I needed a display stand to photograph the bonnets that I smocked. So I decided to use some items that I had lying around the house to make one.
The stand was very easy to make and if you don’t have the supplies listed below, you can improvise with a substitute.
You will need :
- A Styrofoam ball
- A washed and dried empty food can
- Some stones
- A ball of string, rope or twine
- A glue gun
The ball size you require of course depends on the size bonnets or hats you are making. A bonnet that is sized for a newborn to 6 month old will need a ball about 4 inches in diameter. A tennis ball will probably work well for a preemie sized or a doll’s hat.
Wrap some rope or twine around the ball and secure it with some glue. I was lucky to find styrofoam balls at the dollar store that already had the rope wound around it.
The size of the ball will determine the size of can you will need to use. The opening should be big enough for the ball to just sit on the top and have have most of it showing. May ball was 4 inches in diameter and the my can opening was 3 inches in diameter. You will have to experiment until you find a can that looks right with the ball sitting on top.
When you find the right sized can, wrap some rope or twine around it and then secure the beginning and end with some glue.
By the way you can also use a plastic plant pot instead of an empty can, if you prefer.
I used some stones help to weigh down my display stand. If you don’t weigh the stand down it will have a tendency to topple over as the ball makes it a little top heavy.
Fill the can up about 3/4’s of the way up to the top with the stones.
Then place the ball on top of the can.
Finally, secure the ball to the top of the can gluing it with a glue gun.