DIY Jewelry: Build a Jewelry Holder
Build a colorful jewelry holder using recycled materials, beads, and simple tools to organize necklaces and bracelets while learning measuring and decorating skills.
About this activity
Build a colorful jewelry holder using recycled materials, beads, and simple tools to organize necklaces and bracelets while learning measuring and decorating skills.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all the materials and spread them out on a clean table so you can see everything.
- 2
Step 2
Use the ruler and pencil to draw a rectangle about 20 cm by 12 cm on the cardboard for the display panel.
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Step 3
Cut out the rectangle carefully with scissors along your pencil lines.
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Step 4
Draw a straight line 3 cm from the bottom edge across the full width of the rectangle.
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Step 5
Fold along that 3 cm line to make a tab and crease it so the panel can stand up.
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Step 6
Fold the tab back 90 degrees so the panel stands upright on the table like a little sign.
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Step 7
Decorate the front of the panel with your coloring materials and make it bright and fun.
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Step 8
Mark evenly spaced dots on the upper half of the panel where you want the skewers to go about 2 cm apart.
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Step 9
With an adult, poke small holes through each marked dot using the pushpin.
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Step 10
Trim the wooden skewers to about 8 cm lengths using scissors so they will stick out a little from the panel.
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Step 11
Push each trimmed skewer into a hole until it holds steady and sticks out to make a hanger for jewelry.
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Step 12
Slide a few beads onto each skewer to decorate them and tape or glue the skewer ends on the back for extra hold.
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Step 13
Share your finished jewelry holder on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I build a DIY jewelry holder using recycled materials?
To build a DIY jewelry holder, start by planning size and design, then gather recycled bases like cardboard, a small wood plank or tin can. Measure and mark where hooks, dowels or pegs will go. Cut or trim materials (adult help for saws/drills), attach dowels or hooks with glue or screws, add beads and string for decoration, paint or cover with fabric, let dry, then hang necklaces and store bracelets. Supervise tool use.
What materials do I need to make a colorful jewelry holder with beads?
You'll need recycled materials like cardboard, a small wood board or empty tin, wooden dowels or skewers, clothespins, beads, string, craft glue (school glue for kids, hot glue for adults), scissors, ruler, pencil, paint and brushes, sandpaper, small cup hooks or nails for hanging, and optional felt or fabric for lining. Have adult tools (drill or hammer) available and choose child-safe paints and large beads to avoid choking.
What ages is a DIY jewelry holder activity suitable for?
This craft suits ages 5–12: kids 5–7 can plan, paint and string beads with adult help; children 7–9 can measure, cut softer materials and assemble with supervision; ages 10–12 can use simple tools and do more precise measuring and decorating. Always supervise cutting, hammering or hot glue and use pre-cut parts for younger children. Adjust complexity to skill level to keep it safe and fun.
What are the benefits and safety tips for making a DIY jewelry holder, and are there variations?
Making a jewelry holder teaches measuring, planning, fine motor skills, recycling and creative expression while helping kids organize belongings. Safety tips: supervise cutting, drilling and hot glue; use child-safe glue and non-toxic paint; choose large beads to prevent choking and clamp materials when hammering. Variations include wall-mounted pegboards, decorated jars for rings, tiered dowels for bracelets, magnetic strips for earrings, or themed designs to match a child's room.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have wooden skewers or a pushpin?
If wooden skewers or a pushpin are missing, substitute trimmed bamboo chopsticks or 8 cm pieces of plastic drinking straw for the skewers and use a thumbtack, sewing needle (with adult help), or small awl to make the holes in the cardboard.
What should we do if the skewers wobble or fall out after pushing them into the panel?
If skewers wobble after the step 'Push each trimmed skewer into a hole', widen each hole slightly with the pushpin, add a drop of glue into the hole before inserting the 8 cm skewer, and tape or glue the skewer ends on the back for extra hold as the instructions suggest.
How can we adapt this activity for different ages?
For ages 3–5, have an adult pre-cut the 20 cm × 12 cm rectangle, fold the 3 cm tab, and make the pushpin holes while the child decorates and slides beads, whereas ages 8+ can measure, cut, poke holes themselves with supervision, and trim their own skewers to about 8 cm.
How can we extend or personalize the jewelry holder after finishing it?
To enhance the finished holder, glue felt or decorative paper to the front after the 'Decorate the front' step, add a second folded panel to create a double-sided stand, or label each skewer with a name or color pattern of beads to organize jewelry.