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This is a quick and simple DIY for all my print and photo lovers out there. You can customize this by using different colors, attaching the photos horizontally instead of vertically, or creating a photo hanger for a single photo or print. Get creative and make it uniquely yours!
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I earn a small commission, but it won’t cost you a penny more)!
Tools
- Paper cutter
- Drill
- Rag or paint brush (to finish your wood with paint or stain)
- Pliers (we got this handy set of three that included a cutter)
- Superglue
What You’ll Need
- Craft Plywood (we used 1/8″ x 4″ x 12″, but you can select a different width if you would like the frame to be thicker)
- Magnets (4 per print/frame)
- Chain (we didn’t see a chain we liked at the craft store, so I bought a necklace chain)
- Jump rings
- Stain or paint (we used a stain mix of 50% special walnut and 50% golden oak)
- Note: Michaels and Hobby Lobby ALWAYS have coupons and you can get at least 1 item for at least 40% off any time, so this is reflected in the total price)
How to make a DIY wooden photo hanger
New to DIY? Download our free 5 Steps to Getting Start with DIY guide!
Step 1: measure
Measure your prints or photos and determine how much you want your frames to overhang.
Step 2: cut your wood
Cut your wood to the size you determined in step 1. Since the recommended craft plywood is so thin, you can use a paper cutter or a blade. No saw necessary!
Step 3: add the chains
Measure and mark where you want to drill to hang the chains. You shouldn’t put the hole too low or too high. The rings need to be able to loop around the wood, but it shouldn’t be close enough to the top where the hole will break through the top.
Place a wood block under the craft plywood and drill through the plywood. The wood block acts as a stabilizer and protects any surface that you are drilling on. You won’t drill deep into the wood block, but it’s a good barrier. You can use any scrap piece of wood.
Cut your chains to be the same length using your pliers. We made the top ones about 2/3 the length of the other ones.
Open the rings by placing closed pliers in the middle of the ring and slowly opening the pliers. Loop a ring through each one of the holes. Place one end of the chain through the ring and close the ring by gently squeezing with pliers. Repeat until each hole has a ring and a chain attached. When attaching two pieces of wood with the chain, make sure that the chain is flat and not twisted.
For the holes at the top, use the shorter chains. Attach as normal. Then place a ring to the end of one of the chains. Attach the ring to the second chain to make a triangle. Close the ring and now your wooden photo hanger will be able to hang.
step 4: Add the magnets
Superglue the magnets to the back of the wood pieces. We applied 2 magnets/wood piece, except for the very bottom piece. We just placed one magnet on the bottom piece since we were running out.
Note: I would highly recommend the suggested magnets. We first used a magnetic tape strip and it DID NOT work at all. We looked hard to find magnets that were strong, but light and thin. These ones are thin so you don’t notice them when looking from the side. Most other magnets are much bulkier, so you would likely want to add an extra wood strip to the back.
Step 5: add your prints
Once the glue has dried, place your prints face down on the magnets and place magnets to the back of the prints to hold them in place.
