Spool Photo Holders

Once upon a time, I bought a box full of wooden spools at an auction.  I wasn't sure what to do with them...so they have been stored in a box for about 100 years.  And then I saw a picture holder made from a spool and some wire and had to give it a shot!

Some had a whitish finish on them, I decided to go ahead and spray paint them all.  I used some leftover paint from my stash in the garage.  Guess I am still working on that stashbusting phase!

I gave them a good coat and then another and another and well, you get the idea.  The blue is a high gloss and the brown is satin.

Let them dry completely and then....

 I cut strips of scrapbooking paper (had it in my stash!), slathered on the Mod Podge and attached them to the skinny part of the spools.

I always try to make as a big a mess as possible.  I am still picking dried Mod Podge off my hands.

Overlap the ends of the paper slightly and slather on another layer of Mod Podge...I used the matte kind.

Next I cut a matching or contrasting circle to fit on the top of each spool, this will be the top of the photo holder.  Slather the Mod Podge again to attach it firmly.

Next I put them outside in the sun to dry completely.   And I stopped to admire my morning glory blooms alongside my moon flower blooms...this was early in the morning.

Then I used 16 gauge or 20 gauge wire (had it on hand) to make the wire part that holds the picture.  I made a non perfect circle pattern as in the picture.  Each one was a bit different, I just got some needle nose pliers and wire cutters and created one of these for each spool.  I varied the length of the wires, so some were taller. 

Using a yarn needle, I punched a hole in the top of each spool through the paper.  The Mod Podge made the paper hard to push through, but just push consistently and be gentle and it will pop through.

Then I turned the spool upside down and filled the center hole with hot glue.

Then turn the spool right side up and set it on a piece of foil to keep the hot glue from coming out the bottom.  I then carefully pushed the wire through the hole in the top of the spool and center it perpendicular to the spool base.

And that's it!

You could also use fabric to cover the spools or just stop after the painting.

These would be a great Christmas present for someone with an office!

Aren't they cute?