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DIY Magnetic Photo Message Boards

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, on purchases made after following an affiliate link. See my full disclosure here.

August 15, 2013 By Jackie

I am about to share with you the best wall decor project I have ever done!!! I am crazy in love with how this turned out. The best part is it was also the quickest and easiest project I have ever done.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

It’s official…I have started decorating the kitchenette area in the basement, sans kitchenette. I am taking it easy, starting with a magnetic photo wall and a snack bar! We now have a fun spot to leave each other notes and grab a snack.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

Our walls are filled with DIY art and professionally taken family photos, but I am on a new mission to get more candid shots and our own photography up on our walls. So, I jumped at the chance to review some products from Pinhole Press. I was so excited, I built a whole DIY project around one of their products.

I fell hard and fast for the photo wall decals. Although, they market them as classy, remove-able wedding and rental decor, and smartly so, I saw a lot of potential in them around the house. I mean what’s not to love about your photos in a giant peel and stick version?!

You may recall this set of 7 pineapple trays I found at Savers for $4. They were just a few coats of yellow spray paint away from awesome. Ever since finding them, I knew they would someday become wall decor. What, you don’t day-dream about hanging a bunch of large metal trays on your wall?!

Over the years we have taken some amazing photography at our favorite spots throughout Minneapolis. It is truly a shame these pictures were trapped inside our computer all this time. I picked a few of our old favorites and a few recent photos from the Basilica Block Party and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

pinhole-press-photo-wall-decals

I was blown away when the decals from Pinhole Press arrived. The print quality is amazing! The decals have a smooth satiny finish. I was perhaps even more blown away by our photographs. We have never had anything we’ve taken printed so big. Seeing our photographs in 11×17 size was a joyfully tearful experience. We took these photos with a mix of DSLR cameras and half of them with my iPhone 5. Props to the iPhone 5 camera, because you cannot tell the difference.

Photos in print are amazing. I vow to print more of our favorites to use throughout the house! Digital is great, but nothing compares to holding your photographs in your hands.

The size of the trays and the size of the photo decals was a match made in heaven to bring my vision to life. Finding my new favorite color of yellow spray paint, Sun Yellow, by Rustoleum, was the cherry on top. Metal trays + spray paint + photo decals + magnets = one amazingly awesome wall of magnetic photo boards!!

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

Here’s the step by step:
1. Lightly sand any rough spots on the trays. Mine had a few rough spots I smoothed out with 150-grit sandpaper.

traysbefore1

2. Coat the entire tray with two light coats of spray primer. I wanted to make sure none of the original pineapple design showed through.

traysbefore2
3. Spray the back edges of the tray with two thin coats of yellow. The backs of my trays were white, so I skipped the primer on the backs.  Painting the back edge is important though, because you can see it from the side when the trays are hung on the wall.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board
4. Spray the edges around the front of the tray yellow. I did 4-5 thin, even coats. I wanted good coverage and a nice smooth finish.
5. Before cutting my photo decals to fit, I arranged the trays and photos on the floor. I played around a bit until I came up with a photo arrangement I liked.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board
6. Make a template for the inside flat part of the tray. I used a large piece of graph paper and while holding it in place gently pushed it into the edges with my finger making a crease where the edge of the tray meets the sides. Push very carefully at the corners and allow the paper to fold as needed to make the curve.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board
6.  Cut the paper along the creased edge to make the paper template.  I used the template to trace the shape onto my photo decals.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board
7. I carefully cut out my photo decals just inside the traced line.
8. With my sisters help, I applied the decals to the trays. They are like a giant sticker and were so easy to work with.

  • Start by peeling back a few inches of the backing and creasing it flat.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

  • Flip the decal over and position it inside the tray. Gently press the first few inches in place.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

  • Slowly peel the paper backing from the decal, while smoothing the decal in place. If you have a helper, one person should peel the backing, while the other smooths and presses the decal onto the tray.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

9. Use command photo hanging strips to hang the trays on the wall.  Then, marvel for a ridiculously long time at how amazing your new photo trays look!

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

Photos: The Basilica of Saint Mary, Spoonbridge and Cherry at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Gold Medal Floor building and the Mill City Mueseum, reflection of the Foshay Tower in a nearby building taken from the roof of the Foshay, Guthrie Theater, Stone Arch Bridge, our boys strolling hand-in-hand under the arbor at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Our boys love leaving little notes to us and to each other. I want this to be a spot in the house where we can exchange little notes to each other and where guests can leave notes, too.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

On the bottom right tray, I applied a smaller photo decal to one half of the tray. I spray painted a cheap magnetic pencil holder from the back to school section gold and filled it with pencils. I added a magnetic notepad from Pinhole Press with a picture of the boys at the top. I added some plain magnets, also spray painted gold, for posting notes all over the other trays.

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

It is kind of like a command center, but a really fun command center.  No schedules and permission slips here.  This command center is all about fun little notes.  This arrangement is will surely be a conversation piece and conversation starter in our home!

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

Our basement family room is right around the corner.  I love that we can just run over here anytime to grab a quick snack or leave a fun note for someone to find later.

DIY-magnetic-photo-board-6

Below the new photo trays, I added a DIY bar cart stocked with our favorite treats and a dispenser for water.   I will share more details on the fun bar cart next week!

DIY Magnetic Photo Message Board

Disclosure: Pinhole Press provided me with the photo decals and magnetic notepad for this project. The project idea and all opinions about the photo products are my own.

