"It took me the longest time," remembered Lombardo, "because I had to measure down from the ceiling to the bracket on the picture and had to do this with each one to ensure each one was done just right. About halfway through the project I just thought that there had to be a better way to do this, especially when figuring out where to place the nail."

There was a better way and The WallMarker was invented. It only costs $3, is simple to use and comes with Lombardo's assurance that the old days of creating multiple nail holes just to hang a picture is a thing of the past.

So what is it?

"The WallMarker is a piece of chalk shaped like an arrow that has an adhesive side designed to stick on the back of the picture," explained Lombardo. "All you do is peel off the paper on the adhesive, stick it to back of a picture underneath the bracket, hold it against the wall and when you find the place, push the picture against the wall and a small chalk mark will show you where to put the nail. Now the picture is positioned just right. Hammer in the nail and hang away."

Lombardo, who lives in Pahrump, said The WallMarker can be used multiple times and if a mistake is made, the chalk can be easily wiped off, which is a lot better than putting multiple holes in the wall.

After the idea was conceived, it took Lombardo three years to perfect The WallMarker before filing the patent. It took another five years to actually get the patent.

"It takes a lot of patience and persistence, and fortunately I possess both of those qualities," said Lombardo. "Patent laws are quite exact, but I kept my patent lawyer busy refiling each time there was a change. But now it's out there and I hope to see the fruits of my labor."

The item is available solely on Lombardo's Web site, www.wallmarker.net, and more than 500 have been sold since June 2007. While Lombardo usually sells one at a time, one customer bought seven and used them as Christmas stocking stuffers.

"I have personally been in touch with some 50 people who have called to say how much they enjoy using it. They keep in their utility drawer and it's there when they need it, like with a hammer or a pair of scissors."