Once I had everything ready I started to get an idea of how to organize the cards so that they all would fit in the 16x20 space. This was trial and error and I used the paper insert that came in the frame as a guide. Here's my layout...
Next I worked on attaching the muslin to the frame back. I'm not sure what the technical name of that piece that fits in the back of the frame to hold the photo in place is... but I'm just going to call it the frame back. It's the piece with the hangers on it and everything. But I thought it would work just fine as a "base" for my muslin. I laid the muslin down on a flat surface, laid the frame back down on top of it, pulled the muslin edges tight around the frame back and started glueing. I used Alene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue and it worked just fine. Just put a line of glue along the edge of the frame back and pull the muslin around to glue down. I had to use some binder clips to hold it in place and keep it all taut while it dried. (NOTE: I tried to first glue the muslin right to the other side of the frame back, but the glue showed through and looked bad, so I tore that muslin off and started again this way. Just in case you think that might work... I want to save you some muslin!)
After the glue dried, I just trimmed the muslin edges down a bit and then started glueing my cards right onto the muslin front in the predetermined order. Again, I used the tacky glue for this and it was perfect. Then, I added bits of patterned paper from Drafting Table and some border stickers from En Plein Air to some of the "blank" spots in between cards. I left some "blanks" open to avoid it being too cluttered looking.
Finally, since the pack of alphabet cards comes with 2 of each design in it, I decided to cut out the images from the duplicate cards and use pop dots to layer them on top of the same image. This gives it some dimension.
I decided to leave the glass off the front of my frame because I think the colors look nicer with out it. But if you like the glass on, it will certainly still fit. And viola... a cheap and easy wall decor item that's educational to boot! How fun!










such a cute wall hanging !~ love your sig too. =)
Posted by: Debbie | 10/05/2010 at 12:59 PM
Love love love it! Great gift idea for someone with a baby on the way! Super cute!
Posted by: Heather I. | 10/05/2010 at 01:02 PM
genious....I have been planning something with these too...need more hours in the day
Posted by: Regan | 10/05/2010 at 01:21 PM
adorable! it's fun to see a peek into how you made it. you don't get to see all the hard work put into it just by seeing the photo of the finished project, so this was neat! :)
Posted by: Danielle Flanders | 10/05/2010 at 02:32 PM
Really cute Nicole.:)
Posted by: Gracie | 10/05/2010 at 02:43 PM
This is adorable - Great job! TFS :)
Posted by: Stefanie Staniak | 10/05/2010 at 05:16 PM
this makes me wish i still had little ones running around....very cute!
Posted by: chris | 10/05/2010 at 09:35 PM
SO CUTE! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Leigh | 10/06/2010 at 08:09 AM
Adorable! Thanks for sharing
Posted by: lorry | 10/07/2010 at 10:20 AM
Thanks for Sharing, this is real cute
Posted by: Mary Joyce | 10/13/2010 at 02:01 AM
I love to read your studiocalico.typepad.com dude!!
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