Earring Holder for $2, If You Repurpose, or $3 If You Splurge

I was in the Dollar Store killing time several weeks ago and saw this sink mat.  I really like the bold grid pattern.  Simple. Clean. Compelling.




It's been knocking around in  my head  for weeks.  I finally figured out what I wanted to make with it - an earring holder.

Dollar Store Shopping List:
Frame
Sink Mat
Wrapping Paper (Couldn't find any I liked)
Paper Napkins   (ended up not working, read on)
It cost $3 + tax ($2 + tax since I repurposed, keep reading).  I couldn't wait to get started.


Supplies at Home:
Craft Paint
Foam Paint brush
Mod Podge  (ended up not working, read on)
Scissors

I removed the glass from the picture frame and quickly painted the picture frame with white craft paint.  I had craft paint left over from when my son made a Captain America shielf for his Halloween costume last fall.  (Now I've got to find a use for the glass from the frame. Hmmm....)

I cut the sink mat to fit inside the frame.

My original plan was to Mod Podge the napkins to the cardboard back of the frame.  Unfortunately, that didn't turn out very well.  I know I've seen where people have decoupaged paper napkins and they turned out well.  I don't know what went wrong, but I moved onto idea number two (or number three since the wrapping paper didn't pan out.)

Fortunately, I'd just been emptying out my son's school folder of papers.  See my post {here}.



 And "bing" the light bulb went off. 


Why not use the beat up old folder for the pop of color behind the white grid? 


And when I say "beat up", I mean "BEAT UP!"

I cut the folder to the same size as the card board back. 


The inside of the plastic folder was clean and bright, so I made sure that side was facing up when I reassembled the frame.

 Ta da.

My 16 year old daughter says she likes this earring holder better than the store bought one she has because the holes for the earring hooks are bigger and easier to access.  Woo hoo.  A compliment from a 16-year old!!!


Revised Shopping List
Frame
Sink Mat
Plastic Folder     or     Wrapping Paper    or    Gift Bag     or     Paper you can decoupage   (the options are wide open)