5 Creative Ways to Display Family Photos

'Sometimes you never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory' - Dr Seuss

This bittersweet quote not just fills us with nostalgia but transports us into the world of cherished thoughts and days gone by. Often in such moments, we open the old family photo album and walk down memory lane to relive the special times we had with our loved ones.

Be it grandparents, spouse or your little ones -- wouldn't it be a beautiful gesture to creatively display some of the cherished pictures of family trips, special occasions or candid moments on the wall to surprise them? You could even make them gifts of unique photo arrangements that would be apt for the season of love.

We have made your work easier by sharing some simple yet striking DIY ideas for displaying photos in your home in a creative way. Here are five unique ways of doing it -

Family tree

Have you always had a desire to draw your family tree, going back a few generations? It is a creative way of educating children about the family lineage, and it is an even better way of displaying family pictures. Use golden or wooden photo frames for a regal look.

Materials needed:

• Golden or wood-finished photo frames of the same size
  
• Pictures of your family members (including parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and your children)
• Oil/water colours
  
• Hammer and nails
  
• Paintbrush
  

How to make:

1. Put all the pictures in the frames.
   
2. Choose a big display wall in your living space
   
3. Paint a big tree on the wall with many branches with slightly pointed tips
   
4. Segregate the pictures according to the generations and start at the top of the wall with the oldest relatives
   
5. Using a hammer, nail the first set of pictures in a straight horizontal line on the wall
   
6. Subsequently, put the other pictures at the tip of the tree branches
   
7. Place your, your spouse's and your children's photos at the bottom
   
8. Surprise your family with this stunning display
   

Framed wall clock

One of the easiest and traditional ways of displaying pictures is with the help of fancy frames. Why not give a little twist to this and make a wall clock with 12 differently-shaped and brightly-coloured frames holding beautiful pictures that are close to your heart?

Materials needed:

• 12 framed pictures of varying sizes
  
• Measuring tape
  
• Marker pen
  
• Hammer and nails
  
• A tiny plain wall clock without frame
  

How to make:

1. Insert your favourite family pictures into the desired frames.
   
2. Place the wall clock in the middle of the wall and fix it there using the nail and hammer.
   
3. Using a measuring tape and marker pen, mark the areas where you would like the photo frames to be put up around the clock (care should be taken when marking them in accordance with the numbers).
   
4. Hammer in the nails at the marked points and put up your frames for a very fancy wall clock.
   

Jam jar lid frames

Many of us have the habit of collecting fridge magnets when we travel, and these help us retain the memories of the places we visit. It is a great idea to collect some precious photos of your loved ones and create fridge magnets with them. You can even help your children make their own tiny frames. Here we show you to do it with jam jar lids.

Materials needed:

• Lids from empty jam jars
  
• Pencil and protractor
  
• Magnets
  
• Hot glue gun/strong adhesive
  

How to make:

1. Collect empty jam jar lids and clean them thoroughly.
   
2. Measure the diameter of the inside of the lid
   
3. Using the diameter of the lid, draw a neat circle on the picture so that it can fit perfectly inside the lid. Cut out the circle.
   
4. Fix the image onto the inner side of the lid and glue it in.
   
5. Using a strong adhesive, stick the magnet to the front of the lid.
   
6. These lids make cute little frames and you can display them prominently on the fridge.
   

Wired display

This is a super-simple activity and the best one to try when you have time constraints. It can also be a creative activity that children will enjoy. The beautiful display involves minimal effort but looks quite aesthetic. Put it up on a wall in the bedroom or a family space and see how it stands out.

Materials needed:

• Jute rope/cord/metal wire
  
• Hammer and nail
  
• Polaroids or regular pictures
  
• Mini wooden clothespin of different colours
  

How to make:

1. Choose a space on the wall where you will hang this display. Mark the two points where the nails will be placed
   
2. Hammer in the nails in and tie the rope/cord from one end to the other.
   
3. The rope should be horizontal but slightly curved.
   
4. You can have multiple displays, one below the other.
   
5. Choose the best photos of the same size and clip them to the cord using the clothespin for a beautiful display.
   

Mason jar frames

Mason jars are the 'in' thing these days and people love to use them for various creative activities including planting saplings, making flower displays and so on. Here is something unique you can do with mason jars to trap a memory forever.

Materials needed:

• 1 Mason jar
  
• Paint brushes and paint of your choice
  
• A rectangular piece of paper with zigzag edges
  
• Your family picture

How to make:

1. Take the piece of paper and stick on one side of the jar, using a very light adhesive.
   
2. Paint the entire jar using the colour (chalk paint or acrylic), including the covered area.
   
3. Peel out the piece of paper to have a clear area without the paint.
   
4. Insert your favorite picture from the inside so it can be displayed through the clear area on the jar.
   
5. Stick the sides of the photo using a tape.
   

Photographs keep memories alive and a creative display of photos not just looks good but is also a conversation starter. Try a few of these ideas for an offbeat celebration.

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