DIY Clear Front Gem Holder

I am so excited to be crafting my new craft room!!  My daughter moved out after graduation leaving an empty bed room -  -  -  Well, almost empty!  She still needs a place to sleep when she is able to visit home, but in the mean time I have a place to stash my art supplies that isn't the dining room table!!

I LOVE to organize!  Seeing the colors and shapes I love displayed in an orderly way makes me want to use them (as opposed to the chaos of my dining room table!!)  I've never been able to see my little gems as I'm crafting so I seldom remember to use them. I pondered putting them into a drawer, or a little shelf. . . . . but I just really wanted to be able to SEE them!

Then the thought occurred to me I could make a clear fronted box for them that would take up very little shelf space!  Here's a simple picture tutorial of how I crafted it, using clear left over packaging and light weight cardboard (the kind tucked inside folded shirts) covered with my favorite colored paper!

1. Determine the size of the box you want to make.  I used my largest package to measure for the width adding 1/8" to each side of it.  The 2 sides are identical and will be the depth.  Score each edge at 1/4" for connection tabs. (no worries about the 4th side of the box, it will be clear!

     2.  The sides of the bottom tray should be the identical measurement of the 2 sides + the back.  Add 1/2 " to the overall dimension and score each side at 1/4". Snip 1 side of each corner to make tabs and glue to make a tray. 
 

        3.  If you would like to add colorful paper to the sides of your project, now is the time to do so.  It is so much easier when the paper is flat!  Adding a second layer of paper also helps the box to be more sturdy :) 

       4.  Attach the 3 panel sheet from step 1 around the outside of the tray, bending on the score lines.  Glue/tape all of the tray tabs except the ones on the front where there is no panel yet. 

      5.  Cut the clear front exactly the dimensions of the back panel, putting it into place using the tabs from the sides and bottom to affix it into place.  I used 1/8th" Scor-Tape on the tabs.

Once the clear sheet was in place I put a strip of colored paper over the adhesive showing through on the bottom. The adhesive on the sides remained hidden because I connected the paper on the outside of the plastic.

Jewel Picker 101 🏶🏶 DYI 🏶

I have been watching with envy all the 'professional' paper crafters picking up delicate pieces and precisely placing them using an amazing tool with a tiny, tacky tip.  Unfortunately, the one I would like to have is over $30!!!! Others I have read reviews on complained the tip didn't last.

If you've read my post on turning wood mounted stamps into cling stamps then you know I have fallen in love with Aleene's TACK-IT Over & Over repositionable adhesive.  As I was making some glue dots with it ~ it suddenly occurred to me that it could be used on the end of any pointed object as a jewel picker!!!  I used a "Sheezley" tool for ceramics but you could use a toothpick (disposable, no storage!) a dried up pen with a cap to protect the sticky, etc!

Here you can see the completely dried blob of glue I put on the tip. It is super tacky and picks up even the tiniest bead with only a gentle touch.  I have even used it to clean some flecks of embossing powder off a project before heating. It can get into tiny tight places where it is hard to use even the tiniest of brushes to flick away culprit granules.

Once the tip doesn't retain the sticky (I used it a LOT!) just pull it off and put another on.  Be prepared, it does take 30 minutes or so to dry, so it may be a good idea to have 2 of them so one is always ready to go.

Good luck, hope this will come in as handy for you as it has for me!!  🏶