This fun little shabby chic earring stand, made from an altered picture frame, is a great way to hang and display all your beautiful, dangling earrings. I had the idea for this project after we talked about my love affair with dangly earrings and how to display them. I don’t know about you, but I just love seeing them all hanging in a row! :)
The next day I made this earring frame, and it was so quick, easy, and inexpensive to put together, I knew I had to share it with you! :) I spent a grand total of $5.34 on this project. Plus I got to work with a staple gun. (Thats about as close to a power tool as I get!) ;)
Cost: Less than $10
Time: 30 mins
Supplies: picture frame, 12′ of picture wire, acrylic paint & brush, staple gun (or nails/tacks, etc)
I started out with a black 8×10 picture frame from Walmart, $3. They also have 8.5×11 document frames which would be good too, for a little extra space. On the same aisle, I picked up some picture hanging wire. They sold them in packages of 6′ for $0.97 and I used two.
Since the frame wasn’t real wood, I was a little concerned with how it would turn out once I painted it. I definitely wanted it to have the antiqued look, where you could see the previous color underneath the white paint. I was afraid the only way to do that would be to use a real wood frame, so the wood would soak up the paint and show the grain underneath. I thought this frame, since it was completely flat with no texture, would just produce a flat, solid color when I painted it…
But as you can see from the above images, this little inexpensive frame did great! :) I was very pleased with how it turned out.
I gave the frame a couple coats of paint with this almost-but-not-quite white acrylic paint using the brushes pictured. I used this type of brush because it’s what I had, but I really liked how it turned out because, well, honestly, it didn’t do a very good job! But in a good way! It would wipe away some of the paint as I was trying to paint more, giving it that faded, shabby look. I just painted the frame, I didn’t have to sand it, wipe it, or distress it in any way.
Next, I took a piece of wire and laid it across the back of the frame. I folded it over twice so that I had three strands folded together that were just a little longer than the width of the frame (this was to make the hanging wire a little thicker).
Twist the wires loosely so they hold together, but loose enough so you can stick a post earring through there if you want! :)
On the back of the frame I used a pencil to mark where to hang the wire. I started with 1/4″ from the top opening of the frame, then spaced the remaining wire 2.25″ apart.
Here’s what the back looks like.
I stapled the wire to the frame, then folded and tucked the wire so it wouldn’t come out. If you don’t have a staple gun, you could also use small nails or tacks to wrap the wire around and hold in place.
I gave the knots a few taps with a hammer to make sure there weren’t any sharp wire edges sticking out.
And that’s IT! :) So quick and easy! It looks beautiful on a dresser or chest of drawers.
Let me know if you try it! :) Have fun and thanks for looking! :)
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221 Comments
That is so crazy! It’s been a while since I’ve looked through some of your posts, and I was amazed to see that someone else had found a very similar idea to a project I took on a few months ago for a craft table where I was displaying earrings.
I bought frames at Goodwill, and used dowel rods, even hot glued some as legs to hold up my frames, and hung the earrings on them… fun idea! The pic of my frame is the second one in this post.
http://calebandmolly.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/a-spin-on-date-night/
Amanda – I love this! Made 2 for my business to display earrings on. It was so easy…and so fun! Thanks for inspiring me to make my very own!!!
I love this!! I have seen so many of these types of things but yours is the first one that I just absoulty adore!! Also, I love the owl earrings!! Where did you find them!?
I glued a square of black nylon netting to the back of my frame and the hooks hang though the netting. I have two of these handy on the dressing room wall. They are pretty, too.
Thanks for the great project idea. I want to “run” right out and do it today!
Thank you so much for sharing this.I’ve been wanting to learn how to paint something that gives you that faded look,coz i got a wooden lamp,and i’ve been dying to paint it like that .I can’t wait to get started.
I am linking to your blog-come visit me!
freshfibers.blogspot.com
I just finished a 16×20 frame I found outside for my mom for her 60th birthday that is Sunday. She is a crafty lady and thats where I get my love for crafts from, she’s going to be so proud of me for making her this and it literally cost me $0 to make! I had the paint from being a crafty person, I had wire from when I decorated my house and hung pictures, I borrowed my brother’s staple gun, and found the frame!
Amanda, this is perfect for those of us who travel full-time. I wanted something that would display my jewelry but travel well also. This is perfect! Thanks!
This is such a cool idea and looks great too! I love making things and have a million pair of earrings so will definitely be giving this a try. Please check out my blog if you have time and take a look at some of my handmade projects :)
http://miniminadesigns.blogspot.com
Samina
Love, love, love this! What a great gift idea too!! I’m making one this weekend! Thank you so much:)
I immediately went to Walmart after reading this and spent a whole $5.57. I love how it came out and it was so easy, thank you so much!
