great idea! So great looking too! Happy romantic shadows to you...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I LOVE FOREIGNER!! One of my all-time favorite bands. And thank you for putting a new song in my head. I've had sad stuff rolling thru my brain and I needed a reset! Love your beachy wall. I'm off to don my flip flops.

    -andi

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's absolutely beautiful Danni! It goes beautifully with your wreath. Makes me think of the beach on a warm sunny day. It's so freakin freezing here right now. The tacks are genius. I'm definitely going to have to use that idea in the future. Thanks for the tune. Foreigner is one of my faves.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, I have some 80's hair and fashion regrets. I truly did embrace that decade! And genius idea with the thumbtacks on back!

    :) Linda

    ReplyDelete
  7. What Sherry said - it takes on the shape of a wave, or a dune. Genius.
    Come up here and teach me how to use my glue gun. Step 1: how do I turn it on? I'm not necessarily ignorant, just ignoring it.
    If I had one way to describe my behavior in the 70's: responsibly wayward. No regrets. I have some great stories.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are incredible, Danni! I love your Floating/ Beach gallery wall :) I love that your ideas are always beautiful and they are always to where we can do them too. Happy Valentine's Day, sweet lady. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well now..... I got a glimpse into your mind. I'll reserve further comment.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, beachy heavens, that is so pretty! What a smart smart hack! Love it mucho. Let's not even start on the hair choices...I had a Jewfro for the longest time...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Clever Danni....always so clever. Brilliant use of thumbtacks, I must say.
    I love Foreigner cause I'm hotblooded. Check it and see. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a smart idea Danni with the thumb tacks - although I use thumb tack to hang things I would have never though of actually glueing them to the items - brilliant !
    And I love your beachy look - that wreath is just too pretty !
    Have a great weekend - hang some hearts next ( I'm stunned you don't have a Valentines day craft going on )
    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is so cute! I love shells so much. Lovely gallery!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I was out celebrating Un-Valentine's Day with my dirty, white boy and totally missed this post. First thanks for the shout out - I am so glad those sand dollars found some love. Second glued on thumb tacks - who would have thought of that!?! Third I think the floating/beach shelf is slightly psychedelic. (Cue new music) Fourth Tina stole my comment.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thumb tacks glued on the back of the shells? Brilliant! I'm all over this one! It looks great Danni.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am loving this beach theme you have going on Danni. You are a genius tacking these to the wall. Remember it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission....I miss those hair days in the 80's but I don't miss all the empty hairspray cans. Happy Valentines Day! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Danni,
    You crack me up with the Foreigner flash back!!!!!! I had the Farrah Faucett long shag hair back then lol! Love your Floating Beach Gallery Wall it is awesome. Happy Valentine's Day.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Danni I so enjoyed reading this post. Rock On sista friend! I confess, when I'm painting in my workshop the walls are vibrating to 70's Rock.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Now this one is really special. I sorry, but I am going to have to copy it for my new beach themed bathroom that I had no idea I was going to do until I saw this post.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Danni, what a creative mind you have ! Who would have thought to use thumb tacks ... oh, yes, you did ;-) Looks great - I like !

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very romantic and very pretty, I love the sand dollars. Happy Valentines !

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the thumbtack idea. Brilliant. Also, your wall is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  23. You've really got me laughing but I LOVE your floating beach wall!! Gluing tacks to the back of your beachy items and painting the sand dollars...pretty darn clever!! Thanks for the 70's flashback. Bad hair and even worse outfits, perhaps, but definitely great music!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This floating gallery wall is so pretty! I've never tried to paint sand dollars before but I'm definitely going to try it now, thanks for the tip. I found your site from sweet Karen at Somewhat Quirky Designs :) PS Love your wreath too, with that sea glass mixed in...so gorgeous! Coco

    ReplyDelete
  25. That's just lovely! I really like how you angled it upward, very creative.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well thumbnails wouldn't be my worry. He is going to love it. It's amazing what you've done. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Danni, you are so funny. I hope Sam noticed and loved it all...it's obvious everyone else does :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your wall looks fantastic and that wreath is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Too funny, thanks for the memories! What a fun and creative way to display your shells. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Buying gifts and holiday shopping can be made so much easier by using the internet. You can purchase an item and have it shipped to the recipient without ever laving your home. You can also choose to buy a gift-card to a website that you know has items that they will like. This can save you time and money and ensure that the recipient will love your gift and thoughtfulness. play bazaar

    ReplyDelete