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How to make your own hanging photo artworks

A leafy light show! - by Juliet Love
  • 17 Dec 2021

Catch the light with simple but stunning hanging photo artworks. For a new twist on hanging plants in your home, create floating foliage. 

WATCH: How to make your own hanging artworks

Show off your creative side with an easy art project. Using just your phone and printer, you can make a leafy design on transparency film that creates a lovely effect when hung near a window.

The frame for your artwork is made with balsa wood, hessian ribbon and a wooden bead, held together with tape – no tools needed! The balsa wood frame is lightweight for hanging from ribbon or rope, but sturdy enough to hold your film straight and true for a nature-inspired artwork that looks lovely in the light. It’s nature craft at its best.

Gather your supplies

  • Balsa wood sheets
  • Foliage-printed transparency film (see box, bottom left)
  • 25mm hessian ribbon
  • Wooden bead
  • Macramé rope (optional)

You'll also need

  • Steel rule
  • Pencil
  • Cutting mat
  • Craft knife
  • Scissors
  • Double-sided sticky tape

Here's how

Step 1

Step 1

Step 1

Mark four 10mm-wide strips on balsa sheets and cut using a craft knife with a steel rule as a guide. Trim balsa strips, if needed, to width of film.

Step 2

Step 2

Step 2

Cut double-sided sticky tape to length. Apply to 1 side of 2 balsa strips.

Step 3

Step 3

Step 3

Position 1 balsa strip, tape side up, and lay base edge of transparency film on top, lining up edges. Press down to secure. Apply another strip of balsa on top of film, tape side down.

Step 4

Cut ribbon to 1m long and thread through a wooden bead with a 20cm long hanger at top.

Step 5

Step 5

Step 5

Attach tape to remaining 2 balsa strips and secure ribbon ends about 10mm from ends of 1 strip.

Step 6

Step 6

Step 6

Lay transparency film, top edge up, on balsa and ribbon and press down.

Step 7

Step 7

Step 7

Press final strip on film. Use ribbon hanger to suspend artwork or add a rope hanger to ribbon.

For you to note

  • Lightweight but strong, balsa wood is used in model making.
  • Foliage that works well for this project includes fern fronds and gum leaves.
  • You can find transparency film at office supply stores.
The final results.

The final results.

You might also like:

How to make timber bead coasters and matching trivet

How to make a handled vase

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