Aren’t old black and white photos the best? Especially when you find them in the back of a dresser drawer and they are of your mom, in her bathing suit. 🙂

I’m thinking these were taken in the late 40’s and I love my mom’s swimsuit, bathing cap and summer dresses.

I knew these would be perfect to display at our beach house, but some of the pics weren’t standard size. I wanted to get a cohesive look for the frames but not matchy-matchy. Plus I didn’t want to go the custom frame route (aka expensive)…

Old beach photos of my mom, Grandmother Mimi and Aunt Cackie 

So, I first found this square shadow box frame and attached the photo with pins that were included.

It turns out the linen fabric backing in the frame gives a perfect vintage feel.

Look at all those bathing beauties! I love this pic of my mom (far right) with some of her girlfriends.

The girl in the middle (dark swimsuit) is Jo Jo Finney and I grew up going to visit her daughters, Mary Lou and Margie, when we went to see my grandparents in Nashville, TN. They were like my second family. Such happy summer memories!

Shadow box frame with fabric backing has a vintage feel

Then I found these frames that had an insert with a “photo” of burlap fabric. You know the insert you typically throw out? Well, I actually used it, laid the photo on top and it gives the illusion of a fabric mat. Plus it ties in nicely with the shadow box frame. Don’t ya think?

The frames are black, but don’t all match, but that’s fine. They are wonderful  grouped together with a sugar mold, bread bowl full of collected shells and a whale.

My mom, I think, would love seeing these on display. I know I do!

So if you come across old photos that you want to display but they aren’t a standard size, that’s okay. You don’t have to get custom frames.

I think all of these frames cost me around $20 total.  Yipee that’s a win-win! Just look for frames with a similar feel and use fabric as a mat backing.