Sunday, July 1, 2012

Spool Bookcase (Tutorial)


I'm pretty sure most of my spending money goes towards books and fabric. I have more books than I know what to do with and probably ten more books on the way from Barnes & Noble as I'm typing out this post. What do I do? Get rid of some? Nonsense! Make room for more!! This bookcase was inspired by this lovely pin that I stumbled upon a few months ago. My hubby has a bunch of these fabulous spools at work and I made him bring me one this week so I could make this beauty!


Here is what you'll need to make your own:
- A small cable spool
- Wooden dowels
- 3 to 4 casters (swivel wheels)
- Molding glue
- Saw
- Measuring Tape
- Paint
- Drill and screws


I've been asked where you can find these types of spools. They come in a variety of sizes, this being the smallest one. Mine measured a little over 1 foot. These types of spools or reels are used for cable or electrical wire so you might want to check your local Home Depot or ask your electrician if they have any they're throwing out. My husband works in the oil field and they are everywhere so it's easy for me to get my hands on one.

To get started, you'll need to paint your spool and your dowels. I used a white Behr paint with the primer already mixed into it. I tried covering up one side of the table using four coats and did not like the result. The flaws stood out a lot more (and not in a good way). I painted the other side with only two light coats and loved it. It has a beautiful vintage and worn look.


After it dries, turn it upside down and position your caskets where you want them. This picture shows three wheels but I ended up using four so it wouldn't topple over. Just drill them into place.


Next, measure the gap between the top and the bottom of the table. This will be the size your wooden dowels should be. Using the saw, cut about 5-6 dowels.


Using molding glue, position and place the dowels around the table about a foot apart and hold in place while they dry. If you cut them down to the perfect size, you don't even need to hold them. They should just stand on their own.


Now fill it with books and admire your new bookcase!! It's not too fancy, but it's cozy and it makes me smile. Enjoy!




**If you have used any tutorials by Pink Stitches, please post your pictures on the Pink Stitches Flickr Group! I'd love to see your beautiful creations and feature some of my favorite projects!**

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49 comments:

  1. This is so cute! I saw something like this on Junk Gypsy and I loved it. Thanks for sharing how your made this!

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    1. love it im looking for a spool!!!!

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    2. My hubby and I were so poor when first married....we found two small ones and one large one and stained them and they were our coffee table and end tables for years....very sturdy and rustic went well with what now they call shabby chic decor.....thanks for bringing them back!

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  2. I love that! What a great idea. I remember my grandmother having a spiral bookcase so I've always loved the look.

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  3. You did a great job; it looks awesome. Love the globe, too!

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  5. WOW! This is GORGEOUS! Wish I could get my hands on one of those spools.

    Judi

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  6. Absolutely the cutest thing. Great idea! thanks for sharing

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  7. That is so cool... I would totally buy that. I am not very craft :( Newest GFC follower from Keeping it simple. Love for you to return the follow. I am hosting a Mom's Monday Mingle now. Love for you to join the 100 mom blogs.

    www.thenaptimereview.com

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  8. i always love this idea, and super cute with the globe!

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  9. I made one of these as well! It is a tad different than the one from pinterest where I also received my inspiration. You did a great job! Here is the link to mine if you would like to check it out. Thanks!
    http://www.not2shabbycrafts.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&max-results=10

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  10. sharing on my FB page & pinning this - I LOVE IT!!

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  11. Love this. What a great idea. I have a Blog Hop on Wednesdays, and I would love it if you would link this post tomorrow. You can find it at
    www.adornedfromabove.com
    It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
    I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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  12. I love this! I hope you'll stop by and add this and any other posts you're proud of to my Wednesday What We Wore, Read, and Made Link party

    marissa
    http://raegunwear.blogspot.com

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  13. I wish I had the space and supplies to make something like that, it's so cute!

