How to build a jewelry cabinet for necklaces and earrings out a $9 mirror
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!
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.
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!!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
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–
Oh I would have LOVED to have found an old vintage mirror for this!! Thanks for coming by!
Such a creative idea! Thanks for linking up at Welcome Home Wednesdays!
Thank you Rebecca!
This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing at Party in Your PJs!
Thank you Heather!!
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!
Thanks Helen!
That is so cool and useful. I love pieces that serve as decoration and storage. Great project
Thanks Melissa! I built it for my mom and she said she loves it and uses it every day!
super smart!
b
Thanks!!
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
Thank you Jamie!!
This is a great idea and you did an awesome job Tarah! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday!
Thank you so much Angie!
You are so clever.
Thanks for sharing with SYC.
Thank you 🙂
Wow, so cool! What a great idea!
Thanks Casey!
Look how creative and handy you are! What a great project! Thanks so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!
Chloe, thanks for much!
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!
Thank you Jess!
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!
Thank you so much!
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
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.
It couldn’t be more perfect! Thanks for bringing your post to Throwback Thursday This week!
Mollie
Thank you!!
This is really wonderful! Thanks for sharing at Together on Tuesdays 🙂
Thanks Lisa!!
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.
Brita, how neat! A photo collage would be really cool, I might have to make one like that next time! Thanks for coming by!
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!!
Thanks for coming by!
What a lovely and practical idea.
Kathleen
Bloggers Pit Stop
Thank you!!
What a great project. I bet your mom loves this. You are SO creative~! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sue!
That is such a clever update Tarahlynn – so creative
Thanks so much!
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.
Thank you Leanna! Mom still uses it and loves it!
What a clever idea! Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It.
Thanks for coming by!
Great idea… I’m sure your mom is loving it. 🙂
Thanks!
Great tutorial – you always make everything look so easy.
Thank you Carol!
My daughter has one very like this, I’d never thought to make it myself. So clever. #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks Fiona, this was so simple and made such a nice gift!
This looks so fab. What a great little project 🙂 Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you so much Lisa!
It looks absolutely amazing, thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
Thank you so much Teresa!
Awesome! #ThatFridayLinky
Thanks Heather!
That is amazing! Such a genius idea. Thanks for linking up with #fortheloveofBLOG x
Thanks for coming by, reading and commenting!