Make your own Jewelry Trays for under $3, for the Ingeniously Thrifty, Etsy

I learned the glory of jewelry trays when I worked at the Jeweled Castle; they are instrumental for crafting (keeping beads corralled), dividing product lines in storage for easy organization, augmenting photos by adding contrast & a professional appearance, and provide visual storage (avoiding the seek and destroy rummaging session).

In this segment of the Thrify Etsyian, I will teach you how to make your own awesome jewelry trays, for use in crafting, product photography, storage- and just about anything else you can think of!

These trays are exceedingly simple to construct (4 minutes tops!), and consist of felt rectangles and a picture frame. All you need is a beautiful, or not so beautiful frame- (you can always refinish an old frame with sandpaper, metallic paint, and varnish!) and your favorite colored felt.

Simply frame the felt rectangle and you have an instant jewelry tray. If the felt rectangle is too large, and protrudes, you can just tape it down, I promise no one will see (unless of course, you photograph it like me), and it ensures that your felt will not be jarred out of place. You can get crafty and write your Etsy shop‘s name on the frame in 3D paint to personalize product listings. I prefer broad frames because they are steady and photography nicely, but you can use any type of frame, as long as it can secure your felt.

Thankfully, felt comes in a myriad of colors, and at $.20 a pop, you can make dozens of frames for under $10. I recommend making standard colors for initial product photos on Etsy, black, deep red, and royal purple. To supplement your statement photos, buy a fun patterned felt (~$.50) that will augment your products to liven up your listing photos.

The beauty of this project is that you can buy multiple frames at the thrift store to liven up for about $2. Or, you can elect to swap felt colors out of one frame. For holiday listings snag a holiday themed frame to feature your products on.

For more DIY Crafts, Etsy Tips, and New Age quips follow Fae Gems’ Blog & Like Facebook for updates.
You can also check out Fae Gems on Etsy!

   

Thrifty Jewelry Gift Boxes for Etsy Shops & DIY Crafters

If you’re like me the bane of your existence is getting your Etsyian hands on great gift boxes (that won’t break your budget) for your handcrafted jewelry-and other like-sized products. In my case, I was in desperate need of colorfully attractive gift boxes to ship out to eager customers. (And don’t forget about those occasional gift giving rampages when you sneak your products off to your friends and loved ones!)

But not those gift boxes. You know the ones. The decrepit, soulless, dull, and woefully dreary cardboard tombs. And if your wallet bleeds like mine, those gorgeous glamour gift boxes are out of your grasping reach.

I am here to gift you equal joys of colorful discount boxes I haphazardly discovered and opportunities to brand your Etsy product line with packaging that epitomizes your Etsy Shop’s theme colors. I am a chief supporter of buying Etsy-related needs from Etsy; this practice supports the Etsy community and gratifies shop owners, just like you and me.

The beautiful, and thrift-centic, packaging company Wrapping Me Up has been providing the Etsy community with sparkling gift boxes and mailers since December 2011.

For the cost conscience crafter there are treasure troves of opportunity awaiting discovery in the Bargain Bin. Essentially the bargain bin beholds blemished boxes from discounts between 30-50%. I was hesitant about buying what I thought would be mangled cardboard, caked-on glue, and shaky materials; but $5 for 20 teal gift boxes is hardto resist.

I was wrong. The Bargain Bin boxes were well made with minimal imperfections, easily bedazzled with rhinestones, stickers, shop labels, ribbons, scrapbook embellishments, and anything your DIY heart desires. (Don’t neglect the ever-impressive polymer clay logos, embellishments, & shop mascots.) Choose colors that bespeak to your product line, and correlate with your Shop’s theme colors online to reinforce your presence.

Don’t forget that gift boxes are a perfect place to affix decorative stickers with exclusive discounts, sale reminders, and small freebies.

Are there any Etsy gems that you have found to supply your Etsy shop with?

Comment below!

For more Etsy Tips, DIY Crafts, and New Age quips follow Fae Gems’ Blog & Like Facebook for updates.
You can also check out Fae Gems on Etsy!