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DIY Captain's Mirror Art Frame Tutorial

July 2, 2013
learn-calligraphy-online-banner Learn calligraphy online at istilllovecalligraphy.com. You'll learn the basics of pointed pen, flourishing, addressing envelopes and developing your own style. The course comes complete with a beginner kit of supplies and personal coaching from calligraphy experts Melissa Esplin and Erika Paulsen. Click here to find out more. I love captain's mirrors. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps the rounded shape or the leather straps? Turns out they're really hot right now, there are loads of DIYs for them, too (hello Pinterest). istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-11 Here's my version that takes a spot of glue and some embroidery hoops. If you've got a belt that you don't wear anymore, you may already have everything you need on hand. These guys above are about 3 inches in diameter. Tiny art is so fun! I want to fill a whole wall with little art pieces like this. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-1 Supplies:
  • scissors
  • leather
  • pencil
  • embroidery hoops (2, the same size)
  • glue
  • q-tips
  • paper
Instructions after the jump! istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-2 Separate out your embroidery hoops, we're going to use the insides for this project. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-8 Place hoop on the paper and trace the outline. This will be the size of your artwork. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-3 Cut your leather to 1 inch wide and about 3-6 inches longer than the circumference of your embroidery hoop. Fold the leather in half and make a crease. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-4 Get out your glue and q-tips. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-5 Glue up half of the embroidery hoop. In the middle of the glue, match up the edge of your leather and hoop together. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-6 Then match up edges together. Press. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-7 Glue up half of the second embroidery hoop and place on the leather, matching up the edges together. Press. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-9 Place in your artwork. istillloveyou-leather-captainmirror-diy-10 Hang! It's crazy simple. You'll have a bunch whipped up in no-time flat.