DIY Jewelry Display, Style No. 3

If you have a steampunk crafty business, or perhaps an old-timey aesthetic, your booth should convey the feeling of your products. This is something I feel that I do quite well and I am quite proud of. Many people stop by my booth just to look at the curiosities inside. This is the last in a series of 3 blog posts on how to recreate 3 of my newest displays for yourselves! Too see Style No. 1, click here & Style No. 2, click here. For Style No. 3, read on!

Style No. 3

What You’ll Need: 4 boxes (1 large and 3 small); 4 screws; drill & screwdriver; Murphy’s Oil; medium-large cup hooks, as many as preferred; awl; 3 c-clamps; photo; shoe horn; decorative hook (mine’s actually part of an old naval navigation piece); and decorative metal bracket

A Note on Where to Find Boxes: Flea Markets; Garage Sales; Antique Malls; and ReStores (which benefit Habitat for Humanity)–Look for sewing machine drawers & old produce crates especially. Avoid any boxes with mold, badly split sections of wood, or water damage. They will not be as structurally sound and may break with minor hammering.

Instructions:

1. Clean your boxes with soap and water (be careful not to soak your boxes). Shine them with a little bit of Murphy’s Oil. Let dry completely.
2. Place your sewing drawers (or small boxes), hook/navigation piece and metal bracket where you’d like them. Mark with pencil where you need to screw your metal bracket in place. Also, mark the corners of your sewing drawers so if you choose for it to be removable you can place it back in the same spot. (I would suggest making your drawer removable because when you transport these kinds of displays, they can shift and it is much easier to adjust a c-clamp than having to re-screw the box on location).
3. The Box that you want the hook/navigation piece on: Make starter holes where you’ve marked using your awl (for softer woods) or your drill (for harder/thicker woods). Then screw your hook/navigation piece in place. Set aside.
4. The Box that you want the decorative metal bracket in: Repeat step 3.
5. Clamp your sewing drawers in place using your c-clamps.
6. Make starter holes for your cup hooks and then screw your cup hooks in place to hang your jewelry off of.
7. Place your shoe horn in the bottom box (optional).
8. Place the photo in your bottom box (optional).
9. Hang your product proudly inside!

DIY Steampunk Jewelry Display, Style No. 2

If you have a steampunk crafty business, or perhaps an old-timey aesthetic, your booth should convey the feeling of your products. This is something I feel that I do quite well and I am quite proud of. Many people stop by my booth just to look at the curiosities inside. This is the second in a series of 3 blog posts on how to recreate 3 of my newest displays for yourselves! Too see Style No. 1, click here. For Style No. 2, read on!

Style No. 2

What You’ll Need: 2 boxes (1 large and 1 small); 2 screws; drill & screwdriver; Murphy’s Oil; medium-large cup hooks, as many as preferred; awl; c-clamp; and decorative metal bracket

A Note on Where to Find Boxes: Flea Markets; Garage Sales; Antique Malls; and ReStores (which benefit Habitat for Humanity)–Look for sewing machine drawers & old produce crates especially. Avoid any boxes with mold, badly split sections of wood, or water damage. They will not be as structurally sound and may break with minor hammering.

Instructions:

1. Clean your boxes with soap and water (be careful not to soak your boxes). Shine them with a little bit of Murphy’s Oil. Let dry completely.
2. Place your sewing drawer (or small box) and metal bracket where you’d like them. Mark with pencil where you need to screw your metal bracket in place. Also, mark the corner of your sewing drawer so if you choose for it to be removable you can place it back in the same spot. (I would suggest making your drawer removable because when you transport these kinds of displays, they can shift and it is much easier to adjust a c-clamp than having to re-screw the box on location).
3. Clamp your sewing drawer to your large box with your c-clamp.
4. Next,  make starter holes in your large box for your screws. If your box is oak or another hard wood use a drill rather than your awl. And vice versa for a more pliant or less sturdy wood.
5. Affix your metal bracket to your large box with your screws.
6. Last, make starter holes on your display where you’d like to place your cup hooks. Screw your cup hooks in.
7. Hang your jewelry with pride!

DIY Steampunk Drawer Displays, Style No. 1

If you have a steampunk crafty business, or perhaps an old-timey aesthetic, your booth should help convey the feeling of your products. This is something I feel that I do quite well and I am quite proud of. Many people stop by my booth just to look at the curiosities inside. In my next 3 blog posts, I will be sharing 3 of my newest displays with instructions & tips on how to recreate them for yourselves! Here’s no. 1.