Amanda..I want to make this for a very special friend but can you tell me how you have it stay upright when its on display? I love this!
Made one today and love it! Thanks for posting the tutorial!
I did the same thing, but stapled screen on the back of the frame…instant holes to hang your earrings and super easy to make….try it!!!
I love this! I’m thinking about making one for myself. Really cute :-)
Wow, this is gorgeous, I’m going to go out, buy a frame and make on of these. Earring storage sorted! :)
Saw this last night…made it tonight…will hang it tomorrow :-) Thanks!
Oi! Lindo! Lindo! Lindo seu trabalho!!
loved this super easy project, my husband loves that I don’t have earrings all over the dresser!! I think it may even be christmas for some special ladies ;)
That is a fabulous idea! I don’t have many dangley earrings – I generally just wear small gold hoops. But gosh, I almost want to start now, just so I can make this and hang them like that! It’s an art piece! Of course….the earrings are cool too – that helps. Great job. And now…I just saw something about rag quilts in the side bar….got to go check that out too!!
Hi Amanda! congratulations on your great design! I will try it at home
Hi Amanda,
I just featured your gorgeous frame on my blog.
Thanks
xxx
Betty
Hi Amanda, I have been following you for a while now but only yesterday discovered this post and made my own frame today.
http://fancycowdecor.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-make-jewellery-frame-holder-at.html
It’s super sweet, yours and mine :)
What a great idea. You inspired me to make my own! Thank you! Love your blog. :)
http://brandysbaking.blogspot.com/2011/03/crafty-thing-earring-organizer.html
What a great idea! Thanx a lot for such a tutorial
Neat idea, and great photos too, btw! Thanks for sharing this
Your blog is inspirational! I love this idea. I am writing about homemade jewellery stands and have added a link to your wonderful site. Thankyou for sharing your inspirations xx
Hi Amanda! I just LOVED this craft! I had so much fun making it! I posted a picture of the one I made here with a link back to your blog. Thank you so much for posting! :D
http://ryanandbrittanywoolley.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-seven-of-happiness-challenge-time.html
Such a lovely & simple idea! For my own earrings, I use a strand of chain to hang my earrings from, it’d be fun to try them on a picture frame! That way the earrings can be hooked in the links.
Thanks for the inspiration :)
My friend just got her first apartment by herself so I’m going to make this for her!! Thank you! :D
Very elegant, I am going to try and make something similar for necklaces…I think it would be nice to have a frame for each.
Wow! What a fabulous idea and a stylish way to organize your jewelry .. Even hair clips would probably work to.
Thanks for sharing,
Ruth
This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing ;)!
Oh! I made something just like this for my mum when I was a boy!
I used Elm slats from an old shop-display to make the frame and shiny metal with holes, in which I think was material for making air-vents, instead of wires; that let her put any size ear-rings in anywhere, so one corner could be all little earrings. It also let her hang little earrings in the middle of the hoop of big hoop earrings :-)
But it took ages to make the frame – I wish I’d just thought of using an old picture frame! Them mum’s sister liked it so much I ended up making another for my aunty and for got all about it! The Internet wasn’t around for sharing then…
how do you make it stand?
I just finished up mine today! I’ve had yours pinned for so long I almost couldn’t find it! I’ll have to give you credit in my next craft post.
Check it here!
http://missrschultz.blogspot.com/2011/06/life-in-craft-room_25.html
Loving the Bokeh on you photos ! :)
I REAlly like this Idea. Its cute, customizable and economical. Thanks :)
I made one…and it turned out great! It looks just like yours…I am in the process of hanging all my earrings on it now. Thanks for the simple, yet great, tutorial!!
Wow! Pretty neat…amazing creativity!!!
Dear Amanda,
I am trying to find owl earrings like the ones you have pictured, only in a bronze color. Where did you get your silver ones? That’s how I stumbled onto your picture frame for earrings. I love the idea! So simple, clever, and thrifty! Thank you for sharing!
Connie
I love this idea! This would be a perfect way to display our earrings, and you made it look so easy to do that even the “crafty-challenge” could duplicate. We will certainly be doing this project. Thanks for sharing.
I love this! I just picked up some old beat up frames from a garage sale on a complete whim && have been hunting around for a project!
What a lovely idea! Thanks for sharing this.
I can’t wait to try this! I have just discovered my love of more costume jewelry! I was always a diamond (Okay, cubic ziconia who are we kidding) simple kind of girl. But I now LOVE my hoop earrings and big long necklaces! I can’t wait to try making this so I can display all my new finds!! I just love your site!!
-Ali
Boston, MA
Wow! Just found you via pinterest (free fonts) and I love this DIY. My daughter has been wanting something for her danglies and this looks very do-able! I’ll be following from now on!
this is the best tutorial ever! thank you!
