We rediscovered those small photography note cards we bought at a local art gallery on our anniversary and originally planned to hang in the bathroom. At the time they were something of a backdrop to other stories on the blog, but they’ve resurfaced as a fun little DIY wall art project for our living room.
When I compared the note cards to the colorful scrapbook paper that was already in a set of frames, I noticed the hues matched surprisingly well. The plan shifted: instead of the bathroom, these small photos would become part of a gallery wall in the living room, using the scrapbook paper as inexpensive mats. To complete the set of eight frames we bought four more cards (they were $4 each), rounding out the collection from a local Richmond gallery.
My idea was simple: place each small square photograph in the center of a colored scrapbook-paper square that was already inside a square frame. That way the paper became a colorful mat for the tiny image. First I trimmed the rectangular note cards into squares. I used an X-Acto knife and a ruler for straight cuts, but I admit I eyeballed some of the placement—sometimes you just go for it.
I left a thin white border around each photo so they resembled miniature Polaroids. Then we took the frames down one at a time, taped each trimmed card to its matching background paper, and centered them using a yardstick and a simple corner-to-corner alignment method so they intersected in the middle.
After reframing everything we stepped back to evaluate the installation. The concept was charming, and the small size invited you to lean in and look closer. But in person the result felt visually busy: the white borders, bright mats, and frames created too many clearly defined layers. In photos the arrangement read better than it did on the wall, where the composition seemed overly “square-on-square” and a bit distracting.
The thin white edge I’d left when trimming likely caused that strong separation between the image and its colorful mat. Instead of the scrapbook paper feeling like a subtle extension of the photo’s palette, the white border turned each picture into a small object stuck on top of the mat. It wasn’t working for the calm, cohesive look we wanted in the living room.
So Sherry took over the fix. With steady hands and ordinary scissors she removed the white borders and recut the cards so their edges blended more naturally with the colored backgrounds. Her simpler approach made a big difference—no ruler, no level, just careful trimming.
Her cuts were perfect, and once everything was back in the frames the display felt much calmer. The photos no longer looked like tiny islands on bright mats; instead the colors read as part of one harmonious piece. While the change isn’t dramatically obvious in photos, in real life the update created the subtle, less busy look we wanted.
We’re happy with the outcome—subtle, inviting, and inexpensive. At about $4.64 per frame (sixty-four cents for the scrapbook paper and $4 for each note card) this was an affordable way to introduce small photography and color into our living room decor. It feels like a low-commitment experiment rather than a final, permanent solution, which suits the ongoing, evolving nature of our home.
We don’t see this as the ultimate display for those frames—our house is always a work in progress—so these small photos are a baby step toward something bigger. In time we might try larger photographs, relocate these note cards elsewhere, or remove the scrapbook-paper mats entirely. For now they add warmth and personality without shouting for attention.
Looking at these pictures makes me nostalgic for a day at the fair—ferris wheel rides and funnel cake. Small photos can create moments like that around the house: simple visual prompts that bring a smile.
Have you tried using note cards or other small prints as wall art? It’s an easy, budget-friendly DIY that can evolve over time. If you’ve experimented with small photography, inexpensive mats, or creative framing, we’d love to hear what worked for you.
Psst- We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you (plus the $15 discount code for everyone is still valid until August 31st).