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DIY Photo Display (in 5 Minutes!) from a Vintage Folding Ruler

Learn how to make a quick and easy DIY photo display with a vintage folding ruler. This thrift store find is the perfect for displaying your favorite candid pics and family snapshots.

Are you guilty of never printing or displaying your photos? This DIY Photo Display will give you no excuse. It’s an incredibly quick craft project — I literally completed it while also fixing lunch. #multitasking In fact, letting the glue gun heat up might be the longest part of the job.

Folding Ruler Photo Display, DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

Disclosure: This page includes affiliate links.

Vintage folding rulers are readily available at thrift stores, flea markets, and antique stores. You could buy one on Etsy or even buy a new version from Amazon. I found mine a while back, and after completing this project… I might need a few more folding rulers! I’m just in love with the look.

Displaying and Storing Family Photos

While I love beach landscape photography, vintage floral art, and travel mementos – nothing beats displaying family photos in our home.

I’ve come up with all kinds of clever ways to share family photos around our home, including:

Plus there are many more ideas in this post with over 40 creative DIY photo display ideas.

However, most of us have limited wall space and can’t necessarily hang every photo we’d like to display. With that in mind, it is smart to have several photo storage solutions on hand, too.

Several of my favorite ideas for storing family photos are:

Use photo storage (such as memory boxes and mail sorters) in tandem with photo displays. When it comes time to display new family photos, you’ll already have a place to store the old pictures.

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

DIY Photo Display

Supplies

Note: Four our DIY photo display, I chose silver clothespins. The color compliments the wall color in our Breakfast Nook. Plus, I wasn’t looking for a contrasting tone since the photos are the focal point.

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

Instructions

1: Shape the Ruler

First, lay out the ruler in the shape that you’d like to hang it on the wall. For my DIY photo display, I chose a vertical zig-zag design. However, there are actually many options for styling a folding ruler, such as (click each link to see the example):

2: Place the Mini Clothespins

Once you have the ruler in the desired shape, figure out where each clothespin will be attached. You might want to grab some photos to help visualize the placement of each clothespin (and therefore, where each picture will go).

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

3: Attach the Clothespins

After placing each clothespin, use hot glue to attach the pins to the folding ruler.

4. Hang the Photo Display

Recruit a helper to hold the photo display against the wall. Mark a few spots with pencils to note where the nails should be placed. Then, hammer the nails into the wall and hang your finished work!

Note: A folding ruler photo display is lightweight, so basic nails are will hang it securely.

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

Share Your DIY Photo Display

Have you found a unique and creative way to display family photos? I’d love to see your ideas! Use the hashtag #creatingahome on Instagram and tag me, @lorabgreen, if you’d like to share!

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

Like this photo display idea? Pin it to save it!

DIY Photo Display Idea using a Vintage Folding Ruler, Instagram Photo Display, by @CraftivityD

Malathi

Monday 22nd of May 2017

Amazing idea, I want to try this. How did you fix the folding ruler to the wall?

Lora Green

Monday 22nd of May 2017

Once I bent it into a zig zag, I placed a couple nails in corners where the angles were, one at the top and one at the bottom. Just in the corner, not through the ruler. Then I added a couple dabs of sticky tack for extra stability.

Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

Friday 19th of August 2016

Love this idea. I actually have one of these in my sewing kit, probably from my grandma. Now I have a fun use for it! Visiting from Remodelaholic.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Sunday 21st of August 2016

It would be a neat way to have your grandma's item on display, too!

Sarah @ Making Joy and Pretty Things

Tuesday 9th of August 2016

I am borderline obsessed with this photo display! So unique and fun. Love all the other ideas for a vintage folding ruler, too! Pinning!

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Tuesday 9th of August 2016

Thanks, Sarah! I just found tons of them at a yard sale and it was sooooo tempting not to buy them all. Haha!

Shani | Sunshine & Munchkins

Sunday 7th of August 2016

I'll be totally honest: I've never seen a vintage folding ruler! But after seeing your post, I think they are so fun! I loved that you included other ways of folding the ruler to get the creative juices flowing. :)

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Tuesday 9th of August 2016

They are really neat! Totally unique and so many ways to use them. Plus, you can measure things, haha.

zan

Friday 5th of August 2016

No, I haven't. I am actually in the process of doing something about all those random picture frames and wall display things that seems so cluttered. They are still in boxes but I am going through and sorting. This is such a neat idea. And how fast and easy, too.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Tuesday 9th of August 2016

It's a big job, for sure!