Display No. 1:

What You’ll Need: 2 boxes (1 large and 1 small); 2 nails; hammer; Murphy’s Oil; 3 medium-large cup hooks, or more if preferred; 1 large spring; modge podge; paintbrush; scissors; awl; map tissue paper (or regular paper) cut to fit  the bottom of your box; twine; and a metal filigree globe (this can be substituted for anything else you’d like or can find that fits your box that you can hang jewelry from)

A Note on Where to Find Boxes: Flea Markets; Garage Sales; Antique Malls; and ReStores (which benefit Habitat for Humanity)–Look for sewing machine drawers & old produce crates especially. Avoid any boxes with mold, badly split sections of wood, or water damage. They will not be as structurally sound and may break with minor hammering.

Instructions:

1. Clean your boxes thoroughly with soap & water (though do not soak the box) and shine up with a little Murphy’s Oil. Let dry completely.
2. Affix your small box on the top of your large box with your 2 nails. Hammer the nails in the bottom of the  small box. Next, cut a piece of your map tissue paper to fit the bottom of your box. Apply a generous layer of modge podge to the bottom of the small box and then place the map tissue paper over it. Apply another layer of modge podge and let dry, approx. 15-20 mins. (Side note, map tissue paper, which you can find at Barnes & Noble BookStores in their gift wrap section,  looks more antique when modge podged into your box than regular map paper).
3. Next, cut a piece (or pieces if your large box is divided like mine) of map tissue papers to fit the bottom of your large box. Apply a generous layer of modge podge to the bottom of the box. Place the map tissue paper to the bottom of the box and then modge podge on top of it. Let dry, approx. 15-20 mins.
4. Next, place your spring where you want it to hang in your box. Mark 2 spots with your pencil (where your cup hooks will go). Using your awl, create 2 starter holes over your pencil marks.
5. Screw your cup hooks in place. Hang your spring from the cup hooks.
6. Place your metal filigree globe in the box. Figure out where you would like it to hang. Mark it with pencil and create a starter hole with your awl. Next, cut the length of twine you need. Attach the twine to your filigree globe.
7. Screw your cup hook in place. Hang your filigree globe.
8. (Optional) Screw in more cup hooks for additional places to hang your jewelry. Remember to first create starter holes before screwing in the cup hooks so that you do not split the wood.
9. Display your amazing product!

DIY Steampunk Home Decor: Clock Face Catch All

Steampunk your home with this simple & elegant clock face catch all. Perfect for holding your loose change, keys, sunglasses, stamps, or jewelry–your catch all will not only be beautiful, but also be another conversation piece to add to your home! Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials & Tools:

• Clock Face (oversize or large) that has a  protective covering. If you cannot find a clock face then try looking for a sundial instead.
• Vintage Photograph or Postcard (that fits inside your covering)
• Ribbon (any color of your choice)
• Fake Flower (any kind of your choice)
• Lace (the amount will depend on the size of your covering. Your lace should equal the length [circumference] of your covering)
• Paperclip
• Scissors
• Needle & Thread (or glue gun)
• Chain (also measured to equal the circumference of your covering)
• Jewelry pliers & wire cutter
• 2 Ribbon Crimps
• 2 jump rings

Steps:

1. Open up the covering of your clock face & leave open. Place your vintage photograph inside. Set aside.
2. Measure your lace (it should be the same length as your covering) and then cut. Next, place 1 ribbon crimp at the end of your lace and crimp in place with your jewelry pliers. Repeat for the other end.
3. Now measure the amount of chain you need. (It should be the same length as your covering too.) Cut your chain with wire cutters, or toenail clippers if you do not own a pair of wire cutters. Next, using your jewelry pliers (2 flat nosed pliers are best) connect your chain to your lace by hooking the jump ring through the ribbon crimp. Repeat for the other side.
4. Place your lace & chain over the covering–the lace should be placed in front over the photograph/postcard. You may have to adjust your chain if you don’t like where it sits on your covering (by making it smaller or larger–respectively, removing chain links with wire cutters or adding jump rings or more chain with your pliers).
5. Next, make a decorative bow out of your ribbon.
6. Using your needle & thread, sew your bow and fake flower in place onto the lace. Be sure to tie a sturdy knot. (Another option for this step if you don’t like sewing–glue the bow and fake flower in place with your glue gun.)
7. Last, clip together your photograph and lace with your paperclip. This helps the lace remain taut across the photograph/postcard rather than sag across it.
8. Proudly display in your lovely home!

As always, happy making!