I think I’ve mentioned it briefly before (like, a while ago), but I’ve had this little “art” project going for several years now. It’s always a great topic of conversation with friends who visit our apartment, and after telling some girlfriends about it earlier this week, I realized I should do a proper DIY share! Let’s be honest though — while I’m filing this one under DIY, if you have a glue stick or even tape, you can do this. Most of the time it takes to complete this project is spent dining out, and I don’t know anyone who would argue with THAT kind of crafting.
Several years ago, I was looking through a big collection of business cards I had stockpiled and pulled out all the ones that were keepsakes from various restaurants. I realized I liked looking at them — after all, I’d taken each one with me for a reason! — because they reminded me of good times, memorable meals, meaningful conversations, or a certain period of my life. I left them out on my desk for a while, then wanted a better way to preserve them.
So I made a quick trip to a local frame store, got an inexpensive black mat board and frame, then got to work with a glue stick. That’s pretty much the extent of this DIY (anyone can do it, seriously!). What started out as a basic craft project has become a treasured item in our home, even though it’s so simple. Joe and I will visit a restaurant or place a few times and literally discuss if it makes the board. Sometimes, I’ll uncover an old business card hidden away in a book or a drawer, and will want to add it. It’s so fun to remember meals and places you hadn’t thought about in a while — what every good scrapbook should do, in my opinion. I have a card from a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro circa 2005 that re-surfaces every few years during a cleaning spree — one of these days, I’ll find it and glue it in place!
Sooner or later, this frame will fill up and I’ll start another one. I love this way of preserving our memories and happy times! Beyond keeping track of restaurants and events and special moments, this could also be a good way to display actual business card design you really love. I’ve definitely come across some cool ones over the years.
My favorite cards currently on the board? While it’s very hard to pick a favorite, the top left one is from a restaurant that no longer exists in SF. I visited the city and wine country in the early 2000s for a long weekend, and my uncle took me to this little Italian joint. That first night in SF left the deepest impression on me, and I always knew I would eventually live there. I also love the huge business card from Bottega in Napa, which we’ve dined at a few times. But this card, specifically, was picked up the night Joe and I got engaged. Finally, I have a special place in my heart for the Foreign Cinema business card, because of the brunches I used to have there with some girlfriends in SF, and the time in my life it represents. That’s a good one.
Let me know if you give this little project a try! Do you have a restaurant, place, or memory you’d want to preserve on yours?
Images by Victoria McGinley for vmac+cheese
aw what a great idea! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I love this idea. A great way to preserve memories beyond pictures! I’m definitely trying this one!
http://www.robincharmagne.com/blog
This is one of the best DIY ideas I think I’ve ever heard of…love love love! And so easy, too :)
I always pick up things like this and I save them for a few months (or years) and then I find them shoved in a box and finally agree to part with them. This is such a terrific idea!
I love this idea! Seeing the Babbo card has me missing the city and all of it’s amazing restaurants!
That’s a great idea! I collect hotel room keys and have some special ones that I could see working for a project like yours.
This is such a good idea! You are so clever!
Kayla
http://www.lovelucygirl.com
I’m in love with this!!! Brilliant!
so fun!! and great way to remember some fun dinners and times. love this!!
http://www.thecasualclassic.com
I love that idea! I love traveling the world and collecting business cards of restaurants and places my husband and I love would have been a great idea!
Loving this post, and yay Almond!! x
This is seriously SUCH a cute idea Victoria. And so easy! :)
This is a brilliant idea! I can finally take those keepsake business cards out of my wallet and put them to good use.
Love this!!! perfect excuse for an “artistic” upgrade in our apartment. Will be sure to tag you when it’s instagrammed ;)
I ADORE this idea!! So creative! I am immediately going home to see if I kept any cards from studying abroad in Paris. Great idea!!
VMac – love, love, love this execution. I have a business card collection saved of literally every restaurant I’ve visited since 2002. It’s a beautiful, unique way to reminisce – and you’re right, quite a conversation piece. That said, my collection is simply alphabetized in a notebook, but this is a much more stunning visualization. Irene and I are going to have to give this a shot. Really good inspiration here.
This is such a cute idea!! I need to do this ASAP! xo
http://dearserendipity.com/
This is the BEST idea! Thanks for sharing it – definitely pinning this as a spring to-do.
Love this idea! What a neat way to remember special memories!
Meg
http://www.dillandscout.etsy.com
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
Such cool idea! I’m pinning it for later! :)
Such a great idea!! And you’re right- an easy DIY- I appreciate those :)
Now I’m kicking myself for not picking up business cards.
Ditto! I wish I had business cards from all of my favorite restaurants where I’ve traveled! :)
Victoria – I also love the placement on your bar. What size frame did you pick up?
I had a good friend in town all weekend and told him about this, so we picked up business cards everywhere we went—some of them were new places that we enjoyed and some were for my old favorites, so we can do this! Love the idea and thanks for sharing it :)
What a cool idea! I’ve got to start hanging on to those things :P
xo Lily
http://whilemyboyfriendsaway.blogspot.com/
I’ve been wanting to make one of these ever since you posted this! My bf and I are slowly putting the wheels in motion to move in together and this project is definitely on my list for the apartment. (On that note, thanks for the moving tips post, haha.)
Any luck finding the business card from Rio during the packing/moving?
So neat.