Sunday, June 19, 2016

Quick Craft: Make A POP Figure Display Shelf From Foam Board!

One of your most requested tutorials last week was for more POP figure display options, and I feel your pain, guys. I don't even consider myself a POP collector, and they still multiply like rabbits over here.

So the other night John and I slapped together one of our easiest projects yet - perfect for not-so-crafty types - and I think you're gonna liiiiike it!

BAM. 

One POP display, total material cost around $5, total build time less than 2 hours. You can do this.

 

I've sized this display to hold 12 average-sized POPs, and to fit a 13 inch square space, so it should work in most standard bookcases and shelves. You can also build multiple units and set them side by side for a much longer display.

And funnest of all: IT LIGHTS UP!! Don't the figures look like they're on stage? Plus the mirrored backing helps combat shadows in deep shelves.


SO LETS MAKE ONE.


For each display shelf, you will need:

- 1 sheet of foam core board (I used black)
- 1 sheet of mirrored/chrome scrapbook paper (available at Michaels)
- hot glue (or white craft glue)
- spray adhesive (or white craft glue)
- [optional] one strand of small lights:



We used these because they were mega cheap (less than $3), but I'd recommend LEDs with a wall plug, so you can set it up on a timer instead of bothering with a switch. Short strands of LED Christmas lights would be perfect - and imagine all the color possibilities!

If you choose to install lights, you'll also need a Dremel or drill with a small bit, OR a small hole punch. (My Crop-A-Dile's smaller hole was perfect, but it does scuff up the foam board a bit, so test yours first.)


Step 1: Print out the following pages at 100% - because AW YEAH JOHN MADE Y'ALL A TEMPLATE -  tape them together to form one piece, & then trace it onto your foam board.
 




Here are the lines on my foam board:

Of course, since I didn't HAVE the template yet, I had to do this one the hard way. Blurg.

Trace and cut two of those side pieces using a craft blade/knife.

Step 2: Next print this template for the shelves and risers:



Print two of this page, so you can connect the pieces at the dotted lines for the full length.

Step 3: Trace and cut two three shelves, two risers, and one skinny bottom riser from your foam core:



Step 4: Avengers CRAFTERS, assemble! Start with the shelves, and attach with hot glue:

 (You could also use craft glue for this - it'll just take a lot longer.)

Even without the extra support of the risers the stand is still pretty strong at this point:

See?


Step 5: If you're installing lights, drill/punch holes for those now, before you glue in the risers.

You can just eyeball the spacing, or do the math and measure like John did. Your choice. Just make sure the holes are snug enough to hold the bulbs without glue or tape.

 Step 6: Cover the risers with the mirrored paper:

(Luckily the fingerprints buff out.)

Note that the mirrored paper is an inch too short, so you'll have a seam. I positioned it so the seam would be behind one of the figures, but either way, odds are you'll never notice it when you're done.

Step 6a: Stop to take a picture of your cat falling asleep on Fluttershy's head:

Terrible picture, but d'awwwwww.

Step 7: Use more hot glue to install all the risers (including the small non-mirrored one on the front):

...aaaaand you're done!

Don't stress if some of your foam board lines don't line up quite right, because believe me when I say I don't have a straight line anywhere on mine. Srsly. It is embarrassingly wonky. But with all the figures in place, you really can't tell, right? (Uh, right? .... guys?)

You can set your display anywhere, but if you happen to have 13 inch square cube shelving like I do, then it looks especially cool:

You can tape more mirrored paper to the back of the cube to brighten up that top row, if you like.


Here you can really see the mirrored paper doing its thang:

(Sorry these pics are so dark; as always, I was crafting at night & too impatient to wait 'til the next day for photos.)

Keep in mind these deco lights are almost purely decorative; they really don't shed much light:


So if you want more bang for your bulb [heh], definitely go with something bigger, like LED Christmas lights. Just make sure they're LEDs. Regular bulbs give off way too much heat, and could be dangerous so close to paper products.



 Here's how it looks from a distance:

 


(We won't be keeping these here; it's just the best bookshelf I had for photos.) 
(And I just realized my 3 volume set of Calvin & Hobbes is upside down. Oops.)
(Now stop reading the rest of our book titles! I know you're doing it! :p)


Hope this helps you collectors out there corral more of your POP figures and toys! I firmly believe every collection deserves a nice display, since you can't fully appreciate your treasures unless you can SEE them. So go forth, and display thy goodies, fellow geeks!

****

Want to see ALL my craft tutorials & projects in one place? Then check out my Craft Page!

48 comments:

  1. This is a great project! :)

    And I'd like to add that I immediately noticed your Kevin Aucoins on the shelf below. I'm sad he's gone, because he had just a great perspective on beauty in general. Some would think that a makeup artist would hold more stereotypical views, but reading his books really changed the way I think about beauty (especially my own).

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    1. Those are some of my favorite books ever, and that's coming from someone who only wear makeup once or twice a week. Aucoin was a genius. And yes, he taught me so much about how fluid beauty is - I always feel better about myself after I re-read them.

