Repurpose A Rolling Pin Into A Beautiful Display For Family Photos

Finding ways to display your photos in stylish and inexpensive ways can be a challenge. While basic frames are a classic way to go, you may be looking for creative ways to decorate your home with family pictures for less. One option is to transform an inexpensive wooden rolling pin and some wire into an adorable tree-shaped rack perfect for displaying family photos and other ephemera to add personality to your home.

For this project, you will need a wooden French-style rolling pin, a spool of wire, a strong adhesive, a drill, needle nose pliers, and wire clamps. Begin by marking and drilling holes along the sides of your rolling pin to accommodate the wire segments, with 2-3 additional holes in the top. To create the stems, use a heavier gauge wire from a craft store or create thicker pieces by clamping and braiding thinner and less expensive floral wire. Wrap the wire in floral tape to add extra bulk if desired, then use needle nose pliers to create curled ends to hold your photos in place. Add the wires to the holes with a dab of glue to keep them in place. The result has the rolling pin serving as the tree trunk, while the wire branches that extend from it are curled at the end to hold your photos in place.

To create an inexpensive base for your tree, use pieces from Dollar Tree's Tumbling Tower game or some of the store's Wood Craft Cubes. To attach the tree to the base, use a strong adhesive like E6000 or Liquid Nails. You can also drive a long nail or screw up through the bottom and into the rolling pin for added stability. Paint it to match your home decor and add photos once everything is dry.

There are many ways to customize this project, including using different paint finishes and wire formation shapes. You could also use another cylindrical-shaped wood piece like a stair spindle or the leg from a table or chair for a more sculptured look for your photo tree. For a more streamlined piece, leave your pieces of wire straight and use mini-binder clips to add your photos instead of the scrolls. Or add beads to the wire to create a more boho-chic look. To add texture, wrap the tree and branches in jute twine or use real branches fixed inside slightly wider holes to clip photos onto. If you are worried about photos being damaged by the wire or clamps, use some Dollar Tree Clear Plastic Picture Frames to protect the photos before attaching them to your display.