Saw this on Pinterest and just made it! Only cost me about $4.00 and it came out great :)
Wow this is awesome!
Hi Amanda,
I just was able to try this today! It came out really cute… the only thing I might change is repaint it with a different color since my room is pretty neutral and my jewelry at this point isn’t all that colorful! lol I hope to get the post up for this week, I would love if you would stop by to check it out!
Hope you are having a blast in NY! Let me know if you want to come to Boston!
-Ali
Great tutorial! I made the earring display and wrote about it here: http://homeinthecity.tumblr.com/post/10125283617/crafting-earring-display!
SO pretty! I was truly inspired and actually made my own version of this.
Thank you for this guide!
http://fitandfashion.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/organizing-earrings/
WHERE did you get those owl earrings? I just adore owls and have been trying to find some adorable earrings! Ah! Love the frame idea, it’s great for showcasing your earrings!
Great tutorial and creative ideas! thanks for sharing.
Love this! I just made one and am having difficulty standing it up. Any tips to make it free standing? I tried even an easel but not working either. Thanks for the tutorial!
These are so adorable! Could you hang them on the wall?
Thanks for the excellent directions! I’ve been wanting to make an earring display and this inspired me to get it going today. I was curious how you have it standing up without the “leg” that comes with a picture frame. Thanks!
Found this on Pinterest and did it today. So easy and cheap. Thank you so much for sharing this DIY craft with us AND for making it so easy to Pin! :)
I made my own and love it! I had a old Home Interiors frame from the late 70s/early 80s. I took out the back and glass, cleaned up the wood frame, and painted it with silver acrylic paint. My earrings, combined with the frame, look like a work of art! I used the original hangar and hung mine on the wall. The way the frame is constructed, it worked well to hang it. Thank you so much for the inspiration! The only thing I had trouble with was the soft wood the frame was made out of. The staples didn’t stay put until my husband suggested overlapping the first staple with a second. That held great! Thanks again!
excellent idea!
Hi! I featured your earring display here:
http://wastedlace.blogspot.com/2012/02/tutorials-earring-displays.html
Have a nice day!
I really like this idea to hang earrings on, but what would you suggest to have it stand up? This would be a cool idea when I show my jewelry. Thanks
Hi there, you could have a plate holder, like you might have on a shelf. Cheers!
Can’t wait to create this! What a great idea.
I love this idea and I couldn’t help but notice those bird earrings! Where did you get those? So cute!
This blog stole your entire post and reposted it. I hate it when people do this, so I wanted to let you know.
http://blog.bjohnsonjewelry.com/diy-jewelry-frame-display/
This is brilliant!!! I cannot wait to try it, most likely tomorrow, for it is getting late. ;) Thank you so much for sharin this amazing idea!!! I will need three for all of my earrings. Hee Hee! Thanks again!
I gathered the supplies from around the house and my husband made this for me today. So cute!! Thanks for the great idea.
And have a great time in Sweden. I cannot wait to see your pics. The ones of Tuscany were breath-taking.
Hi Kevin & Amanda! I just featured this in my weekly Pinterest Project of the week post! Thanks for this cute idea!
http://thegohmans.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-pretties-pinterest-project-of-week.html
Hi! I love your earring frame and have shared it on my Friday Finds.
What a great idea! I made a necklace & bracelet hanger but never thought of doing something for my earrings. Love this!
Saw you featured at The North End Loft.
Debbie :)
I made my own today, only I used string instead. I braided four strands then knotted the ends for extra security (although I don’t think they were going anywhere). I love how it turned out, thanks! :)
Realized it doesn’t work with plastic frames. Can’t seem to hold wire in place. Need a wood frame.
Would love to know where you got the flowers/vase and candle from?! So pretty!!!!
I just want to say how much Ive always loved your blog, how do I follow you?
I just copied this and made one! I added flowers to mine :) Here’s the post: http://growingupourstyle.blogspot.com/2012/12/playing-with-pinterest-dangly-earring.html#
I made one for my roommate, only i used a poster frame, rather than a picture frame, so that earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. could hang on it :) it worked SUPER well! i used different wire, though, so that i could twist multiple colors together. the wire is thinner,, but still seems to work. thanks for the great idea!!! ^_^
A very simple, but practical, original, and pretty idea. Thank you.
I loved this idea so much that I actually made three of them except one I did sideways for my really long earrings. Yesterday I was trying to figure out what to do with my obscene collection and this was genius! I have mine hanging on the wall and it works wonders. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
ooh! I have a frame that I bought from the second hand store but hadn’t found a use for it. This is super cute and perfect to hang in my bathroom.