Discarded book Cover Jewelry Displays

A few years ago I learned a dirty secret about some book sales.

Sometimes, after the sale is over, they recycle what does not sell.

This sometimes involves removing all the covers and then recycling the pages inside the book.

All those wonderful book jackets end up getting discarded.

The HORROR!

I was appalled.

But a friend saved several boxes of book covers for me for my art after one such sale.  

This is one of the ways I used the covers.

I used a band saw to put 2 short cuts in the top for the necklace to slide in.

For shows, I slide each one into a cellophane bag to keep them from getting tangled.

I am pleased with saving a few boxes of book covers from the landfill and my jewelry gets a great new display.

I will show you some of the other great projects that came from those book covers later.

What unusual items do you use for display/packaging?

Thanks for stopping by....

Jewelry Case Makeovers With DecoArt Chalky Finish Paints....

A couple years ago a friend from work gave me three jewelry cases.

They were well made but very large.

I was not sure what to do with them so they stayed in the upstairs of my shed.

This summer a saw a shadow box done in a tan and coastal blue that I loved.

It was just the colors I had at home from the DecoArt Chalky Finish line of paints.

So this summer, on a hot, hot day I ventured into the upstairs of the shed and carried these down.

I wiped off the dust and grime from the shed.

Let the fun begin...

I do love the silky consistency of these paints.

It took a couple coats to color them the way I wanted.

These originally had display boards covered with black velvet.

I removed the velvet and recovered the boards with burlap from coffee sacks my daughter brought home.

I painted everything with two coats of paint.

It took two afternoons since I had to do the outside of the boxes one day and the insides the next.

Once painted, I used a razor to scrape the window edges.

I also sanded the edges to scuff them up a bit.

I used these at my fall show.

They made a pretty place to display my polymer clay and primitive finished jewelry.

I like the burlap much better than the velvet.

I used vintage folding tape measures to prop the lids open.

I have not used them for every show because they do take up a good bit of space but I do love the transformation...

Thanks for stopping by...

First Fall Show

I had my first fall show last weekend.

It's the biggest I do anymore.

Thought I would show you a little bit of the booth.

It was super busy right away Saturday so these photos were actually taken Sunday morning.

I love the sheer curtains.

  I feel like they look a little different than other  booths.

My trunk of pumpkins up front is one of my favorite display pieces. 

 This is the only show I use it for.

It is quite large.

There are all kinds of pumpkins in it...

Sweater pumpkins, burlap pumpkins, fancy pumpkins...

My favorites right now are the fairy tale pumpkins...

So frilly and lacy and fun.

Some have sweet tags added.

Some have a touch of mica glitter for frost on the pumpkin...

There was lots of jewelry.

I love this long wooden tray I found. 

 It looks great with bracelets in it.

I set it on top of the open trunk lid.

fabric, clay, beads, leather...

This wooden tray is filled with washi tape bracelets and rose bangles.

Stamped heart charms  fill a silver pedestal.

I used to have old shutters along the back of the booth side and I hung necklaces on those.

Things got tangled and occasionally the shutters fell or blew over even though they were clamped to the table.

So I changed it up this year.

Necklaces were put individually or in sets on old book covers that were discarded after a book sale.

Then I nestled them in old suitcases.

Trays and other displays held key chains and necklace charms.

In the center of the booth, I tried a couple spinning racks I bought from a fellow crafter last year.

They were perfect for snowmen, jars and such.

The other side of the booth is the primitive country side.

There is some jewelry and such mixed in.

The crates are from a local orchard.

I always have too much stuff to do perfect vignettes in the crates...  

Someday...

 This spinning card rack was a freebie from a local shop that is no longer open.

It perfectly holds my handmade cards.

I did another show this weekend but it was so cold and windy I did not take any photos.

Luckily, the next two shows are inside.

Thanks for stopping by...