Making a Jewelry Stand Out of Branches

4Lisa Ashby • 30th May 2010 • Projects, Projects, Random • craftynest, handmade, home decor, homemade, made by hand

I wrote recently about clearing out the clutter and I’ve podcasted recently about how I really want my house to look less like a college dorm and more like a home. I’m on a mission. I’m doing a lot of little budget-friendly crafty things to put the coziness back into my home.

First on the agenda: my bedroom. Since I’m coming to terms with my inability to sew, I’ve decided to turn my sewing desk into a vanity. Along with that, I wanted a pretty way to showcase my jewelry that also made them easier to find. I’ve seen a lot of tree branch jewelry stands lately, and I especially like the ones from Urban Outfitters, but $30-40? Puh-lease!

So I made my own.

Here’s how I did it: I went in the woods near my house and gathered some branches. I combed through them to find the one that had the shape that I was looking for – curving to one side with lots of little branches to hang stuff from. I “molded” the branch to my liking by removing the extra little branches so that it took on the shape I envisioned. I then cleaned the branch well and spray painted it with clear coat. For the base, I took a bag of $2 decorative sand and filled a vintage vase with it, inserted the branch and voila! A cheap jewelry holder.

This is how I used to store my jewelry:

Yikes, right? The branch is so much better.

If you’re feeling like I am and want to start creating some thrifty decor, there’s a lot of places you can look for inspiration. One of my favorites is CraftyNest. This weekend, I’m going to be working on a variation of this CraftyNest photo collage.

But don’t let your budget stop you from making your house a home. There are plenty of ways to dress up your space without breaking the bank. Get creative and have fun!