Hanging postcard tapestry

Last year, I asked for suggestions on ways to display my postcard collection. Everyone had great ideas. But this postcard “tapestry” idea came to me, and I had to try it. It would also work well for photos or Christmas cards. You can easily rotate in new ones whenever you like. I’m planning to make an advent calendar using the same concept.

How to make a hanging postcard collage

Supplies

  • 1 yard of sturdy fabric (I used cotton duck cloth)
  • 16 feet of 3/4-inch half-round wood trim (available at Lowe’s)
  • primer (I used Kilz2 latex primer)
  • paint (I used Benjamin Moore Aura in Steam [AF-15])
  • postcards or photos
  • 1 yard ribbon

Tools

  • staple gun and 1/4-inch staples
  • miter box and pull saw
  • sanding block and fine sandpaper
  • scissors
  • needle and thread or sewing machine
  • paintbrush
  • drop cloth
  • ruler or tape measure
  • pencil
  • iron and ironing board

1. First sort your postcards by height. (Seriously, “they” need to hold a symposium to standardize postcard dimensions. Very few of my postcards were the same size!) Then lay them out in your desired pattern to determine the dimensions of your “tapestry.” I made mine 24 inches wide.

2. Using a miter box and pull saw, cut the trim into 2-foot pieces. Then sand the rough ends smooth.

3. Prime and paint. I painted one coat primer, two coats paint.

4. While the paint dries, measure, mark, and cut your fabric. I cut mine 25-1/4 inches wide (24 inches plus 5/8-inch seams on either side). Overestimate the height at this point.

5. Fold and iron the side seams flat. This makes it much easier to sew.

6. Sew both sides about 1/2 inch from the edge.

7. Fold the bottom edge 5/8 inch and iron. No need to sew this edge because it will be stapled down. When the paint is dry, staple a trim piece to the bottom edge of your fabric. Place a staple every few inches. Keep the staples parallel with the wood, and keep them as close to dead center as you can.

8. Place your first row of postcards under the stapled trim piece. Then measure where your next trim piece should go. The wood pieces should overlap the postcards about 1/4 inch.

9. Staple the next piece in place. Start with one staple at each end, then fill in the middle.

10. Continue on, measuring the height of each new row, then stapling.

11. When you get to the last row, mark the top edge. Next fold over the excess fabric and iron flat. Then staple the final piece along the top edge.

12. Finally, fold your ribbon at an angle and staple it to the top of your tapestry. Click here to learn how to make the fancy picture hanger. All you have to do now is insert your postcards and hang it on the wall.