I am lucky enough to own a massive bucket of vintage wooden spools. I had been trying to come up with some new ways to use them when I happened to see a picture of artist Cat Kerr’s beautiful mixed media tape dispensers.
That’s it! I thought to myself. I can make some mixed media spools.
To make the spools begin by covering wooden spools with black gesso. Then dry brush multiple layers of pain over the spools. (Somehow I forgot to take a picture of this process).
Next create mixed media background papers with a gelli plate.
Measure the width of your spools and cut strips of paper to fit.
Assemble a themed collection of ephemera and rub-on graphics that you might want to use.
Use a bone folder to adhere rub-on graphics.
Enhance the aged look of your ephemera by applying Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
Use a matte medium to adhere the ephemera to the paper strips. Next glue the strips back to back so you create a double-sided strip. Glue the end of each strip to a spool, wrap the strip around the spool and hold in place with a rubber band for several hours
Remove the rubber bands and voila– your mixed media spools are complete.
Great Stuff
- Vintage spools
- Gesso
- Acrylic paint
- Ephemera
- Architextures rub-ons
- Gelli Press Plate
- Vintage Photo Distress Ink
- Rubber bands
These are beautiful – and intriguing – Betsy! Love them! Nice work – and they’ll be terrific to have around!