Just imagine all the ways you can use this idea for a decoupage cube wire photo holder!  Aside from displaying photos, use the block with a name card on it at a place setting.  Imagine using it to hold a holiday greeting card on a tiered tray or labeling a dish on a buffet.  These thoughts were all going through my head when I saw this idea on Pinterest.

I use “light ivory” acrylic craft paint for these wooden blocks, but a combination of pastel colors would be really pretty, too.

 

 DIY Wire Photo Holder

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Supplies:

• Wooden blocks
• Ruler or straight edge
• Pencil
• Wire photo holder
• Drill 
• Acrylic craft paint
• Piece of a brown paper bag
• Printed Paper graphics
• RUST-OLEUM Clear Topcoat
• Paper Cutter
• Matte Mod Podge

The Wire Photo Holders

You can find wire photo holders without a base at Amazon. Unfortunately, the holders I found at the craft store have a coiled base.  It is necessary to cut the wire at the base where the wire just begins to coil.  The blade on the needle-nosed pliers cut the wire with Dave’s help.  I did not have the strength.

 

Directions:

Drilling the Hole

 

The first thing you will want to do is drill the hole for the wire picture holder.  You’ll want to mark the center on one side of the cube.  To find the center, you will need a ruler or a straight edge and a pencil.  Then, lay the straight edge from one corner to the diagonal corner.  Repeat on the other two corners.  Where the two lines meet, drill a hole with a 1/16″ bit.  Be sure to drill straight down.  You don’t want the hole to be at an angle.

These wooden blocks from Dollar Tree are hollow.  The wood is just under 1/4-inch thick.   

Before you attach the wire photo holder, you will want to glue the graphics to the block. 

Paint The Block

As a base coat, I used Ceramcoat Light Ivory Acrylic Paint.  Very little water is needed with the acrylic paint to paint on the wood.  You will want to paint your brush strokes with the grain of the block of wood.  Apply one coat of paint to 3 or 4 sides and allow those to completely dry.  Then, paint the remaining sides.

Use a small piece of a brown paper bag as sandpaper.  Just tear a piece about 5 or 6 inches square.  Sand each side lightly and be sure to get the sharp edges of the block, too.  If you’ve never done this before, you may think it is silly.  Try it!  It’s amazing what a difference it makes.  The wood will feel rough before, and after using the paper bag, it will feel smooth to the touch!

Then, give the block another coat of paint.  Be sure to follow up by sanding with the paper bag again.  Now, you’re ready to attach the graphics.

 

Print And Prepare The Vintage Graphics

You can find all kinds of vintage graphics online.  My favorite spot is GraphicsFairy.com.  I right-click on the images and click “save image” to a folder on my laptop.  Then, using PicMonkey, I upload them to a blank canvas.  You can use your favorite photo editing tool.

I first chose the 8.5″ x 11″ blank template.  PicMonkey has a grid option where you can choose rows and columns.  Type in 5 rows and 4 columns.  On the top left, choose ‘add image’.  Choose the option from “Computer”.  Then, add the graphics you saved from your computer file.

Resize them to fit in the grid squares you created earlier or choose a portion of the pictures to fit into the squares.  You can see that I used only a portion of the graphics.  The grid helped isolate the area I wanted.

You can then move them away from the edges of the paper, leaving space between them, too.

Then, print out the graphics.  I like to spray the graphics with a clear topcoat so the ink won’t bleed when the Mod Podge is applied.   

Trust me, it’s easier to do this before you cut out the 2-inch squares!   It’s not a big deal, but those fly around a lot more than the ones on the sheet.

You will need at least 5  graphics for each cube.  Notice that you need to crop the pictures to a 2-inch – 2-1/8-inch square for these blocks.  You don’t want to make them 2-1/4 – inches.  You’ll have problems with the corners and the painted background makes a nice frame.  I used a paper cutter but you can use a straight-edge, cutting mat, X-Acto, or scissors.  

For this project, I only use 5 graphics.  It seems unnecessary to add a graphic to the bottom.

Glue The Graphics To The Wooden Blocks

You will want to attach the graphic to the side of the block where you drilled the hole first.  With a paintbrush, apply Mod Podge to the back of the graphic.  Then, center the graphic on the cube.  Gently press the paper onto the wooden cube.

I use matte Mod-Podge for this project, but you can use your favorite Mod-Podge.

Now, you need to push the metal photo holder into the predrilled hole.  If you have trouble finding the hole, lay the straight edge across the corners diagonally again.  Use the end of the photo holder and gently press it into the hole.  You can use some super glue to hold it in place if you feel it is necessary.

Next, apply a coat of Mod Podge over the graphic.  Be sure the edges are pressed down against the wood.  You can easily work on the other three sides and the top, allow those to dry a while and then finish the bottom.  This matte Mod Podge dries relatively quickly after application.

Apply another coat of  Mod Podge over each side.  You can paint Mod Podge over all of the sides except one.  Then, when the sides are dry, paint the last side.  Make sure the glue doesn’t glob on the edges.

Isn’t this the cutest?  I have a couple more to finish, but I love them already!

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