How to build a jewelry cabinet for necklaces and earrings out a $9 mirror

Jan 04 2016
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I always have such a hard time coming up with something special to get my incredible Mom for Christmas. I think we all want to get something useful and memorable and just amazing, especially for the people that are the most important to us. But that is a very tall order! I had come across a mirrored jewelry cabinet on Pinterest many times when it finally dawned on me that I could make one for Mom! She and I went to Walmart and picked up a nice black mirror. She didn’t have the space for a full length mirror so we decided on this one that she could hang above one of her bed side tables and it was only $9! From there, I got to work!

How to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirror

Initially it was as simple as making a box out of 1x4s. I made the box a touch smaller then the mirror and reinforced it with steel brackets for strength.

I also added the board inset across the top for hanging necklaces from. It didn’t look like much of a jewelry cabinet at this point but I knew it would!

From there I painted the box and then set to work on the mirror. It came with multiple sets of hardware on the back that I removed. I saved the screws and reused them (VERY CAREFULLY!!) for screwing the hinges on the back. I chose just small and simple hinges for this project because the mirror was not terribly heavy.

With the box painted and the mirror ready to attach I picked up some black felt for the back. Where I couldn’t staple the felt (because of the steel brackets) I just used glue.

I stretched it tight, attached, then cut off the excess fabric. From there I got to work adding the little hooks for all of her jewelry. Across the top I used a ruler, spacing every hook one and a half inches a part and then just a hammer and a nail to help the hooks start, my thumbs are still sore from screwing all those in I think lol.

The lower hooks I put in the sides and ran jewelry wire across for all of her dangly earrings. I also added the lowest wire to give the bottom tray a little stability for all of her jewelry that she can’t hang. The little tray I just picked up for less then $2 also at walmart and it was nice for her jewelry cabinet because it had rubber feet on the bottom.

How to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirrorHow to build a hidden jewelry cabinet out of a $9 walmart mirror

Hanging the cabinet I just used sheetrock anchors and two screws through the back plate. Later I plan on coming back and painting over the screws heads so they’re white like the cabinet. I also added a little magnetic latch so the mirror snaps (and stays) shut.

(Yes, I realized quite awhile ago during this process that I essentially built my mom a medicine cabinet lol.)

So far she’s really happy with it and it was such a simple project!

Thank you guys so much for stopping by and please share if you get a chance! Every share helps keep my little site here going 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful New Year!!

How to tutorial build a jewelry cabinet out a cheap mirror, craft, wood working, diy, do it yourself, tutorial

Comments

  1. June 1, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    Great project, Tarah! I can see making a cabinet like this with a vintage mirror–wouldn’t that be awesome? Now I know how to do it thanks to your tutorial 🙂 Thanks for sharing it with us at Vintage Charm–

    • June 2, 2016 at 2:23 pm

      Oh I would have LOVED to have found an old vintage mirror for this!! Thanks for coming by!

  2. July 31, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Such a creative idea! Thanks for linking up at Welcome Home Wednesdays!

  3. August 15, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing at Party in Your PJs!

  4. August 24, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party-and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned and tweeted!

  5. September 1, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    That is so cool and useful. I love pieces that serve as decoration and storage. Great project

    • September 2, 2016 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks Melissa! I built it for my mom and she said she loves it and uses it every day!

  6. September 2, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    super smart!
    b

  7. September 3, 2016 at 12:00 am

    What a great idea! I always see these at yard sales and figure I don’t need another…but now I do! 🙂 Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty

  8. September 11, 2016 at 10:01 pm

    This is a great idea and you did an awesome job Tarah! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday!

  9. September 13, 2016 at 6:17 am

    You are so clever.

    Thanks for sharing with SYC.

  10. September 15, 2016 at 3:17 pm

    Wow, so cool! What a great idea!

  11. September 15, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Look how creative and handy you are! What a great project! Thanks so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!

  12. September 15, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    Such a neat idea!

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

  13. September 15, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    I love projects that are both functional and pretty. And that’s such a wonderful way to give a gift to your mother! Thanks so much for joining us at the #happynowlinkup!

  14. September 16, 2016 at 4:01 pm

    Tarah, what a lovely gift for your Mom. My Mom always appreciated handmade Christmas gifts. She loved them so much that when she became ill and I went to take care of her I found just about everything I made her displayed. I’d say, Hey I painted that picture for you, I forgot about it. She had a lot of my paintings where the subject was our family. I did other crafts for her as well. I miss her so much! xo

    • September 16, 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Oh Carla, I know exactly what you mean! When I was helping my mom clean out her house when she moved I discovered a little bin she had been keeping of just my stuff all the way back to my first onesie! I cant imagine the day when she’s gone and I come upon that little bin again, its gonna break my heart.

  15. September 24, 2016 at 4:11 am

    It couldn’t be more perfect! Thanks for bringing your post to Throwback Thursday This week!

    Mollie

  16. September 25, 2016 at 12:45 am

    This is really wonderful! Thanks for sharing at Together on Tuesdays 🙂

  17. October 12, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    What a thoughtful gift! My parents bought something like this for me years ago, and it’s one of the most useful things I own. Mine doesn’t have a mirror on the front, though, it’s a photo collage frame.

    • October 12, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      Brita, how neat! A photo collage would be really cool, I might have to make one like that next time! Thanks for coming by!

  18. October 22, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    This is gorgeous! If I didn’t already have a jewelry cabinet that I love (similar to this one but not as cheap!), I’d be hopping on this DIY!!

  19. October 23, 2016 at 8:43 am

    What a lovely and practical idea.
    Kathleen
    Bloggers Pit Stop

  20. Sue
    January 2, 2017 at 5:48 am

    What a great project. I bet your mom loves this. You are SO creative~! Thanks for sharing.

  21. April 4, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    That is such a clever update Tarahlynn – so creative

  22. April 4, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Receiving something hand made for Christmas is the best kind of gift. This one is especially nice because it is useful as well.

    Nicely done.

    • April 5, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Thank you Leanna! Mom still uses it and loves it!

  23. June 6, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    What a clever idea! Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It.

  24. June 16, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    Great idea… I’m sure your mom is loving it. 🙂

  25. July 10, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Great tutorial – you always make everything look so easy.

  26. October 31, 2017 at 7:26 am

    My daughter has one very like this, I’d never thought to make it myself. So clever. #TwinklyTuesday

    • October 31, 2017 at 2:56 pm

      Thanks Fiona, this was so simple and made such a nice gift!

  27. November 4, 2017 at 8:45 pm

    This looks so fab. What a great little project 🙂 Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

  28. December 7, 2017 at 10:34 am

    It looks absolutely amazing, thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!

  29. December 8, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    Awesome! #ThatFridayLinky

  30. December 11, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    That is amazing! Such a genius idea. Thanks for linking up with #fortheloveofBLOG x

    • December 11, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      Thanks for coming by, reading and commenting!

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