Make your own Spools and Framed Business Card Holder

Two tutorials in one post!  Because both of these are so quick and easy, I'm putting them together in one post.  Enjoy!

First, lets learn how to make your own spools for keeping your trims, ribbons, lace and braiding neat, and even making them display-worthy!  I should firstly point out, that this is not my original idea.  I was inspired by this post by Vanessa Renders.  The post is not in English, but the pictures are very self-explanatory.  Head along to see her lovely photos, I think her spools are wonderful and make a more complete display than mine do.  The extra effort and embellishments will be sure to inspire you!

Here's how I made mine:

Materials:

• glue gun
• toilet rolls
• cardboard for ends (I used the flaps from a nappy box)
• my Spool end printables, or book pages, wrapping paper, music notation or scrapbooking paper
• glue stick
• scissors
• trim, ribbon, lace etc.
• pins

Method:

Start by cutting circles out of the cardboard.  Mine are 7cm in diameter and I got that by drawing around a wooden spool I already had.  Use a teacup or similar to get about the same size.  The printable circles you can download through the link above are 8cm in diameter.  Use a glue stick to attach your paper to your cardboard circles.
Cut your toilet rolls to size as well, if you wish.  I left one full size, the others I cut roughly in half.

Use hot glue to attach some trim to the edges of your cardboard circles.  Most of mine are edged with twine, but one I've done with continuous pearl bead trim.  If you doubled up the thickness of the cardboard circles, you could attach a wider trim, like a braid or ribbon.

Apply hot glue around the rim of one of your toilet rolls and place in the middle of the back side of one of your spool ends.  Hold in place for 10-15 seconds until the glue sets.  Repeat for the other side and your spool is complete!  When the glue is all set, wrap your ribbons or trims around your spool and secure in place with a pretty pin.

The printable for this project is basically several circles of Coy Blooms patterns.  A friend (Hi Joey!) and I brainstormed a few other uses for them, such as a garland (print several copies, cut them out and then sew them together) or as coasters (either just by laminating them, or by decoupaging them onto a cork or wooden base and sealing) or even as pretty liners for jam jar rims.  Share your ideas for how else they may be used in the comments below!

And now for our second tutorial:

This craft would be great to display business cards and brochures in a shop or a market booth or for fans at an outdoor tea party or wedding on a warm day.  It would also be great for favours at a party, like pinwheels, pencils, bubble wands, fairy wands, nail files, chopsticks or even paintbrushes.  Basically anything thin will do!

For this simple project you will need:

• a picture frame big enough to contain the items you want to display
• fabric
• "Please Take One" printable banner
• scissors
• bone folder or embossing tool
• double sided tape
• fabric marker and ruler
• items for display

Method:

Start by dismantling your frame, setting aside the glass and any image that was inside it.  Use the backing board as a guide for cutting your fabric.  You need a piece of fabric the same width as the backing board, and at least 1 1/2 or 1 2/3 as long.  If your fabric piece isn't big enough to give you all the length in one piece, you can cut two, with one being the size of the backing board, and the other being the 1/2 -2/3 length.
lay your fabric on the backing, fold up at the bottom then back down again to give you a pocket.  If you cut your fabric in 2 pieces, fold your smaller piece in half and lay it over the larger piece at the bottom of the backing.  Place the frame over the top and secure in place without disturbing the fabric.

Cut out one of the banners from the printable and use the embossing tool to mark the two folding lines on either side of the text.  Fold as per the following pictures:

Apply double sided tape to the back of the banner ends, and then attach to your frame.  Fill the pocket with your chosen items and put on display!

You can get inexpensive picture frames pretty much anywhere, I got mine from the sale bin at a discount store, but you could find them at landfill shops, charity shops or garage sales.  Got an idea about how to use the leftover glass?  Share it in the comments below!

I hope you enjoyed these tutorials and will find them useful.  Don't forget to comment, share on Google+ and Facebook or Pin these projects so you've got them for later!

Best wishes,

Emma