DIY: Jewelry on Display

A few weeks ago I began my new jewelry display project with a frame I found on the curb one night while out on a walk. I have seen variations on these before and since I didn't have a use yet for my frame, I decided to make it into a display to fill some empty space in my boudoir and put some pretty things out in a neat and organized way.

I'm here to show the finished project as part of (my first) the 39th Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.  {That's me, #110} Follow along with your prest-o change-o project this week!



Tuesday is DIY Day (my first) at A Soft Place to Land. Enter your do-it-yourself project for a chance to win a gift certificate to Madison Reece Designs.  And take a look at all the other amazing projects on the list.

Thursday I will post as part of Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage (my first).

Inspiration from this project came from many places, but mostly I loved the way Centsational Girl combined the fabric look behind the wire. I was hoping to use some of my fabulous fabric in the project and here is a way to do it, thanks Kate!

Take a look at the frame before.

And now, the after, with the entire project completed. What I made was a chicken wire/screen with a fabric back in a 18x24 inch picture frame.

Here's how I did it:

What You'll Need

• A picture frame, any size or shape, depending on what you like and the space you have
• Paint, spray or can, if you choose to paint the frame and or screen
• Chicken wire or screen (I used the traditional once inch 6-sided circular pattern but the 1/4 inch grid pattern might flatten better)
• Sand paper to distress the frame, if you choose
• Plastic gloves to protect your hands
• A mask for when you are painting
• Wire clippers
• Fabric of your choice
• Foam poster board
• Staple gun
• Hooks for the jewelry (I uses small s-hooks found at the hardware store)
• Picture hanging hardware
• Jewelry of course!

First you lay out the wire on the back of the frame to cut it to the size that will fit it into the frame.  This is a little tricky and I suggest using gloves when you work with chicken wire because it can scratch you.  The paint can and cordless drill are to weight it down and flatten it since it comes in rolls.

Then paint the frame and the chicken wire.  Since I wanted the wire to blend in with the fabric I chose a light tan color paint.

After it dries overnight staple the wire in the back of the frame, making sure your staples will not poke through to the front depending in the width of the wood where you are stapling.  Some people have glued the wire in, but since I was trying to keep it flat and wanted to secure it, I stapled it in place, putting the staple over the wire so it would hold.

Next, or while your wire is drying overnight you can glue or staple the fabric to the foam board.  Cut the foam board to fit just inside the frame (where the glass and photos would go) and cut the fabric with once inch extra on each side, and then secure the fabric to the board.  Again, you can glue it or staple it, but note the staples do not secure tightly because the foam is not very dense.

After that you place the foam board into the frame with the wire stapled in.  This can also be tricky (or was for me) since you want to make sure it is secure.  I used little tools called glaziers tips, which are used to hold things into a frame structure, such as matting or frame backing.  They are inexpensive and you can wedge them in with a flat head screwdriver. This secures the fabric covered foam board in place.

I cut off the extra wire, attached the hanging hardware and was set up hang it on the wall and put on my jewels!

Here is a close up with the hooks and jewelry.

 Here is a wider view in my room. I really have to straighten that candle.

And lastly, my completed DIY jewelry holder in a frame.