From Forgotten Wire Reel to Vintage Charm: Creating a DIY Bell System Wall Art Sign
Remember that thrill of stumbling upon a treasure trove of discarded items? About a year ago, I hit the jackpot when a local electric company shut its doors and practically gave away stacks of old wire reels. My mind immediately jumped to backyard beautification projects—envisioning a rustic outdoor table or a unique planter overflowing with greenery. That sturdy wooden reel, a relic of a bygone era, seemed full of potential.
It made its way to the backyard with grand plans, but if I'm being honest, it mostly just existed there. You might have even spotted it briefly in this post, or as a quirky prop in some of my photos. Life, as it often does, got in the way, and the reel remained untouched until recently.
My ever-patient husband finally called it quits on maneuvering around it during his lawn-mowing sessions and decided to take it apart.
But every cloud has a silver lining, right?
The months spent braving the elements had gifted the wooden components with a gorgeous, authentic patina – that coveted weathered look that adds so much character. All the disassembled pieces landed in the garage, waiting for their next chapter.
Then, inspiration struck!
I was browsing the incredible collection of antique images over at Angie's blog, Knick of Time, and let me tell you, she has a stunning array of vintage graphics just begging to be repurposed. Seriously, if you're a fan of timeless designs, you absolutely must check out her free downloads!
It was there, amidst her beautiful finds, that I saw it: a captivating Antique Telephone Advertising Image. Suddenly, the vision of a large, eye-catching DIY Bell System Wall Art Sign took root.
This is the story of how a discarded wire reel, a touch of vintage inspiration, and a little bit of creativity come together to create a unique piece of AT&T Bell System decor for our home:
Then, using a paper cutter, I trimmed the small white border edges on each page.
The entire image was pieced together using tape.
The art sign was then centered on the wooden circle, and the image was transferred onto the wood using carbon paper.
The design was then painted using a small flat paintbrush and regular black acrylic paint.
Trying to stay within the lines takes time, but it goes faster once you get used to it.
This was the perfect surface for this image!
The missing pieces of wood and the rusty spots add to the vintage look.
I even hot-glued the rusty cups—hardware—the reel used to have. They were the ones that gave my husband a big headache when he was disassembling the entire reel.
Hey, it looks incredible, all dressed up for the holidays.
Any guesses on where I will place it in my home?
Find it out at my Christmas Home Tour right HERE, and
in a different place during the Spring Home Tour right HERE.
For more DIY Home décor, check these out:
This is amazingly beautiful! I love the design and the way you decorated it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Susan!
DeleteSuch a great use of a wire reel. I think it looks perfect! It would look too contrived if your lettering was perfect, the way it is makes it look genuinely old.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!
ReplyDeleteYour own printer might have the capabilities of printing something like this. Check it out! What a fun project. My family had a large one of these reels that we used in the back yard as a table. My dad sunk it in the backyard by removing the grass underneath. That way, we could scoot up to the table, and it wasn't too tall.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is amazing. I love how you made it and used carbon paper. I'm going to pick some of that paper up. I thought you were going to make a clock out of that board but the bell sign is beautiful
ReplyDeleteHmmm you're giving me a good idea for the other round piece, thanks Vanessa!
DeleteThat looks just wonderful, Cristina. I love circular signs and yours is no exception! Coincidentally today I was unpacking some things in my workshop, from my move a year ago, and found the curved boards from the center of an old reel just like that (you show them off to the side in one of your photos). I have to figure out something to do with the curved boards, have you used yours?
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, I love those boards you're talking about. They look nice, but because of the round shape is kind of hard to find ways on how to repurpose them.
DeleteI was creating a hot cocoa station a couple days ago and needed a sign. Well, the first pieces of wood I found were those, so I use one of those, it was the perfect size and I didn't bother about the curved appearance!
This turned out so amazing, and I'm thrilled to see the creative way you used my antique graphic! By the way, you can also have images printed as large engineering prints at Staples for just a few bucks, and it saves you from having to print and tape together all the individual pages!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie! Next time I'm gonna go the Staples way. ;) Thanks!
DeleteI LOVE everything about this, Cristina!! I knew you'd bring something amazing to the party! XOXO
ReplyDelete