Christmas Scroll Using A Vintage Wooden Spool

This is such a simple how-to on making a cute little chalkboard that looks like a scroll using an old wooden spool.

As usual, I found the old spool at a thrift store for a whopping 50ยข. One of our thrift stores has weekly deals where Wed. thru. Saturday certain colored stickers are marked down to 50ยข and this was one of those. I’m the first to admit, I like a good deal and I have to tell myself just because it’s 2 quarters doesn’t mean I have to get it.

I’ll also admit I’ve gotten soooo many things for 50ยข I should be embarrassed to go back. If I were someone who cared about my DIY pride more than a good deal then maybe I would be but, I am not.

Christmas Scroll Using A Vintage Wooden Spool

You should see this wooden spool now. Think, Santa's naughty or nice list. A pretty unique project idea for sure! For this and more creative ideas, visit AmbientWares.com!

Please know some links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. Thank you. Click here for my full disclosure.

Materials I used:

  • Wooden Spool
  • Steel Wool (we’ve used this kind)
  • TSP (we use this kind)
  • Water
  • Scrap from a 4 x 8 piece of 5mm (3/16″) Poplar Plywood we’ve had for awhile
  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Band Saw
  • Chalkboard Paint (we use this kind)
  • Paint Can Opener
  • Paint Roller
  • White Marker (we use this kind)
  • Drill
  • Drill Bit
  • Wood Screws
  • Dremel (if you do it right, you won’t need this ๐Ÿ˜‰ )
  • Ribbon – I used seam binding

Scroll Shape

I had to draw out what a scroll looked like first just to see if I could. I don’t know what that first image is of.

Sketching out what a scroll looks like before cutting the woodI drew it out onto the same plywood I used on the tube TV shell makeover, marking approximately where it would fit in between the wooden spool’s end pieces.Sketching out the scroll onto the thin plywood piece

I brought it to the band saw and ended up with this. Then I realized it wasn’t curvy enough…or, at all.

After using the band saw to cut out the scroll shape on the thin plywood

I scribbled some more lines and cut along them.

The scroll needed to be curvier so I sketched some lines and cut again with the band saw

I’m still working on taking it slow and getting as close as possible to my lines with the band saw. Close up of the scroll cut out using the band saw

Hot dang, it kinda looks like a scroll!

The old wooden spool is beginning to look like a scroll

Unlike these old vintage Christmas lights, I actually remembered to clean the wooden spool. Although, the fact that it was not only filthy but sticky, made it very easy to remember cleaning it.

I mixed up some hot water with a bit of TSP and using a fine grit steel wool, cleaned it up. It was smooth like butter when I was done with it.

Wooden spool before adding the chalkboard scroll

Painting & Drawing

I painted the plywood with 3 coats of chalkboard paint letting it dry the recommended time.

Painting the plywood with chalkboard paint

One coat of chalkboard paint on the scroll

After the chalkboard paint was dry, I again, sketched the scroll design onto the wood in pencil. Then I prepared myself to be as steady handed as possible using the white marker.

After the chalkboard paint dried and before using the Sharpie marker to outline

I went along the very edge all around then traced over the pencil line.

Chalkboard painted scroll with white sharpie marker outlineClose up of the scroll outlined in white sharpie marker

Attaching Spool to Scroll

The screws I used were too long so I ended up cutting them down with our Dremel. I don’t recommend doing this for various reasons but, I didn’t have screws short enough. You can see how it’ll be attached; the scroll piece behind the spool.

Supplies used to attach the old textile spool to the DIY scroll

I drilled pilot holes in both the spool and the scroll then attached using my now shortened screws.

Drilling the pilot hole into the scroll

Drilling the pilot hole into the scroll

I fed a piece of red seam binding through it and called it a day. What do you think?

Christmas Scroll From and Old Wooden Spool


Turn an old wooden spool into a "scroll". Now Santa has a place to write his naughty and nice list! For this and more unique project ideas visit AmbientWares.com #christmasdecorideas #woodenspoolproject #textilespoolideas #uniqueprojectideas

14 thoughts on “Christmas Scroll Using A Vintage Wooden Spool

  1. What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing it with us at the Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!

  2. Happy holidays to you and your family.

    1. Happy holidays to you and yours as well ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. I simply love, love, love this project.

    1. Hi Ivory! Thank you so much for your supportive comments! I truly appreciate them!

  4. sondra spencer says:

    This is just so cute! Great use of the wooden spool!

  5. This is such a cool idea Angie, I love love love it! I really miss those thrift store deals a lot! Here where I live, those are hard to find!

    1. Thanks Katrin! I don’t know what I’d do without thrift stores. Really, I have no idea what I would do ๐Ÿ˜‰

  6. What a cool idea! I have a spool somewhere in the house so if I can remember where I put it I can give this a try. This is so cute.

    1. Oh! Debra, I’d love to see it if you do make one ๐Ÿ˜€ Thanks!

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