Sharing this project here:
The 36th Avenue
House of Hepworths
Liz Marie Blog
Design, Dining, and Diapers
Remodelaholic
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Living Well Spending Less
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Comments

  1. Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says

    August 15, 2013 at 8:05 am

    I love this whole setup! It is so fun, usable, and cheery! What a great idea with those pineapple trays. I always agree that it is so much more fun to use your own photos/artwork in the house. Oh, and your basement is gorgeous!

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 10:26 am

      Yay, cheery is what I was going for!

  2. Jule {inside9B} says

    August 15, 2013 at 8:22 am

    Hi Jackie, I love this project and also the snack station with the supercute blue cart. Is that a repurposed dresser drawer with snacks? Yesterday I got a turquoise lantern just like your yellow one.
    Jule

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 10:26 am

      Jule, good eye…the drawer is one of these I found at a garage sale. The popcorn packets fit perfectly. I will be early next week with the full details on the bar cart.

  3. Angelique says

    August 15, 2013 at 9:03 am

    How creative! I love these. This would work out well in my office. I’m heading to the thrift store this weekend to find some old metal tv trays!

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 10:24 am

      Angelique, good luck on the tray hunt. I always see them at every thrift shops and antique stores.

  4. capturing joy with kristen duke says

    August 15, 2013 at 9:34 am

    LOVE this so much! Love the yellow trays, and I LOVE decorating with pictures (I’ve got a whole series on my blog for it).

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Thanks, Kristen. I have been reading your decorating with photos series for years :)

  5. lesley says

    August 15, 2013 at 10:22 am

    I don’t know where to start with this one Jackie. It is fabulous, amazing, awesome, creative should I go on. You even worked some gold in there! As Rachel Zoe would say “I Die”! No joke and those peel and sticks from Pinhole Press have my mind reeling!!! Sharing, Sharing Sharing! I love it, Congrats and Kudos!

  6. Julie says

    August 15, 2013 at 11:57 am

    Love it! It turned out amazing. I spy your 2 chair moved to the basement. Were these extras or have you replaced your chairs in the eat-in kitchen?

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      Julie, Thank you. The chairs are just stand-ins borrowed from the kitchen until we decide on game table chairs for the basement. Whatever we get for the game table, we plan to get two extras for this area.

  7. Kelly says

    August 15, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Such a cute idea. I love photo decor!

  8. Carol says

    August 15, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    What an ingenious idea. I love the yellow colour. So uplifting :-)

    http://www.petitestyleonline.com

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks, Carol. It is definitely a bright spot in our home :)

  9. Heather @ Southern State of Mind says

    August 15, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    This is so great! The yellow is such a great color for the basement. I love the little notes you can share with your family! Super cute!

  10. Laura @ The Turquoise Home says

    August 15, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    I love these! The pop of color, the fact that you used old trays … but I especially love that you’re putting your photography on the walls. That’s something I’d love to do!

  11. [email protected] says

    August 15, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    They look fantastic! I love the yellow and I’m totally jealous of those chairs!

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 4:22 pm

      Thanks, Melissa. The classmate chairs were a total score last year. They are on loan for this space, but normally are used as our everyday, every meal dining chairs in the kitchen.

  12. Jamie says

    August 15, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Wow!! Amazing! I’m sharing this on my FB page right now ;)
    Hugs,
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 8:52 pm

      You are so sweet. Thanks, Jamie.

  13. Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says

    August 15, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    Jackie, first of all, looking at these photos makes me want to take a whole house-tour! Just catching a glimpse of your living room and that wood wall and the cutie cart and now your awesome magnetic photo boards…it all just looks so lovely and welcoming! And I agree – – I’m always so impressed with the quality of iPhone photos (in natural light). Good to know they print so well. Thanks for introducing us to Pinhole Press!

    • Jackie says

      August 15, 2013 at 8:52 pm

      Thanks, Lauren. I am thinking I need to do a video tour soon of the basement, even though there are parts that are still not done (I will be airing some of that dirty laundry tomorrow). The iPhone 5 is so awesome. I could not believe the photo quality on this size print compared to my DSLR. Natural light was definitely the key.

  14. Liz says

    August 15, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    What a great idea! They look wonderful! You’re right, everyone needs more candids up on their walls. :)

  15. Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less says

    August 16, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    Jackie, this looks great! The way you have it set up and the colors, just ah, love! Thanks so much for sharing how you made these! I will have to make a few of them!

    I’d love it if you linked this up over at Living Well Spending Less for Thrifty Thursday this week! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/

  16. Gracie Lathrop says

    August 19, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Jackie I LOVE your message center! I just recently moved with my husband for a new job and the house came with it. (Such a blessing I know!) but that meant we didn’t get to pick. So the kitchen was strange and I had to come up with a good way to use the space. Anyways long story short I made my own message center and i would love for you to check it out!
    But I would love it if you could link this up to my new linky party! Its new so not a ton going on yet but I would love it if you could jump on over and help me get it going :)
    http://gracelangdon.blogspot.com/2013/08/making-monday-link-party.html

  17. April @ illistyle says

    August 20, 2013 at 12:14 am

    I love it. Inexpensive and impressive, best DIY combo ever!

  18. Ashley says

    September 3, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    I love this, such a great idea and I love the YELLOW!

    • Jackie says

      September 4, 2013 at 6:56 am

      Thanks, Ashley!

  19. Anita English says

    December 23, 2014 at 10:47 am

    THANK YOU!!! I am so glad for a DIY that was exactly what I was looking for!

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