****DIY Sundays on Mondays****

I've recently been faced with a dilemma. With all the jewelry I make on a regular basis and buy (unfortunately) on a regular basis....where do I store it all?  And better yet, how do I keep it from looking like a big pile of metal?

Can you say DIY.....

Well let me rewind here since I actually found a solution to this dilemma quite some time ago.  While browsing Etsy (as I am doing simultaneously while writing this blog), I came across the jewelry holder pictured above by the sellers W.Ho Made It.  The amazing sister duo behind the shop had quite a few of lovely and decorative jewelry stands available but the price was a tad steep for me.  I told myself I should just go ahead and make my own but months passed and not one attempt was made.

However this past weekend presented itself as the perfect time to go ahead and try it.  Not sure how the original minds behind this DIY made theirs, I (for the sake of time, money and lack of ability to properly use a drill without damaging the piece in question) I opted to use flat based separators for between the different tiers and a crafters life saver....E6000.

After visiting every Goodwill and Savers on Rt 1 for cheap but pretty china, I finally arrived at my parents and was able to begin.  I decided on vintage taper candle holders as my tier separators.  It went well with the vintage them and I thought it would add a bit more character to the tray.  

I didn't want the space between each tier to be even so I took apart one of the candle holders by unscrewing the actual holder from its base, sawing off the part the stuck out (well actually my dad did with a hand saw as he was almost certain I would either hurt myself or his furniture) and then painstakingly sanding down the top of what was left so that the plate could sit a top it. 

Yes...a glass of wine/mixed drink is a must when doing a DIY (probably another reason why my dad opted to do the sawing)

With all the pieces ready I began to assemble the tray.  The great thing with this glue is that it doesn't set immediately.  Once I laid down my first candle holder on the bottom plate, I was able to adjust it to make sure it was completely center.  I also used large thin washers (about 1in in diameter) as spacers between the candle holder and the plate for a little more of a base.  I then put the finished pieces on a flat surface in a safe place to let the glue set and....

Now I have some really cute trays to store my jewelry...well probably only a fraction but I did stock up on china from the various Goodwill Stores so I can make a few more. So if you've been looking for a more appealing way to display your jewelry, got about $15 in your pocket and have some time, try this fun option.  It's also a great gift idea.