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 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)
Craftsman Utility Cutter![""]("http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=coridell-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0035XVSX2")
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.
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.
5. Repeat for the remaining nine dowels.
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!
What If My Drill Doesn’t Fit Into the Small Space of the Shadow Box…
A reader asked me what to do if her drill didn’t fit into the small space of the shadow box. One solution that I’ve thought of so far is to use furniture plugs similar to these (found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels). Keep in mind that I haven’t tried this yet, but I think it should work:
a. You’ll need two furniture plugs each dowel. Drill one hole in the middle of each plug instead of in the shadow box.
b. Measure your dowels very carefully and cut them to fit the shadow box. You may want to follow the steps below for one dowel before cutting the rest.
c. Glue one end of one dowel into one of the furniture plug. Repeat for the other end of the dowel. Then repeat for the remaining dowels. Let the glue dry.
d. Lay the shadow box down with the front side on the table. (The back of the box should have already been removed in a previous step.)
e. Glue one plugs/dowel combination into the shadow box at the top marks made in Step # 2.
f. Make sure it is straight, and repeat for remaining dowels. Let the glue dry and hour or two before moving the shadow box.
g. Stand the box up and make sure the dowels are straight, and fix any problems before the glue sets too hard.
Please let me know if you try this solution, and how it worked for you! If you have another idea, please let me know! Thank you for trying this project, I hope it works out great for you!
Copyright 2012 Kathryn Depew
Have you tried this project? Please comment below and leave your ideas and suggestions!
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