She's Crafty - Ring Box

Earlier this week I posted a blog about emptying my jewelry stand and putting it onto a board hanging on my bedroom wall. Well, that covered necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, but a girl has rings right? To go with my awesome new jewelry board, I made a ring box for all those rings I have floating around. I think it looks pretty damn awesome, a definite HIT. I'm really glad I worked on these two projects. It's the little things that just make me feel like this apartment is a little bit more like home. 

I used a gift box, seat cushion foam, and scrap material from my old bedskirt to make this, along with an exacto knife, scissors, ruler, and some glue. 

Here's how I did it:

Step 1. Cut the foam to fit your box or container. I used the scissors to get the desired size. I fit it to the exact dimensions (not leaving any room for the cloth) of the box.

Step 2. Score the foam almost to the bottom of the piece. I used the ruler to keep my cuts straight. Each cut was about 3/4" apart.

Step 3. This was the hardest step for me. I cut a piece of cloth about four inches wider than the foam and six inches longer. In hindsight I would give it more room to save myself from redoing it five times. Lay the cloth about an inch over the side of the foam. Working away from the edge, separate the foam on your cut lines and work the cloth in. The ruler is really helpful in doing this. Holding your newly stuffed cloth, work your way to the end of your foam. 

Step 4. Layer some glue in the bottom of your box and carefully put your foam in. Use your ruler to shove excessive cloth down on the sides. 

Step 5. Find a small book to fit in between the foam and the top of your container. Then grab the largest books you can find and pile them on. You want to make sure you have a great seal with the glue. Luckily, I have some personal taxation and fraud examination books laying around from college. I knew they'd come in handy again!

Step 6. Let dry for the prescribed amount of time - I left mine for six hours. Then, load it up! I love the way it came out and I'm happy to display my rings in it.

I had a lot of these things on hand, so it didn't cost much. Just the price of the foam which, from Walmart, was just $6.98. I still have plenty left over for other future projects. I might even make more of these and give them out at presents!

She's Crafty - Jewelry Board Frame

In my peruse of pinterest, I've stumbled upon a few different pins about putting your jewelry on display like this one and this one. Since then, I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head. To be able to see all my jewelry! Then I wouldn't be stuck with wearing the same pieces day after day. I would be able to check out my choices. Daily. I was bouncing with joy as I started this project. A month ago...

I already had some of the supplies I needed. Small frame for earring holder? Check. Paint? Check. Pegboard, big frame, pegs, chicken wire? UNCHECK. It also took me a few days to convince the hubbs that these were necessary items for my latest crafting idea. Somehow, he just doesn't see the pictures in my head. Weird, right? I bought the pegboard and hardware cloth at Home Depot, pegs from Walmart, and frame from the Albany ReStore.

After spending what was probably too much money, I started out making the small frame for earrings. I actually have had this one done for a while. I used two coats of the silver finish and two coats of gloss clear coat. Because the frame had slots where plexiglass fit in, I was able to slide the hardware cloth right in and not use staples to keep it there.

The one part that took the longest to get was definitely the frame. I had to find or make the perfect one. After searching a lot of goodwill, salvation army, and thrift stores I found what I was looking for at a reasonable price. I wiped it down, coated it with two layers of a white base, then painted three layers of silver coat on top of it. Followed by a layer of clear coat, I just had to get the pegboard fitted.

Good thing I have strong men who have and know how to use power tools...namely a table saw. Us poor women are just so lucky to have them around. (Please read the heavy sarcasm layered in there) But man, they are nice to have around. 

the hubbs and my dad

With four coats of my favorite color paint on the pegboard followed by what seemed like seven layers of clear coat - I couldn't seem to get the even gloss - the pegboard was ready to go into the frame! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was for this moment! I kept running back and forth looking at the wall, looking at my frame, trying to figure out what else I had to do to get this on the wall. Securing the board in with teeny tiny nails, this bad boy was ready. Note that I did take off the hanging wire and loops from the back and used just the saw tooth hanger on top to mount it.

It was a little difficult to get the frame straight at first because you can't just hang it straight on. It's heavy towards the one side. Then you add on your jewelry and it slips the other way. I unloaded EVERY SINGLE PIECE of jewelry that I own from my standing jewelry chest and placed all necklaces, dangle earrings, and bracelets I had. I also got the chance to go through it all and ask myself if I really wanted it. I have a nice little baggie awaiting the yard sale I plan to have this summer. 

I am incredibly happy with how this turned out and it's definitely a HIT. What do you think? Ready to tackle your own?