Monday 7 November 2011

Printer's Tray to Earring Display

Hello. Sorry I've been a bit quiet for the last week, it's been a busy one. I'll catch up with all your blogs soon. Incidentally, yesterday's Silent Sunday post was my 100th - I'm amazed I've made it this far. Thank you to  everyone whose comments and feedback have made it so much fun.

Anyhow - remember the printer's tray (or type case) I bought recently? It's far better made than a lot I've seen, with dovetail joints and a solid wood back rather than plywood, but it had several years' worth of filth and dead spiders which needed removing before I could do anything else with it. It was a harder task than I'd anticipated cleaning each little compartment - 95 of the grimy things in all. Dust and dessicated arachnids removed, I gave it a light sanding and then applied a couple of coats of Danish Oil with a paintbrush. The colour came up beautifully.

Mr FHCS manfully took on the task of attaching two 'screw eyes' (closed loops) to each compartment save the tiniest ones; not an easy job. We discovered the best way was to part hammer in a thin tack to make the initial hole, then get the screw eyes in place by holding and twisting them using needle nose pliers. Strangely he's not thrilled at the idea of making any more and going into business on Etsy, muttering darkly under his breath about callouses and where was his tea? A couple of decades later, I screwed some fittings to the back and it's ready to be hung on the wall.

Here's the finished article, with a selection of my finest earrings hanging happily from it. I had thought about backing some of the compartments with vintage map paper, but I'm not sure it needs it. Another option would be to back a few compartments at random with mirror cut to size - I've seen this done and it adds definite glamour, but it might look better against darker wood?








I've put in one pair per compartment, but you could easily fit one pair per loop in most cases.


And here's a reminder of what it looked like before - pretty good transformation don't you think?


I'm really quite in love with it now, and it's my Flea Market Find of the Year. Anyone want to come over and play jewellery shop?

Lakota x

Linking up to

                     Be Inspired @ Elizabeth & Co
                     Sophie's Flea Market Finds
                     Magpie Monday
                     Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
                     Thriftaholics Weekly

76 comments:

  1. Yes please, I'll come and play!
    That looks just brilliant, aren't you and Mr FHCS quite the design team?! (I can just imagine my OH's response to a request for help with something like that...)
    I think it looks wonderful as it is, wouldn't it be terribly fiddly to put backing in the compartments? I love the idea of the mirror backing, that would be a great effect but oh the effort involved... Another little job for Mr FHCS maybe???
    Congratulations on your 100th post. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  2. If I did mirror bits a glazier would be involved - I've no desire for 7 years bad luck! Would just be in a few at random, but I'll probably leave it as it is.

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  3. What an amazing transformation.
    I'm on the lookout for a printers tray now. x

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  4. Wow it looks amazing just exactly as it is - don't change a thing!

    What a lot of earrings you have :0)

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  5. Love it! I have so many pairs of earrings that never get worn as I don't know what I've got, with this you can see at a glance. Glad I'm not the only one with a long-suffering husband that is forced to help with mad schemes!!! xx

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  6. really an awesome transformation, totally love it!

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  7. It's awesome Lakota and I say leave it as is x

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  8. Oh you're such a tease, making me wait via FB for your project - bloody worth the wait coz this is fecking brilliant!! I love, love, love your earring display case - especially that you simply (ha!) cleaned it up and left it with its natural wood finish. Your hubby is a hero and deserve a scalp massage for his efforts - that was not an easy job! Congratulations for your 100th post - I'm so glad I found your blog!!! xoxoxoxo

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  9. What a great use for it and a lovely transformation. I can't imagine owning so many pairs of earrings !
    Love it xx

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  10. Oh it's BEAUTIFUL! I love it - what a fabulous idea. I think you should individually mosaic each one and paint tiny little portraits of each of your favourite followers (blink blink) in each of the compartments. houldn't take more than a deade or two.

    (I think it's perfect just as it is!)

    Sarah xxx

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  11. Bloody brilliant as it is, Lakota. It doesn't need a mirror embellishment.

    Guess what I found at a jumble t'other week? Yes, a printers tray!! I was tempted to sell it as they can go for quite big money on ebay (well £20 odd quid, that's big money in my world). Having seen your little beauty and what you've done with it, I may keep it. Shame I don't have wear earrings anymore....

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  12. wow that looks amazing great job you've done on that and what a fab place to store earrings :)

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  13. Looks fab :) What a labour of love for MrFHCS to put all those little hooks in :)

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  14. Oh, I love it! It's fantastic! You are very clever. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a similar tray! Clever lady. :) Em x

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  15. You've made me all nostalgic for the days when I could wear earrings without the risk of them being forcibly torn from my earlobes. The display is perfect as it is, no need for any additions, I think.

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  16. This is such an amazing way to store earrings. I am always on teh lookout for ways to store accessories. I find that I forget to wear them if they are put away in a drawer.

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  17. Well done Mr and Mrs FHCS! What a shame you won't be making any more, the orders would be stacking up! The fiddly nature of this task puts me right off trying to copy it, but I really want one.
    It is perfect, no mirrors required, just more earrings!
    You should both be very proud.

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  18. This is killer, what a transformation! I think you should paint it Turquoise :)

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  19. Never thought of using these for earrings, what a great idea!

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  20. I have seen printers trays like this one before and liked them..but didn't know what I would use them for. This is a great idea! :)

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  21. What a clever idea! All my earrings are stuffed into an old jewellery box and hardly see the light of day! I'm quite envious now!

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  22. This is fab! And what a great selection of earrings you have to store in it!

