DIY Jewelry Stand

Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard I try, I can never keep anything organized. I finally had a handle on my jewelry collection, and there was a place for everything. Suddenly, it seemed like it had multiplied overnight, and I was finding jewelry all over the house. Having a lot of jewelry isn't really the problem, it's the fact that I didn't have anywhere to store it, much less keep it organized. Any time I was getting ready, I had to take extra time to untangle a necklace, or try to find the match to an earring. Needless to say, that's a frustrating problem, especially when you're in a hurry.

With a few dollars and some time, I was able to put together a beautiful jewelry stand that holds it all - with room for more. It also makes it easy to find all my earrings, rings, bracelets and small necklaces. In total, I spent less than $10 on this DIY jewelry stand, and it took about a day to make it (including waiting/paint drying time). There are also endless possibilities for customizing the jewelry stand, and with some supervision, most kids could make it themselves.

Supplies:
2 standard 4.3" (11 cm) terra cotta pots
6.7" (17 cm) terra cotta saucer
8.3" (21 cm) terra cotta saucer
9.8" (25 cm) terra cotta saucer
E6000 glue
Base color paint - I used Americana Bahama Blue
Antiquing color - browns and black shades are recommended. I used Americana Raw Umber
Clear spray paint

Tip: Terra cotta pots and saucers are already quite affordable, but you can get an even better deal if you shop at craft stores and use coupons (sometimes up to 50% off!). That makes most of your pots less than $1-2!!

Start by making a center mark the bottom side of the 2 smallest saucers. Measure horizontally and vertically and mark an "x" with a pencil or pen in the center. The marks will be covered, so don't worry about having to remove it later. The largest saucer won't need to be marked.

In a well ventilated area, add a circle of E6000 glue on the bottom of one of the pots. Place the pot onto the bottom of the saucer over the center mark. Most pots have a hole in the bottom, so you can see the center mark through it to make sure you've got the pot in the right area. Repeat on the other saucer. Let dry a few hours (the longer, the better).

When the glue is dry, paint a light coat of the base/color paint. Any color will work. You could even use multiple colors, create patterns, etc. It's really up to your creativity. If kids are doing this project, this is where I would let them take over. Adult supervision is recommended in case any of the pieces break.

I recommend acrylic or spray paints on terra cotta. Personally, I love DecoArt paints, and used Americana Bahama Blue. The terra cotta may absorb a lot of the paint, so prepare to paint a few coats. I painted 3-4 coats, and made sure to let each coat dry before adding another layer of paint.

If you don't want to antique the jewelry stand, you can stop at this step and add a coat or two of clear spray paint to work as a sealant.

To antique the jewelry stand, mix the antiquing color (I used Americana Raw Umber) with some water. It should be thinned out just a little, but not too watered down. If it's too watered down, the antiquing step won't work as well.

I started with the largest saucer, and painted around a quater of the inner edge. Immediately take a folded paper towel or a cloth and wipe off the paint. Work with smaller areas at a time. It can dry fast, so you don't want to have too much dark paint over the color. You can always add more paint if the pieces aren't dark enough. Repeat the painting technique until all the pieces are covered. Show Me Cute did a great video tutorial so you can see exactly how the antiquing method works.

To add a white wash, water down a little bit of white acrylic paint and repeat the same process as the antiquing. This just adds a little more dimension to the pots and lightens up the brown a little. Not required, but I love how it looks.

Spray the pots & saucers with a few coats of clear spray paint to seal your jewelry stand and help protect it from wear & tear. Let each coat of spray paint dry before adding more.

Stack the pots with the smallest saucer on top. If your jewelry stand is in an area that gets a lot of traffic, I would recommend gluing all the pots together to prevent any layers from getting knocked over and breaking. Otherwise, they should be sturdy enough to stack separately without glue.

Add your earrings, rings, and bracelets and you're all set for jewelry organization! Not to mention you'll have a unique piece to display in a bedroom, bathroom, or on a vanity. Could also make a cute cupcake or food stand if you use larger saucers.