DIY: Jewelry Tree
July 16, 2009
I see so much beauty in nature that I find myself bringing it indoors whenever possible. River stones. Driftwood. Fresh flowers. Beachy accents in the bath. Acorns in the fall. Evergreens during the holidays. And branches. I love branches, especially as accents.
I once saw a designer spray paint gigantic branches in a hot coral color, and place them in an urn on top of a piano in a very grand living room. It made me swoon. While this look is a bit over the top for some, I have always wanted to spray paint branches to make them sculptural.
So I was pruning my wild oak tree last weekend. It should be no surprise that I decided to use one of the Charlie Brown branches to make a jewelry holder.
Here’s a peek:
I was inspired by these versions available online by Urban Outfitters.
I really am a Pollyanna. I like to hang sparkly things in front of windows and watch the light reflect throughout the room. So I decided to make my own version of a jewelry tree with a few supplies I had in my garage.
Step One: Find the right branch. Nothing too flimsy, nothing too heavy. Find a branch that has both interest and balance. You have to be Goldilocks and find one that’s just right. Pluck off all the leaves and allow it to dry out for a few days.
Here’s my wild oak branch Before:
Step Two: Build your base. I asked Mr. CG to create a base by cutting some scrap alder wood because I refuse to handle the miter saw. Not many things scare me, but that blade does.
Step Three: Screw the wood together on the bottom, then drill a hole into the top of the base with a drill bit.
Step Four: Use spackle or wood filler to fill in any seams or gaps in your wood.
Step Five: Fill your hole with wood glue, stick your branch in the hole, and let it dry for 24 hours.
Step Six: Give your base a light sanding. If want a rustic quality, then consider painting only the base. But if you want color, then give your branches a coat of primer. Primer helps to seal the wood. Allow it to dry. Use whatever spray paint you wish to give your jewelry tree the color you desire. One tip: Get up really close to the branches when you spray so that it almost drips. Don’t spray from far away – it’s pointless and you’ll waste a lot of paint.
To give my base more staying power, I anchored it to an old square mirror with some silicone rubber sealant I had leftover from this mirror project and this jeweled planter project. You could also buy some heavy magnets at a hardware store, and glue them to the bottom, if you need to add more weight to your base.
Step Seven: Decorate ! It’s just like decorating a Christmas tree. Your lighter earrings hang on the more delicate branches, while the bigger branches support your heavier necklaces or bracelets. It’s a bit of a balancing game, but it’s fun nonetheless.
Before and After:
I love its sculptural qualities, its wintery whiteness, and its organic genesis. And I also love the fact that it cost me nothing. Now I hope you’ll be looking at tree branches in your yard or neighborhood with new interest.
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Tags: jewelry tree
Great idea!
I love jewelry trees! They're traditionally so pricey – this is a great alternative!
Gorgeous!
Terrific idea & your finished project is so pretty & delicate. ☺ Diane
Oooooh!!! Love it!! Seriously!
Lovely project, but what caught my eye is how effective it is when placed on the mirror base. The mirror really adds to the pizazz and I'm thinking I could get the same effect for other objects.
Hi Kate, this is a great idea, i do the same thing at christmas time and hang vintage balls on the branches, only i dont bother with the base just pop it in a glass vase with fake snow in the base and it looks so beautiful…… as does yours, Amanda from Aus.
These would make such lovely centerpieces at a party.
Utterly creative, as always!
When do you sleep, Kate?!
XOXO
*Tricia
fantastic cg!
http://anhesty.blogspot.com
So cute…your blog is my absolute favorite, I can always find inspiration from you. Thanks.
This is so awesome! Thanks for the inspiration! Have a great week!
Wow! This is amazing! Great job!
OH! I am doing this project. This weekend! I LOVE it.
Fabulous!!! It incorporates one of my favorite things: sparkly stuff.
I love the organic shape of this. It's beautiful. And I would totally be distracted by all of the shiny. Oohhh…shiny….
You are fantastic! Who would think of these things? Your jewelry tree looks awesome!
BE a sweetie,
Shelia
Great job! It looks great!
It looks great… how cute!!
Fabulous!! I like the mirror on the bottom. And your garden looks great as well!!
