How to make a Fork Photo Holder

I had the wonderful pleasure of hanging out with Brittany, aka Pretty Handy Girl, while I was at BlissDom. I know you're gonna love her as much as I do, so please welcome Brittany!

Thank you so much for inviting me over to your blog today Gina! I hope your reader's will enjoy my tutorial for making a Fork Photo Holder (a what?? you ask...)

...a Fork Photo Holder!

But, before we get to the tutorial, I think some introductions are in order. Hi, everyone, my name is Brittany (aka Pretty Handy Girl).

I write a blog, called what else, Pretty Handy Girl!

My blog is filled with DIY tutorials for building things (like my son's closet turned into a reading nook,)

or sewing things (like this bistro table cover-up,)

or fixing things (like replacing a worn out almond colored outlet),

and crafting things (like these super easy winter themed votive holders.)

My motto is if a human being can do it, there is a 95% chance that I can do it too. I hope I can empower you to take on your own DIY project.

Today I have a unique photo holder that I created using forks from Goodwill...

...and an angel decor item that I bought on clearance. Good thing too, because I didn't own the angel for more than 20 minutes when I dropped it in our driveway and it broke. Booo, hooo.

But, being creative and resourceful, I decided to keep the stand and refashion it as a photo holder. I started by gently sanding the stand to give it some "tooth" for the paint to adhere to. Then I painted Kilz latex primer on the stand.

Next I followed up the primer with an aqua blue paint.

For the final touch, I used some Valspar Asphaltum glaze to highlight the details on the stand. I have a tutorial for using glazes HERE. If you don't have a broken angel decor item lying around, (and who does?) You could use a wooden stand and drill a hole through it like I did HERE.

Okay, time to gather your materials for the rest of this project. You will need:

• Multi-Purpose Utility Wire 16 Gauge
• Needle-nosed plyers (and wire cutters if your plyers don't have a wire cutter on it.)
• Assorted beads (make sure the hole is large enough for your wire to fit through)
• Assorted forks
• 2 large beads for the base and top of the pole (optional)
• E-6000 glue

Instructions:
Now comes the FUN part! Start by adding a bead or two to your wire. Using your needle-nosed plyers, curve the end of the wire so your beads won't fall off.

Lay one fork on top of the wire, and bend it around your fork.

Keep spiraling the wire down your fork until you are almost at the bottom.

Add a bead or two here and there to give your folk some "bling".

End on the back side of your fork. Using your plyers again, bed the wire straight down. Cut off your wire, making sure to leave plenty of excess to wrap around the pole on your base.

Repeat until you have 5-6 forks.

Now, thread the excess wires through one of large beads.

Put the other large bead on the pole of your stand and let it rest against the base.

Arrange your forks the way you want them.

Then slide the bead and forks onto your pole. I played with the forks a little more until they were all facing out and the heights I wanted.

I added a small dollop of E-6000 glue into the top of the bead (where the yellow arrow is pointing to) to help hold the wires in place (anyone else use this glue ALL the time? LOVE that stuff!)

Now, I began twisting the wires one at a time around the pole. Every so often I'd feed a glass bead onto the wire and continue wrapping it around the pole maypole style.

When I reached the bottom, I clipped the excess wire and used my needle-nosed plyers to made a curl at the bottom.

Continue wrapping one wire at a time. I alternated the direction the wires spiraled down the pole. And ended some wires higher up on the pole for variety.

Now go grab some of your treasured photos and put them in the forks!

A beach themed fork photo stand in our guest room window.

Thank you once again for letting me visit with you today. I hope you will stop by my blog and follow me on my DIY adventures!

Thanks, Brittany!

See y'all tomorrow

xoxo