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  23. Blooming genius! I love it. I do like the idea of lining it with vintage maps and such like but I can only imagine what a palaver attaching all those hooks to it was. You've inspired me to do something with my stupidly large earring collection now! x

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  24. Just wonderful and almost makes me ready to have my ears pierced in my continuing quest to get my groove back. Lovely transformation, well done you

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  25. I love it! I'm not going to lie...I'm kinda jealous right now. I need to find one of these for myself now!

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  26. It did scrub up well didn’t it? I already have three wooden carousels full to bursting with earrings (a weakness of mine) or I would be jealous. It reminds me of the little nick-nack shelves we had in the 60s and 70s for tiny collectibles, like thimbles and glass animals, but they got ever so dusty.

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  27. I LOVE it! It turned out so perfectly!

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  28. Print trays are bloody awesome, you've done a great job on these. So many earrings, Lakota - are you an earring person generally? Great selection!

    Jem xXx

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  29. Wow, looks great. That's the kind of thing I could do with to display my earrings at craft fairs (but I'm too lazy to finish off something as laborious!)

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  30. Lakota that is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a good idea! I am so envious! My hobbycraft box with 90 pairs shoved in randomly seems a little bit paltry by comparison!

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  31. Wow...just wow. I knew you would do it justice and you certainly have. I would love to own something like this one day, very inspired indeed xxx

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  32. That is just SUPER! Now I know what I'm putting on my wish list!

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  33. Oh that's so gorgeous! I'm so envious!!!!

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  34. I am so going to do this now. I love your find/idea! andrea@townandprairie

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  35. I am envious of the finished project - but just looking at all those tiny cup-hook thingys makes me shiver.

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  36. I absolutely LOVE what you did with yours! I wouldn't have thought to do that in a million years. Now I need to find another!!

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  37. Wow, I love this idea! You and Mr. FHCS put a lot of love into this one. Just beautiful!

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  38. I guess it is your find of the year...LOVE it! Thanks so much for sharing it at NTT!!!

    Blessing,
    Linda

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  39. I have been after one of those for yonks. It has come up a treat!

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  40. What a super genius idea! I would paint it gold and glue some velvet fabric inside. I think it is gorgeous as is.

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  41. I think it looks great the way it is. What a lovely project and how nice of the Mr. to lend his skills. Now, where's my tea biatch?

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  42. It looks utterly stunning and makes me wish I wore earrings. It will be getting my vote for op-shop find of the year for sure. I think it looks wonderful as is, although having put a but of washi paper in the little name tag bits of a wooden set of drawers we've renovated I have to say it looks marvellous-I have lots of off cuts, if you let me know your address I'll send them to you to try out x

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  43. A fabulous idea, It looks great.
    Also you would never have problems trying to find a certain pair of earrings.

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  44. This was such a great idea. It looks wonderful. Gosh--I can never find my earrings. You'll never have that problem again.

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  45. Wow what a transformation, it looks great. Earrings are always one of the things that get so easily lost. Don't think you will have this problem anymore mind!

    X x

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  46. Fab! I can see a gap in the market there :)
    Joy x

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  47. WOW that looks amazing what a fab idea i love it and what a great use of space and very stylish to. I love the idea of the vintage maps but i bet that would be fiddly enjoy it as it is because its a work of art. dee xx

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  48. This turned out so well! It looks much cleaner and tidier and all your earrings are now displayed beautifully! Well done!

    I'm thinking a little decorative paper to go in the back of each section would top it off perfectly! I can imagine it being a bit of a hassle cutting each bit of paper to size though! x

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  49. Amazing idea- looks fab! My earrings are just chilling out in a little box

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  50. Looking blooming amazing! Fabulous make :o) Scarlett x

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  51. Looking blooming amazing! Fabulous make :o) Scarlett x

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  52. i found you from the thrifting link up--what a great find!! i'm impressed by your patience with tall those screw-eyes.

    xx
    alyssa
    http://wereaucourant.blogspot.com

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  53. Looks great!!
    Karlene

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  54. Clearly you are brilliant. I have two printers trays and a couple hundred pairs of earrings so you have inspired me. My trays are very dirty too.

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  55. Superb idea...I would not have had the patience to do it - props to your guy!

    Jan

    (P.S. just came over from Coastal Charm - following now!)

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  56. This is such a cool idea! Hopefully one day I will find some trays.

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  57. Love to and satisfy my earring fetish!
    That's such a good idea, looks great.xxx

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  58. It looks fab Lakota! I hope you made the fella LOTS of cuppas for that!

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  59. wow, all your hard work definitely paid off, it is now very beautiful :)

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  60. It looks fantastic, what a great idea. For the mirror bit how about using those mirror stickers? You can get pretty decent ones in cheapy shops such as B&M bargains they would be easier to cut with a good blade. x

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  61. That's really, really neat. I love Danish Oil too - it makes ordinary wood look really special, and I love the smell. No additional decoration needed, I think, because your earrings look so wonderful - what a great idea!:)

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  62. It's the bees knees, well worth the effort. It's always nice to have a nosy at other people's jewellery collections!

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  63. Oh my goodi-ness what a wonderful idea and amazing transformation. I love it xox

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  64. That looks like it must have taken FOR-EVER!

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  65. oh super wow! love the result and i loveee your collection of earrings, they're all gorgeous! at least ur hubby get it done, mine wouldnt even bother to start if i had a project that needed a handyman :) but still if i found one printer tray like that in my charity shop and if the price is right, i'll snatch it anyway!

    xx susan

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  66. Great up-cycling project! Of course, I now need to find such a great piece-the type case.

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  67. LOVED THIS POST! It actually made me almost wee myself!

    PS. I voted :)

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  68. Hi Lakota, you did a fabulous job turning this printer's tray into a new home for your earrings. Congratulations to you both, must give hubby some credit also, LOL Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris

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  69. How clever! And super functional too! I love it!

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