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    Home » Crafts » DIY Idea For Old Movie Reels | Succulent Plant Display

    DIY Idea For Old Movie Reels | Succulent Plant Display

    Modified: May 24, 2023 by Kathy Owen
    This post may contain affiliate links

    Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on X (Twitter) <use href="#<svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="scriptlesssocialsharing__icon flipboard" fill="currentcolor" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" role="img"> <title>flipboard</title> <path d="M24.997 13.001h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v-17.995h17.995zM1.004 1.004v29.991h29.991v-29.991z"></path> </svg>" xlink:href="# flipboard "> Share on Flip it

    This DIY idea for old movie reels is a great way to repurpose them. The movie reel project is really simple. You can recycle old movie reels in a snap. I used sisal rope and faux succulents along with the reels to make this a fun display. I made a video of the process so you can see it up close and personal.

    old 8mm movie reels

    I’ve seen the old reels hanging on walls in cute little displays in Pinterest photos and around the Web. Sometimes they have been DIY’ed into something unique, and sometimes it’s just the reels themselves as the center of attention. Anyway, I’ve been on the lookout for some of the reels. The metal reels can be pricey.

    I bought this big box lot at an auction. To tell the truth, I don’t remember the price but it probably wasn’t over $10 or so. The lot didn’t include any really big reels, but that’s okay. Some of the reels are metal but most of the smaller ones are plastic.

    8mm film from reel

    For this project, I selected five reels in various sizes and a few different colors. Next, I removed the film strips. I know I might get some grief over this. The movie reels were from a family estate up for auction. I'm sorry, but I can't help what other families do.

    supplies for succulent wall display project with sisal rope and recycled 8mm movie reels

    I gathered my supplies; sisal rope, reels, faux succulents, and a hot glue gun. That’s it. I know you guys wonder how I come up with some of these ideas. Most of the time, I’m just wandering through the workshop, looking through all the junk, and my eyes land on two or three things, and a light bulb goes off.

    The day I came up with this idea, I was trying to think of a plan for the reels when I spotted the sisal rope I had just used on a picture frame (post coming up soon). I figured I could wind the rope inside the reels but then what? It only took a minute or two for me to think of the faux succulents…..another craft item (along with sisal rope) I’m addicted to.

    spooling the sisal rope onto the movie reel

    I started the sisal rope on the reel by just holding it tight and looping around the reel. I did not hot glue the sisal rope to the reel but it could be done.

    glue faux succulents to the reel

    When I was happy with how the sisal rope looked, I put hot glue along the stem and base of the succulent. The succulents came from Dollar Tree. I have a large supply. Some of them were on clips, but I cut the clips off.

    recycling old movie reels as faux succulents wall display

    Only thing left to do was hold the succulent to the reel for a few seconds until the hot glue set. Then I put a dab of hot glue on the end of the rope and glued it to the row of sisal below it on the reel. The video tells the story better than I write it.

    Old Movie Reel Succulent Wall Decor Upcycle Idea

    How cute are these? They can be hung on a wall or just sit on a table. I set mine on my coffee table.

    8MM Movie Reels DIY Idea Succulent Wall Decor

    The "reel succulents" are so fabulous looking. The smallest metal reel didn’t need any sisal rope. The reels don’t need hangers. Easy peasy.

    have fun with sisal rope and old movie reels

    I planned to hang the reels on the wall but I first laid them out on a rough piece of wood in the workshop to get a few photos. I liked this look so much that I may just sit them all together on my coffee table.

    DIY Idea For Old Movie Reels | Succulent Plant Display

    I hung them on the kitchen wall to see how they looked. A couple are on nails that were already in the wall, and on the others, I used the loop Velcro sticky wall stuff. It works great.

    upcycle old movie reels into fun plant displays

    Time to watch the video if you want to see the step-by-step……

    Unique Succulent Plant Display Idea Using Old Movie Reels

    vintage metal movie reels and artificial succulents display

    You should take a look at my other succulent projects here....

    Indoor Succulent Plant Hanging Display Idea

    12 Silver Plate Repurpose Ideas Including My Latest Project

    Hope you guys enjoyed this project. Do you have any questions? Leave a note and thanks for being here, Kathy

    Kathy Owen
    Website

    Author: Kathy Owen (Petticoat Junktion)
    Kathy is the founder of PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, old hardware, rusty stuff, and thrifty finds into unique home décor. Kathy’s projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Read more about Kathy here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebecca

      July 22, 2019 at 6:00 pm

      I adore your posts. Your ideas are simple but LOVELY! You inspire me to be more creative in my use of junk!

      • Kathy Owen

        July 22, 2019 at 7:50 pm

        ah, thanks so much Rebecca! You made my day!

    2. Barbara Warner

      July 22, 2019 at 1:32 pm

      Ingenius idea, Kathy! Love it. I like the rope behind the succulents and the green color makes them pop. Nifty idea!

      • Kathy Owen

        July 22, 2019 at 7:54 pm

        Thanks Barbara!

    3. Christina Woodcock

      July 22, 2019 at 11:34 am

      What a neat idea Kathy! I know what's on my next junking list, REELS! This is adorable 🙂

      • Kathy Owen

        July 22, 2019 at 7:54 pm

        Thank you Christina!

    4. Bobby

      July 22, 2019 at 5:51 am

      Gosh that really works! Especially with a cluster of them together as shown.

      • Kathy Owen

        July 22, 2019 at 7:55 pm

        Yes, I like them grouped together. I'm looking at the now in a nice display on my coffee table.

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