Grad Series: Washer Necklace

Here is an ambitious graduation gift idea that could last a lifetime.  The designer stamped the name and graduation date into a washer.  Clever!!  I really would have loved this as a gift when I was a grad.  Yeah, yeah...who wears their expensive class ring beyond their senior year of high school?!?  I know.  But, those aren't handmade.   You can get a play by play class lesson for making this necklace via this link:

http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2010/05/stamped-washer-necklaces.html

This grad series has been a lot of fun because it forced me to really search through some great craft blogs to find ideas that inspired me.  I'd been in a bit of a rut myself.  But, sifting through so many crafts made me want to schedule a session in the scrap shack with my friend, Crafty Girl.  It was just the thing I needed to snap out of the doldrums.  I also discovered that there are a lot of creative people in this world with nice blogs.  I'm happy to pass along their crafts and I'm looking forward to doing these series more often.  Class Dismissed.

Hanging Jewelry Cabinet

Each day, just before I leave for work, I open the door to my homemade jewelry heaven.

Apartment living requires the creative use of space.  My over-the-top love of jewelry takes up a lot of space.  Using my towel rack in the bathroom saved room for awhile.

Now, I have this handy jewelry cabinet, made by my father, to either mount to a wall or hang over a door.

I fell in love the first time I saw it because it fulfills my need to organize...and it is made by someone I love.  I know this isn't something that just anyone can make.  But, if you have a woodworker in your family...here are some ideas.

There are hooks EVERYWHERE to hang bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.  My father placed cubes in the bottom for pins and bracelets that I can't hang.

He lined the door with racks of slitted wood to push my earrings into.  Also, I have four dowels connected to the base with hinges so I can pull them out to look through the necklaces and then push them in flat to close up the cabinet.

I started out with lots of room.  Then, with all of that extra space taunting me, I slowly filled up my over the door jewelry cabinet.  I've already put in an order for another one.  There's a door to every room.  No need to limit myself.