Gallery Wall: In Progress

I had thought that I wouldn't share any of this until I had the entire thing D-O-N-E.  But I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it.  The thoughts of this gallery wall have been taunting me since I moved, back in April.  The framed pictures have been patiently hanging out underneath the sofa table just waiting for the day I get off my duff and grow a pair....I have been so nervous that I am going to "screw it up".  I had a vision in my mind and I was worried that it wasn't going to be Pinterest worthy....oh the pressure!!!

I couple of months ago there was an amazing frame sale at Michaels and I got enough frames to get me current with Zach's pictures.  Oh, did I mention that the bread and butter of this gallery wall is Zach's yearly birthday photos?  Anyway, that purchase just added to the pile and I was beyond frustrated.

I was told, on very good authority (yep Heather, I am talking about you) that the best thing to do was to make a paper template for each thing that would go on the wall:

Then the idea was to hang each template on the wall with painter's tape and kind of live with it to see how I liked it.  This way, I could be free to move things around if there was something that I didn't care for, and not have to worry about a ton of extra holes in the wall.

My friend Kristi and I wanted to get together this weekend and I suggested brunch and then hanging out at my house and helping me work on a DIY (yes, I was referring to the gallery wall albatross).  She quickly responded and said that sounded great without even hearing what the DIY was.  I WAS PUMPED!!!!!

Honestly, I was just hoping to get the templates cut out and on the wall....nothing more.  I  certainly had no idea the progress that would be made.  Whereas, I do most of my projects in stages, i.e. baby steps. - when Kristi gets going on something she is an animal!!!  And I mean that in the very kindest of ways....she is not messing around!  We went from templates to laying everything out on the floor to hammering away in a very short amount of time.  Oh, and I use the term "we" very loosely....she was on a mission and I just kind of stood back out of harm's way...lol!  I am teasing of course...I cannot tell you how grateful I am for her help. What I  have been fretting about for months....she knocked out in a matter of hours.  Once we had everything laid out on the floor, we made a few adjustments.

Yes, you do see Halloween prints in two of those frames...they are on my mantel through Halloween, but there are already nails ready for those frames....GO, KRISTI!!!!

She asked me if I liked it and then asked me if I LOVED it.  I truly did, and she asked if I has ready for it to go on the wall.  I must admit...I was shocked, but so excited at the same time!

Yep, she is a ROCK STAR!!!!!

I wish that there was an exciting AFTER photo to end this post, but unfortunately it will have to wait.  I have pictures to order, filler do-dads to ad and a couple of crafty things to complete.  All of Zach's photos are B&W, and I am going to order color family photos to add pops of color around the wall.  But trust me, I am beyond thrilled with the results so far!  Kristi is an angel and without her, those frames would still be hanging out under the sofa table...dreaming of their destiny!