Usually I forget to take off my earrings until I'm comfortably in bed. To avoid loosing earrings and having a cluttered night stand I've been wanting to make an earring "catcher", and this Instructable shows what I came up with using objects I found in my yard and elsewhere.

Step 1: Find Parts!

When I'm running or riding my bike I like to collect interesting things. When I found this fiberglass roofing material I knew it would be perfect for my project.

Step 2: Gather Materials and Tools

This project required:
- one 14 inch branch
- metal plate and large plumbing washer that I'd found previously
- some discarded fiberglass roofing
- a drill with a small bit
- scissors
- micro-shear flush cutters
- twine
- metal epoxy kit
- (8) 1.5 inch wood screws
- (3) 1 inch wood screws
- phillip's head screwdriver
- metal file
- a drill press (U sized bit, countersink)
- pencil

Step 3: Cut Fiberglass

I cut two pieces that are 8 x 5 inches. I cut them so they would have three troughs for earrings to rest in. I started by making vertical cuts, and when the scissors had a hard time moving further, I made horizontal cuts to relieve the pressure.

Step 4: Drill Holes in Fiberglass

A circle the size of the branch was traced onto the fiberglass with a pencil and four marks were made inside this circle. Then, four holes were drilled in the fiberglass with a large 'u' sized bit and drill press.

Lucky me, I got a drill press tutorial :)

Step 5: Finish the Circle

Straight cuts were very carefully and slowly made between the four holes with scissors. I used a micro-shear flush cutter to make the rough square into a circle.

Step 6: Clean and File the Meal Parts

The next step was using the metal file to remove some of the rust and debris from the surfaces that I wanted to bond together. This part took a while but was pretty fun.

Step 7: Drill Holes in the Base

With the aid of a clamp, three holes were drilled in the upper part of the base so that screws could be placed to stabilize the branch. A countersink bit was used to make grooves for the screws to lay flush with the surface of the metal.

Step 8: Drill Holes in the Branch

First, the branch was inserted in the base and a pencil was used to mark the location of the pilot holes. Three corresponding holes were drilled with a handheld drill and small bit. Next the screws were placed in the holes using the screwdriver.

I slid the fiberglass onto the branch and used a pencil to mark drill holes for supporting screws. I followed the curve of the fiberglass when placing four marks for each shelf, then drilled the corresponding holes.

Step 9: Place the Supporting Screws

Before placing any screws, one of the two fiberglass shelves was slid onto the branch. Next, I inserted the 1.5 inch screws about half-way into the branch underneath the bottom shelf. Then, I placed the top shelf on top of the upper row of screws.

Step 10: Stabilize With Twine

I used a bit of twine above the shelves to help further stabilize them. I wrapped tightly, knotted twice, and cut.

Step 11: Epoxy Time...

I made equal dots of steel epoxy and hardener in a small plastic dish. Then I used a toothpick to mix the two and make small dots all around the bottom of the upper part of the base before pressing it into lower part of the base and leaving it alone for 24 hours.

Step 12: All Done!

My creation is ready to do some earring "catching"!

Precaution: wear protective eyewear when using a drill press. Clean up all fiberglass dust and particles carefully. Saw your branch using common sense unless you want to end up rocking a Sponge Bob band-aid in your Instructable photos!

So... am I the only one who collects stuff while running/biking? What found objects have you turned into useful decorations, or something more?