BEAUTIFUL! Wait a second, I've been starting all my comments here with that word! thanks for sharing your creativity with "the rest of us."
Cool and easy ! Very shiny too !
Hugs ~ Kammy
I love it! Mr. CG is so good to you, I can see him walking into the house after work and you handing him another list of things to get put together.
I don't blame you though, that miter saw is scary.
Great project! Love the Frank Lloyd Wright quote at the end too.
You continue to amaze me! Thank you so much for keeping me inspired. God's blessings, Sarah
Great idea!
I'm a new reader and I love your blog!
I've been loving the branch jewelry hangers for quite some time… but never thought to make one! So cool. p.s. I featured you on my post today… hope its okay. I just couldn't get enough of your stairs.
It's beautiful, great idea! I also think putting the base of the branch in a cool vase or jar filled with rocks, sand, or vase "jewels" could hold it upright and help those of us without power tools, LOL!
As a preschool teacher, I am always collecting branches, rocks, pine cones, and interesting seed pods for the kids to explore! I love beach combing, too!
Wow I love this so much! This would be perfect for all my jewelry. Thank you for posting!
LOVE THIS! I think I might have that "just right" branch to make one of my own. What a fabulous idea…and it really does look so high end!
~Amanda
You put the cool in cucumber! You ALL that, Mrs. CG! I ADORE how you put Mr. CG to work in the stairwell! You guys are a MAGNIFICENT pair! I'll sip my lemon drop to THAT! Hee Hee
absolutely great !! fantabulous !!
Meenu
Reminicents
I just saw those jewelry trees at Urban Outfitters and wanted a bigger, more natural one. Now, I know what to do! Does yours seem to hold heavier, dangly earrings and necklaces well?
Awesome!
I needed this post last week. Went to Urban Outfitters and about passed out at the price for a teeny weeny jewelry tree.
Thanks for stopping by my teeny tiny blog!!! I've found so much inspiration and great ideas on yours it amazing!!! Don't laugh but I seriously stopped drinking my coffee and browsing my favorite blogs to go cut a branch of my tree in the backyard!!
Amazing idea…LOVE it!!
Very pretty! Thank you for posting!
Your tutorial is awesome!!!!
I was just looking at these on Urban Outfitters and was thinking of how much they reminded me of the project I did for Christmas. I actually collected a few branches myself and made a very cute and whimsical christmas tree this past winter. My branches were painted white just like yours and I stuck them in a vase with tiny rocks.I hung mini decorations on them and now that christmas is over I hang jewellery on it. CraftyHabit.blogspot.com
very chic. does your amazing man take pics of you working on your projects or do you have a third hand?
I just love this DIY! I actually bought one of those trees from urban and it's just way to small! This will def. come in handy for my wedding
love it!
Oh my gosh, so I just came across your blog, and i LOVE it! I absolutely love this idea! I'm just moving into a new apartment and i'm so excited to try my own! I'll be back to your blog frequently i'm so sure!
[...] Jewelry Tree [...]
[...] To display jewelry with this DIY jewelry tree: [...]
Hi,
I was having trouble finding the right tree, so i made the branch out of 150m of wire! looks awesome but! put it in a pot which i’m going to mosaic with mirror. It stands about 1.5 m high
Neat! I was just browsing around to see what a jewelry tree was and found your blog. Cute! I have a request for something like this, but I use recycled products in my artwork. I love natural too. I always wanted big branches to go at the head of my bed as a headboard.
Its a very appealing way of displaying one’s jewelry. And if we make it by ourself then we can add more colors and designing concepts in trees. Very natural sort of way to call the customers attention. Thanks for introducing these cool trees and telling the ways how to make them. Like the post !!!
Hey there I found your webpage by chance, I was browsing the net for New Fashion Designers when I found your webpage, I must say your webpage is really intriguing I truely think the layout, its astounding!. I’m strapped for time right now to totally absorb your website but I have bookmarked it and also subscribed for your RSS feeds. I will be back when I have more time. Thanks for a great blog.
I’ve been eye-ing those jewelry trees on Urban Outfitters, they are a bit pricey. I was so excited when I came across this!! Thanks so much!!