My Sweetest Things

Throughout our trip to Germany I saved and collected maps, train tickets, coins, and other small paper items for keepsakes. I am working on an album for the photos but was not quite sure what I would do with my collection. I bought a photo box to store them in but then I came across a blog post by A Nerd Like Me. Evan the blog author returned from a trip to Italy and came up with the idea for a memory collage using an unused picture frame. I happen to have a lot of picture frames in closets just because I know I will use them someday and someday finally came, so Saturday afternoon I created a Memory Collage. I love the result!

This picture I have had for years and recently took it down and kept it for the frame. It is gold with a crackly finish and I choose to change up the color of the frame from gold to brown.

I removed the paper lining, the back cover and the glass.

I lightly sanded the frame and applied one coat of Burnt Umber.

While the frame was drying I gathered the items I wanted to use for the collage. I created a small 5×7 picture collage using Picasa and photos from our trip. It is so easy to do and once the collage is created Picasa has a feature where you can send the photo to a local printer. I choose Walgreen’s by our house and one hour and $1.99 later, the photo was ready!

When the frame was dry I arranged the items and glued them on the back cover of the frame. I used a map as the background and glued all the paper items around it. I used hot glue for the coins and coasters.

The final result!

I love it and it makes me smile. It’s nice to glance at it and remember such an incredible trip! Thanks to Evan and visit her site A Nerd Like Me. She is fun and crafty with great ideas to share. I’m starting her Cork Board project today!

It’s all good ~ Donna