DIY Shadow Box Earring Display Rack For Craft Shows

Build Your Own Jewelry Display

This earring display rack holds 35 vertical hanging business card-sized earring cards with earring card adapters on the back of them. You may also use standard earring cards, of course. Adjust the placement and number of dowels to best suit the size of card you are using.

I made the rack in about 2 hours from a shadow box found at Hobby Lobby (during a 50% off sale) for $27 plus tax. Especially considering the relatively low cost and short time investment, I was very pleased with the results. Please contact me with any questions or suggestions!

Items Needed

16 x 20 Shadow Box
10 Dowels, approximately 16″ wide x 1/8″ diameter (don’t cut yet)
Drill and 1/8″ Drill Bit
Craftsman Utility Cutter
or small saw (to cut the dowels)

Instructions

1. Remove the back from the shadow box (should be like removing the back of a picture frame0. Remove the glass by carefully prying off one or two of the supports. Re-attach the supports if you wish.

2. Measure down 1/2″ from the top on the inside of the box near the front, and mark. Measure 2″ down from this mark and mark again. Repeat until there are 10 marks.

3. Repeat on the other side of the shadow box. Be sure to measure carefully – if the marks are off even slightly, the dowels will be slanted.

Drilled Hole

4. Drill and 1/8″ hole at each mark. Cut a dowel to fit the top holes using a utility cutter or small saw. Cut so that the dowel is slightly too long, then fit it in the holes. Cut a small bit off, then fit again. Repeat until the dowel fits in the holes without warping.

Utility tool used to cut dowels

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5. Repeat for the remaining nine dowels.

First Dowel Installed

6. Step back and look at the dowels in the shadow box, and make sure they are straight. If not, adjust your holes. Hang a few of your earring cards on the rack to make sure you like the look. If you need to re-drill, fill in the unused holes with black marker.

7. Once you are happy with the dowels, glue in place using wood glue or other adhesive. I used E-6000
because it was at hand, but this was probably overkill. Replace the back of the shadow box, hang your earring cards, and you are done!

A nice advantage of this rack is that it is not very heavy without the glass. You can pack your earrings in the display for transport to the show – just wrap it in plastic wrap or a towel and transport on its back!

Be sure to see the Jewelry Display Ideas For Craft Shows article for more ideas!

Have you tried this project? Please comment below and leave your ideas and suggestions! Would you like to share your creation? Please contact me!

Jewelry Display Ideas For Craft Shows (cottonridgellc.com)
Make a Jewelry Display from an Artist’s Case (beadinggem.com)
Innovative Solutions for Jewelry Storage (rentersinsurance.com)
DIY Jewelry Display (leahdawnwilliams.com)

Bonnie says:

March 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm

How do you anchor this to your table so it doesn’t fall over?

Kathie says:

March 23, 2015 at 5:26 pm

This question has been my biggest dilemma – usually my friend who sold for me at shows for a time would put it in her son’s tabletop art easel. Also I have been able to place it on my show table where the back was against the wall. Another idea I’m going to try is to put triangles made out of 1″ thick wood in the front and back, on both sides (maybe even try hinging them for easier transport/storage. I would welcome any ideas you have, thank you for your question!

1. April says:
  
  April 29, 2017 at 1:09 pm
  
  Did you ever try the triangle wood idea? I’m thinking of trying that for my display
  
  1. Kathie says:
    
    July 18, 2017 at 6:46 pm
    
    Not yet! I have a daughter now so I haven’t been doing any shows for the past few years. I hope to get back into it soon – she is eager to help me!