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    2. I also immediately noticed the Kevin Aucoin books. I have both of those, they are the most read books in my book collection, which is saying something. This man was incredible.

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  2. Love this! I must get on top of displaying some of my favourite collections too! :) I was wondering though, if you follow a few crafty blogs, would you be willing to do a roundup of some of your favourites? Share the crafty goodness? Look forward to seeing more, keep up the awesome work!

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  3. Great use of foam board. Probably would have never thought of that for making shelves for lightweight items. I don't have any POP figures, but I can definitely use this idea for my spice cabinet (minus the fancy mirrors and lights, heh)! Thanks, guys!

    KW

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  4. Last year I was thinking about making my husband a display for his Amiibos (back when he only had 50 million vs 50 bagillion today) but everything I saw was so intimidating. I think I can do this and his birthday is coming up again! My Dr. Whooves POP figure is staring sadly at me from my desk hutch but I'll have NO MORE of his ilk in my home! It will jump-start my husband's collector instincts and pretty soon I won't be able to walk or afford food for all the POP figures! This display will be strictly for Amiibos!

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  5. I can't wait to do this! We have the perfect display unit that needs to be filled with these--with some minor dimension changes. This will work out so nicely for both our funko pops and my trolls! :)

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  6. My shelf of Domo, Uglydoll, Lego is a disgrace, and this is something I could do!

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  7. a) Love the project, as always. Your crafty ways never cease to amaze.
    2) NICE book selection visible on your shelves! Hooray for C&H, and Tamora Pierce! :D

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  8. Ha ha ha...I was totally reading the titles on your books! I have a few of the same books at my house. :)

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  9. And off to Michaels for foam core and shiny paper........

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  10. Couldn't help but notice The Name of the Wind on the shelf. I love that book! Thanks for the great tutorial and the templates.

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  11. Love the shelf! And I totally wasn't going to read your book titles, but after you mentioned it I had to! =P I love Frank Peretti's books... that's cool to see two of my favs on your shelf!
    -Jo

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  12. Thank you so much for this!!!! I have a ton of figures (pop and many others) and this will be perfect for them. Will have to post pictures when I get them done

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  13. Great easy craft! I've been avoiding buying any of these figures due to a lack of proper display space. Thank you for doing your part to enable my purchasing. :)

    Also, cat + Fluttershy = cutest photo ever!!!

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  14. This will be PERFECT for my son's LEGO creations! I am making this a school project TONIGHT!

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  15. It's killing me that you have Dean without Sam. DEAN NEEDS HIS SAM.

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  16. But I LOVE looking at other people's sutff!! I have "Piercing the Darkness" and "This Present Darkness" and I have some of the large Calvin and Hobbes comic books too...LOVE Calvin and Hobbes! I don't have the 3 volume set, though.
    Time to shop!!

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  17. I've been meaning to do a similar project for some resin figurines that I have, but we've been here 15 years and I still haven't gotten around to it. :p and yes, I do know that mine will require more than foam board. ;)

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  18. I have some 3 inch deep wood shelves coming that my dad made for me so we can install them over doorways to show off some pops. Your idea will be great for all the others I have though, I will have to make some!

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  19. These are fantastic! I will definitely be building some for my ever growing Funko POP collection.

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  20. I am pretty sure that, at 11 (at least 11 shown), you are a collector :-). Well done with the shelving. They look great.

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    1. I honestly had no idea we had that many, since we keep them scattered around the house in various displays. John and I kept looking around, going, "Oh hey, here's another one...!"

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  21. Ooh, so cute!!! This would be great on my little side table. I've got 10 Pops so far, and currently, they're still all trapped in their boxes, stacked in a pyramid, because that's the only way I have to keep them neat and tidy, but I'd love to get them out from behind the plastic. This is a great way to get them out on display. :)

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  22. Jen, I am totally stealing this concept for a totally different build! I just got my Five Nights at Freddy's figures and am planning a diorama that looks like the stage. This is the perfect basis for it!

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  23. Sorry, I had to keep reading book titles. ;-) You've got two of my favorite Frank Peretti books! Awesome!! And I'm seriously jealous of the Calvin and Hobbes collection. That's been on my wish list for years.

    And really cool display! I've only got like 3 Pop figures and one is on my desk at work, so I'm trying to figure out what else I could display on it. And where I could put it. Sometimes I just love easier crafts like this that only take a couple hours to put together instead of long, drawn-out projects. Those are awesome, too, but sometimes you need that "instant" gratification.

    Off to ponder what I can display...

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  24. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice your books on the shelf, because The Lioness Rampant series by Tamora Pierce is so recognizable with its pretty pastel covers, and are just totally awesome books. And then I saw the Patrick Rothfuss's book nearby, too, and much bookshelving admiring/squealing commenced. Super fun project and super fun book collection, too!

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  25. This is awesome! Even with limited space/supplies, I think I could pull it off, and our POPs really need a good home. :) Do you think this would be okay to mount? My husband and I don't have much in the way of suitable surfaces, but we have plenty of wall space that could use some brightening up!

