I like to think of our hallway frame wall as a continual work in progress: the art in the frames can be swapped any time we want. But one spot always looked unfinished—can you spot it?

Yep: the placeholder photostrip in the center. We didn’t have a frame that fit, so for a while we taped up a strip of office paper with the photo and called it a temporary solution. Eventually we decided to make something more intentional: a small painted wood plaque to replace the paper placeholder.

We picked up a thin piece of craft wood from the hardware store for a couple of dollars and used the paper mock-up to mark where to cut. Back in the workshop I trimmed it to size on the miter saw—short, sharp, satisfying. Once I had the little plank ready, an idea sparked.

I remembered a trick seen on a design show where floral decals were used as a stencil: stick them on, paint over the surface, then remove them to reveal a sharp pattern. I didn’t want florals, but I liked the technique—so I made a custom stencil instead. I searched for an ornate number seven (we began dating on 7/7/05 and married on 7/7/07, so the number has meaning for us) and resized it in Photoshop to fit the narrow plank.

To make the stencil, I covered the wood with painter’s tape and smoothed it down thoroughly so paint wouldn’t seep underneath. I taped the printed seven on top, then cut through the paper and the tape with an X-Acto knife, pressing firmly so the shape transferred cleanly. The blade even scored the wood slightly along the cut lines, which helped create a crisp edge.

After removing the paper guide, I peeled away the tape around the numeral so the wood grain would show through the seven. I pressed the remaining tape down again, paying special attention to the edges to ensure a tight seal.

Next came two coats of semi-gloss white paint—leftover trim paint worked perfectly. I removed the tape while the second coat was still tacky; taking the stencil away before the paint fully dried produced a clean, sharp outline. Once the plaque dried completely I attached a small sawtooth hanger to the back and placed it on the wall in the center of our frame arrangement.

We love the result. Although we appreciate photostrips, the painted seven feels more personal and ties into the mix of objects on the wall. It’s a simple, handmade accent with sentimental meaning, and it cost almost nothing: the wood was under two dollars and everything else was already on hand.

If I’d realized at the start that I would make this plaque, I might have chosen a piece of wood with a more striking grain. That said, the pale wood tone works nicely with other items on the gallery wall and keeps the look soft and cohesive. Down the road we might stain, wax, or outline the number to give it more contrast, but for now the subtlety suits the space.

Have you ever used tape as a stencil for a quick DIY project? It’s a handy method for painting numbers, letters, or simple shapes on wood, glass, or furniture. Removing the tape while the paint is still slightly wet and ensuring the tape edges are firmly stuck down are both small steps that help achieve crisp results.

We like meaningful, homemade touches that tell a story—this little plaque does just that. And when it comes to lucky numbers, our household has a few favorites: 7 for anniversaries, 14 for birthdays, and a playful 43 (someone decided it was the number of letters in “love you”). Simple projects like this let us weave those personal details into our everyday decor.

Find more on our hallway gallery wall in other posts.