DIY Artwork Display Wire

Inexpensive Way to Hang Kids’ Art Projects

A quick trip down the hardware aisle and you’ll have all you need to create a a simple display for your kids’ or grandkids’ artwork and school projects!

Materials

Everything you need for this project cost less than $10! Except for the kids. They cost A LOT more than that.🤣 <–that’s me cracking myself up!

1/16 inch steel cable
(2) 1/16 ferrule and stop kits
something to cut the wire
cup hooks*
cute clothespins
cute kids😊

Attach Ferrules and Stops

First of all, the ferrule is the part in the kit with two channels. The stops just have one channel. Start by sliding one ferrule on one end, looping the wire and feeding it back through the other channel.

Then you slide a stop onto the end. To maximize the wire that I had, I attached the stop to the very end of my wire.

If you already have a ‘swaging tool’, as they’re called, you can use it to tighten the stop. But then again, if you already have one or know what one is, you probably aren’t reading this tutorial! I just used a hammer to smush the stop closed on the concrete floor of my garage.

Once the stop is secure, you can play a little with how large or small you want the loop to be before hammering the ferrule closed.

Cut to Size

Determine how long you want your wire to be. Mine is about 41 inches from loop to loop. Cut the wire using anything that will work! You’ll probably need something more than scissors. I’ve had these cutting pliers for a while and use them for all sorts of things.

Leave slack for looping through the ferrule and stop.

Attach Second Ferrule and Stop

Slide on another ferrule to the end you just cut. I looped the wire through and measured from the end of my first loop to the new loop, adjusting as needed to get it to the right length. Try to make your loops equal in size as well. Then attach your second stop and cut any excess wire.

Repeat as needed to create as many wires for hanging as you want! I made 2 to fill the wall in our living room.

Install Cup Hooks

Once I was done creating the wires and loops, I installed white cup hooks into the wall. Since they aren’t holding anything heavy, you can use the smaller cup hooks you’ll find in the hardware aisle.

To get a tight wire, I actually measured my wires and installed the hooks a little shorter. Maybe 1/4 inch. You can always turn the hook to the side to slip the wire on and then twist it to tighten it back up.

Since I have plaster walls, I used the smallest masonry bit I had to pre-drill a hole. It made it so much easier to screw the hooks in!

Select and Hang Art

The hardest part of this project is selecting which pieces of art to hang! If you’re like me, your heart melts at every handprint artwork your kids bring home! I love how it freezes time just a little bit and captures just how small/big they are at that moment.

Of course you can’t hang them with just any clip! I picked up some cute, small clothespins from the craft store.

I love using their handiwork to decorate our home. And I love how easy it is to change out the art so our decor will always be evolving in this little space!

And they are so excited and proud to bring home new projects to hang! What’s your favorite art your child or grandchild has brought home? Share in the comments below!

Thanks for Checking In! ~Chelsea

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