Farmhouse 5×7 Photo Display

Materials

• 2 – 1″ x 4″ x 8′
• 1 – 1″ x 3″ x 8′
• 1 – 1″ x 2″ x 8′ (not required if you can cut them from the extra 1×4 pieces)
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• 1 1/4″ brad nails
• Antique Brass Star Decorative Nails – optional
• Spackle or wood filler
• Paint or Stain (I used Varathane Kona, Vaseline and Rustoleum Heritage Red)
• Picture hanger or route a keyhole in the back.

Tools Used (may be substituted)

• Miter Saw
• Sander
• Table Saw
• Brad Nailer
• Hammer
• Tape Measure

Cut List

• 4 – 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ x 35 1/2″
• 3 – 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ x 14″ (cut to fit)
• 2 – 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ x 14″ (cut to fit)

Cut Diagram

Step 1

Cut the 4 – 1×4 back boards to 35 1/2″ long.

Place the 4 backboard side by side and measure the width, this will be the length of the 1×3 and 1×2 boards. The widths of some 1x4s will vary between 3 1/4″ – 3 1/2″.  Mine is 14″.

Cut the 3 – 1×3’s and 2 – 1×2’s to the measured length.

Step 2

To let the photo prints slide we need to cut grooves in the horizontal 1×3 and 1x2s. The top and bottom 1×3’s will only have 1 groove cut, the other 3 boards will have two grooves cut (one along the top and one along the bottom).  The groove should be 1/4″ tall (or a hair higher) and about 1/16″-1/8″ wide.

I use a table saw to cut the grooves.

But you can alternatively use a circular saw with the blade depth set at 1/8″ and doing multiple passes or a router will work really slick too.

Once all of the boards are cut and grooves made, sand the boards.

Step 3

Time to assemble the 5×7 photo display board.  Line up the 4 backboard and mark the locations for the horizontal 1×3 and 1x2s.

Board Locations (top down)

• 1 1/2″
• 10 1/2″
• 16 1/2″
• 23 1/2″
• 31 1/2″

Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ brad nails to secure the horizontal 1×3 and 1x2s in place. Try to avoid getting glue to close to the groove, that will stop the photo from sliding easily.

Step 4

If you want fill all of the nail holes with spackle or wood filler, when dry sand smooth.  Paint or stain the photo board as you’d like.  I first stained the board with dark brown Kona and let the dry. I put a little vaseline in areas that I didn’t want paint to stick, like the board edges. Then I spray painted the board with Rustoleum Heritage Red (you can use paint you brush on too, I wanted to use up a partial can of spray paint.) Let the paint fully dry, then use sand paper to distress the paint letting the dark brown peak through.

I added cute star nail heads for character.

See how it’s made!

Download the Free Plans

5×7 Photo Display Holder

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