In January 2011 I blogged about making a DIY window frame  jewelry display. It was featured on some blogs, like Brooklyn Limestone and Apartment Therapy, but I had no idea that it would basically go viral on Pinterest.  I’ll admit it was pretty neat to be someone who inspired a DIY project trend, rather than a follower, for once. 🙂

So for the last 1.5 years I’ve used my window frame jewelry display, and I’ve loved it.  But in using it I found ways I wanted to tweak the design.

I was given the perfect opportunity to make a “new and improved” frame after our wedding, using the frame that we turned into an escort card display piece.

Window Frame Escort Card Display for Rustic Beach Wedding

(Please note that part of this was done before the wedding, to turn it into an escort card display.  All I had to do to convert it was remove the little nails from the burlap-covered boards.  I’m writing it here as a full tutorial.)

New & Improved Window Frame Jewelry Display Tutorial:

1. Clean, sand, and paint the frame.
2. Cut thin plywood boards to fit each window pane space.  (Don’t have power tools?  Foam core board from the craft store could also work if you were gentle with it during the installation.)
3. Wrap each board in burlap, stapling it to the backs of the boards to keep it in place.
4. Pop the boards into the frame, gluing the edges or stapling the backs to the frame to hold them in place.
5. Hammer in two picture hanging loops to the top back corners of the frame so that you can hang it on the wall when you’re done.
6. Plan out where the knobs should go, then drill holes and screw the knobs into place, adding a little glue to the holes for extra hold.
7. Plan out which window panes will hold necklaces, then screw white cup hooks into the tops of those window pane spaces.  This is tedious.  It helps if you drill pilot holes using a very tiny drill bit.

Congrats, you’re ready to hang your new window frame jewelry display!  Make sure the hooks you install on the wall are strong enough to support the weight.  (I like Ook hooks.)

My necklaces hang perfectly from the cup hooks and old knobs, and the loop earrings hang easily from the burlap.

But I also wanted to store my earrings with backs, the ones that can’t be looped over the burlap.  I added a Command Clear Container to the middle bottom of the frame.  The clear plastic design blends really well. Inside the container are all my other earrings, organized into little clear plastic containers from The Container Store.

Here are the improvements I made from Version 1:

The earrings hang on burlap instead of wire mesh screening.  Installing the wire mesh screening was the most obnoxious part of the first frame project, and it wasn’t that pretty, either.

Instead of adding dowels down the sides to hold extra bracelets and necklaces, I only used coordinating drawer pulls and glass wine corks. (for real!)  This offers a much cleaner look.  I would like to add a few more near the bottom, but I’m waiting until I find hardware that coordinates well.

I’m absolutely in love with this version of the jewelry storage window frame.  It’s not only useful, it’s a memento from our wedding that has a story behind it – from the beginning of my relationship with Ryan, when he first shook his head at me as I carried it home from the neighbor’s trash.

This version of the jewelry display frame is definitely around for the long haul.  And I’m loving how it looks with the new curtains in my office.  Thanks, by the way, for all the furniture layout suggestions last week. This side is good to go, but I’m going to try some of those suggestions for my desk layout next week.