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  14. Thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday - you were featured today!!
    --Mandy, www.SugarBeeCrafts.com

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  15. I love this! Great use of something that would have landed in a landfill!
    Susan

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  17. You are in the Talent Show today over on COM- hugs, jen

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  18. Just dropping by to let you know that I loved your project and featured it on homework today. Have a great weekend and thank you for linking up on the Inspiration Board.

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  19. This is fantastic! Beautiful job!! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from $20 Below Thursday. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-5.html Wishing you a grand week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  20. Wow this is just gorgeous and so creative! I love it!!

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  21. Very cool! I added it to my pinboard. I think you meant casters and not caskets. Just don't want anyone to be confused going into Home Depot and asking where the caskets are. :)

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  22. Oops, you're totally right! I made the changes. Thanks for spotting that lol Quite a difference!

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  23. Hi Bonnie
    Visiting from Suzy's Artsy Craftsy! Your upcycled cable spool turned most adorable bookcase is--well, adorable! I love it, and am pinning it now! Love your sewing projects. If you have a moment, I'd love for you to stop by and say hi at altered-artworks.blogspot.com.

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  24. I am so excited to make this !!!!!

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  25. What would be even better is to make more than one (with only the bottom layer with wheels, of course) and stack them to make a full size spiral bookcase. You could probably just glue or screw the layers together.

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  26. The revolution is starting - I made one of these too, but bigger to keep my records on. http://www.bagsofcharacter.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/cable-spool-table.html

    Last time I visited my local tip shop they had five of these cable spools stacked up...I may have bought another to make a rocking chair out of.

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    1. I've been searching for these spools as well, so I have to ask, what is a tip shop? I did check out your finished product. It's great! How big/tall is the spool you used?

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  27. That's awesome. I might make one and drill counterbores for the dowels so they'll be more secure.

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  28. This is super super cute! I am so excited because I have wanted a wood working project to tackle, but I don't have a lot of experience! I like that the cost probably won't add up to that much, and that you included a tutorial! WOO-HOO! I think I have seen the spools at our local recycled building materials store!

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  29. Hi, Bonnie! This was a lovely idea, which I am very likely going to steal! I live in Florida, but I get really tired of the "Tropical Beach" stuff. I grew up in New York, and I miss the northern beaches, so I've been slowly redecorating my living room in a sort of New England nautical style. It occurred to me that if I were to attach heavy rope around the top and bottom edges it would look very nautical. Once I get rid of the roommate I'm gonna do this! Thanks for the clear instructions and photos!

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  30. hey, very good really love this :) thx Yo for sharing Bonnie

    joker159-France

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  31. I am seriously speechless and now on a hunt for spools. I definitely want to try this. I am a new follower!

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  34. Adorei a idéia, tenho um desses em casa e não sabia como usar.
    Obrigada Bonnie.

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  35. I am really excited to make one of these once I find some empty spools. I'm curious, has anyone every attempted to incorporate a lamp into this as well? With the existing center hole, it should be a snap to do.

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  36. Oh this is such a great idea! My husband works in natural gas and I'm pretty sure he could find me a spool to try this with. It'll just take some convincing that it will look cool in the end. He's not much for the idea of re-doing things for other purposes. I have to just do it so he can see the end result. But anyway I cannot wait to try this!! So glad I found your tutorial :) I need to add some "furniture" to my baby daughter's room. Right now there's just her crib!

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  37. What did you to to clean them off before painting? I have a couple for this project but they have grass inside the spool... Kinda worried about bringing them inside with potential critters and such.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  38. Thank goodness I finally found where it originated. :D
    I'm dying to make this one for me and my daughter's stack of books.Thanks so much for posting this blog. Sure is a helpful tool.

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  39. Got any ideas on what to do with one for the garden ?
    I have 3 spools and no idea what to do with them, but would like something for the garden if poss
    Thanks
    Ed

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  40. I wish I had the space and supplies to make something like that, it's so cute you give a great idea.I have a book shelf like
    this

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  44. Hi, can you please tell me the measurements for your table? Would love to make one!!

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  46. Wow, how very creative and it looks great too! I've got this linked to my DIY bookshelves post as well today, nice job!

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