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    1. Hmm, yes, you'd just want to add additional foam core to the back and bottom, so it has some more structure to hang from on the wall. And then try not to bump it once it's up there. ;)

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  26. you're an Alanna fan, too? Cool! (Of course we,read the titles.) V. Clever project!

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  27. you're an Alanna fan, too? Cool! (Of course we,read the titles.) V. Clever project!

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  28. Great project! Would work perfectly for our Star Wars, Star Trek, and Vikings POPs. They just seem to accumulate/multiply.
    Also, 'The Name of the Wind'! Patiently waiting for the next book in the series. :)

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  29. if you haven't heard it too many times today, you rock so hard. john, too!

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  30. I would go see this Broadway show. ;)

    I totally wish I had POP's to display so I had a reason to make this. Hmmmmm...maybe this is like buying the shoes before the outfit. :D

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  31. I totally was reading your book titles! OMG! But hey, super cute shelving. I love the Wall-E Pop! guy. Totes adorbs! ;) I might have to start "not collecting" some of these guys.

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  32. I have nothing to say about the craft, but Lily is the cutest cat ever! I love that her eyes are a little open, but not obviously - it's like she turned out the brilliant blue lights in her eyes :D D'awwww!

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  33. Thank you. This is great, I'll have to make two sizes. One for POP figures and one for disney infinity figures, which I have been looking for a better way to store for 2 years now. You always have the best ideas!!! I've been a reader for years but I can't tell you how many times I've googled a project (like DIY sliding barn doors or pendant lights) and Google directed me back here to a tutorial I hadn't seen yet. No exaggeration, I've probably done more projects from Epbot than from all of pinterest.

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  34. Oooh, this is actually simple enough for me to do! I am already starting to brainstorm what colors I could use with different collections of figures.

    And since nobody has mentioned it yet, Off to be the Wizard by Scott Meyer! I love that series.

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  35. Jen thank for you for another great tutorial!!! My nephew & I picked up the supplies yesterday and we're going to put this together next week. I have a question though & a comment; how thick is the foam board you used? Our store had several thicknesses and based on your pictures we choose a kind of medium weight/thickness but wondered if you had actual measurements?

    Also - our store didn't have the mirrored scrapbook paper. But it did have mirrored POSTERBOARD so if people want to avoid the seam line on their own projects - the larger sheets should help (you'll have tons leftover but I'm sure another applications will present itself. :-p ) (For reference we found our supplies at Hobby Lobby.)

    Thanks again Jen & John,THOJ

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    1. Oooh, mirrored posterboard? JACKPOT! I must find me some of that.

      Our foam board is 3/8 of an inch - sorry, didn't occur to me there would be other thicknesses available. Clearly I need to start shopping where you shop! ;)

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  36. My daughter has an ever-growing snow-globe collection. I wonder if this would be sturdy enough for her mini-snow globes?

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  37. The one I made is pretty sturdy. But Hobby Lobby has thicker foam board - you might try that if you're concerned. You could also make a 'third' side piece & glue it in the center of the steps to add support.

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  38. Hehehe my husband has those exact same "Calvin and Hobbes" books! Our mutual love for "C&B" was one of the things we bonded over as we were falling in love. *warm squishy fuzzies all around*

    My husband not a sentimental person: he doesn't collect pictures or mementos or knick-knacks or any of that sort of thing (unlike his hoarder wife!) except for his book collection, he's pretty sentimental about his reads, ESPECIALLY that "Calvin and Hobbes" collection. (And stuff I have a hand in, but I digress.)

    Before we were married, I moved L.A. to try and find work while establishing residency for school, while he stayed behind in Colorado and continued to look for work that would bring him to L.A. This was pretty rough on us, naturally, and he knew I was an anxious mess about it: I was sure that the long-distance relationship strain would inevitably lead him to regain his sanity, see the error of his ways and run screaming for the hills and break up with me. So on the night I finished packing up my car, getting ready for the long drive out there, he brought his "Calvin and Hobbes" and packed it into the remaining space in my car. ^_^

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  39. Hi Jen! I just made a couple of these for my Pops and they they turned out great! I just wanted to note that Step 3 states to cut two shelves, but you actually need three. Otherwise, this is unbelievably helpful and John's templates are amazing!

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    1. D'oh, good catch! Thanks for the heads up!

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  40. I love Calvin and Hobbs! Also your box set looks pretty cool. In fact it even looks good upside down =)

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  41. I just had to come search for this. I couldn't find any foam board at Hobby Lobby, but I'm willing to try again. I'm actually going to make this smaller for all my Lego dimensions. I think maybe 2 sets of shelves, one for the minifigs and the others for the vehicles. Then I can set them either side of my dimensions base. That's how they sit now, but they are hard to find the right person/vehicle in their current state. My Pops are all on shelves. But I have no more space, so I haven't bought more pops.

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  42. I love the shelfs! Can somebody help me with the thickness of the foam board? I'm from the Netherlands and everywhere online they are speaking of the thickness.

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