Hanging Instagram Wall Display

So Instagram. Huge Fan. Probably one of my favorite social media networks these days. Well, ok - it IS my favorite. Taking photos is definitely my thing. So when Instagram became available for Android users a couple of years ago, I was all over it. I had been super jealous of all those iPhone users with Instagram.

But after a while I realized I had a problem - so many photos, and no where to display them!  What to do?
 
Solution:

 

Ta-da! Fun solution, inspired by Pinterest pins. And a great way to fill empty wall space. Plus it's cheap and easy! What more could you ask for?

Here's how I did it:

Supplies:
- Instagram photos (as many as you want - I used 27 4x4 photos)
- twine
- 3/8" binder clips
- 6 flat-head nails (not pictured)
- hammer (not pictured)
- ruler or tape measure (not pictured)
- hot glue gun & glue sticks (not pictured)
- leveler (optional)

Start by nailing 3 nails 7 inches apart in a vertical line. (I recommend using a leveler to make sure the nails are in a straight line.)

Next, measure 63 inches across from the top nail of your vertical nail line and hammer an additional nail. Now, add two more nails below, 7 inches apart to complete a second vertical line of nails.

Starting at the top left nail, tie a square knot around the nail with the twine. Stretch the twine across to the opposite end, loop twine completely around the nail in one circle. Pull twine down and loop around the nail directly below. Be sure to keep twine tight as you wrap around each nail.

Stretch twine across to nail on the opposite end, and loop around again. Pull tight, pull twine down, and loop around nail below.

Pull twine tight and stretch it across to the nail on the opposite side. Tie a square knot around nail and trim excess twine.

Now hang up those awesome Instagram photos you've acquired with the binder clips!

A couple of tips:
 - Keep the twine tight as you loop it around each nail. It's best if you re-tighten after each loop. This project is doable by yourself, but it's easier if you have someone else to help you so they can hold the twine tight as you loop and tie knots.
- A leveler is not necessary, but very helpful to assure that everything ends up straight.
- I used the Walgreens app to print out my photos. The frames around some of the photos were not evenly trimmed. I think next time I get photos printed, I'll order them in 4x6's instead and trim them myself. Or use another printing company. Any suggestions? 
- I found it hard to make the knots tight in the place I wanted with the twine, so I ended up using a dab of hot glue behind the knots to secure them to the wall to make sure they stayed put.

I ended up printing 87 photos. Yes, I really did. So I have a couple more Instagram projects up my sleeve. I'll share them soon...once I finish them.

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Creative Parenting

The past week or so has been busy, and I've been...well, tired. I haven't had the energy to do much writing lately. Part of the reason was that my son has been on a I-refuse-to-eat-dinner phase. It's been great. Not really. At one point, we visited with the Feeding Clinic, to discuss different approaches for getting him to be willing to eat dinner.

After some time contemplating my son's decision to avoid dinner, I came to 3 conclusion:

1. He definitely has issues with food presentation - somehow if his food doesn't look how he thinks it should look, he refuses to eat it. Case in point - last night we went to a pizza, sub, and salad place for dinner. We go there at least once a month, and The Toddler always eats a slice of cheese pizza. I ordered the same slice of cheese pizza that he always gets, but last night, he took one look at the pizza, and said, "I don't like that." Yeah, right. Whatever. There was nothing wrong with it, but apparently in his mind there was.
2. He is still a picky eater. He's always been a picky eater. Since birth. Unfortunately.
3. He is definitely going through an autonomous phase. I've noticed a rise in his desire to do things himself, and make his own decisions.

I was pretty confident that the autonomy issue was the most influential part of his decision to skip dinner on a regular basis. Apparently I needed to come up with a couple of inconsequential areas where The Toddler could express his autonomy. So I decided to let him pick his clothes when he gets dressed. Within reason though. Sometimes we give him a couple of options, if we are going somewhere where he needs to dress appropriately - like Sundays. On Sundays we let him choose which dress clothes to wear. So he doesn't look completely like a wild child. :)

You know what though? It worked. After a couple of days, we started to notice a difference in The Toddler's attitude towards eating. He even took a couple of bites of meat! Amazing.

One thing that has really surprised me about parenting is the need for creativity when working with your kids through their issues. I've found that often times the normal approaches to overcoming conflict rarely work with my son. So I've had to get creative - like allowing him to pick out his clothes.

Just a thought for today. :) More creative posts coming soon.