How to make an extra shelf for figures

I don't know what would be the proper place for this thread, so feel free to move it elsewhere, dear admins :)

We all know how most bookshelves are designed for things like.. books Or anything bigger than most animal figures. Of course there are also those that have smaller height between the shelves, but they are harder to find or might be very expensive. (I was supposed to get two proper vitrines already a week ago, but since they are late, I got impatient )

There is often extra space above the figures, and you wish you had extra shelves to put in between the existing ones, to have more places for your figures. I noticed how some people on this forum had added really nice glass shelves, but I couldn't find any of those. But then I got the idea to make this:

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It was very easy to make, so I decided to share the instructions with you. All you need is an old cardboard box (I guess collectors have those everywhere!), scissors, glue, and some paint and/or fabric (I used both). I didn't even really measure anything, but of course you could do that too. Here's how it looked in the beginning:

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I didn't have enough of that fabric to cover all the sides, so the "inside roof" I just painted. The backside didn't get either fabric or paint, because there wasn't enough of paint either I think it turned out quite nice anyway. Here it is ready and with some figures showing the size:

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It also solved my problem of having a very boring, black vitrine!

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I think it's nice to be able to recycle things so it made me really happy to find use for this old piece of fabric and the cardboard box. I hope you like it too and got some DIY-ideas yourself! Hopefully this thread continues with your ideas and photos!

A good idea

Very good idea! Perhaps it will be very useful for me in near future too :) Thanks for sharing :)

Great idea, and nice job on that shelf, looks great

Noora, that's a great idea!

I have the same problem. I have these large bookcases. It is senseless NOT to use them, but it does make it hard to display the collection.

I hope you don't mind my sharing some photos of the ideas I've come up with. :)

Bricks!
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Garden wall stones.
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My husband complains that they are too heavy, but really they are not!

-Kristie

Really nice idea Noora! Thank you so much for the pictures and the instructions.

I also like your set up Kristie! May I ask you a question about your figures? I'm curious to know what two of your Elephants are. They are in the last pictures, on the bricks, next to each other, and they are just to the right of the Papo African Cape Buffalo. The first looks like an African Bull and the other looks like a calf perhaps, raising its trunk. What brands are those?

Thanks Scott!

The African Bull is the new 2012 Schleich and the littel guy beside him is Bullyland. :)

-Kristie

Very good ideas Noora and Kristie, I like very much imaginative collectors

Collecting is one thing... Showing a collection is a real job ! I hope we will see more ideas in this great topic

Kristie wrote:

Thanks Scott!

The African Bull is the new 2012 Schleich and the littel guy beside him is Bullyland. :)

-Kristie

Thank you Kristie! (I wondered if it might be the new Schleich.)

This is a WONDERFUL subject
Thankyou, Noora for bringing it
And thankyou Kristie for catching the idea.

I do not have any smart ways to exhibit my models, they just stand everywhere, I can surely use all the inspiration in the world

This is a fantastic topic, just what I needed as I'm stuck to know what to do with mine, thanks Noora!!

Bricks is a neat idea Kristie! Although I couldn't put them in mine as they'd scratch the glass.

HKHollinstone wrote:

This is a fantastic topic, just what I needed as I'm stuck to know what to do with mine, thanks Noora!!

Bricks is a neat idea Kristie! Although I couldn't put them in mine as they'd scratch the glass.

Yeah, they scratch wood, too.

-Kristie

Thanks for making this topic, Noora!
Really nice figure shelf!

Also, thanks Kristie for showing your imaginative way of displaying figures!

I'm looking for all kinds of creative ideas to display my figures.. Atm they're at my bookshelf, but it doesn't make them look good and the books/dvds are annoying to get from the back...

Excellent idea's Noora and Kristie. It's funny you guys meantioned this. I just woke up this morning and looked at my shelves and thought, I need some more! Now I have some clever ides's! Thanks guys!! :)

I did mines with wood panels. DOn´t have a good pic, but I can show you the down floor and the up floor

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VERY innovative Thank you for sharing with us!
I wont forget how to do this anytime soon!

A very rational idea, Noora!
I'd only advise you to use a more natural looking fabric or adhesive film - grayish like a rock or greenish like a hill.
I used an almost similar approach when I decided to add some altitude capacity and depth to my shelf displays. I just glued together some carton boxes and wrapped them with adhesive film: [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Here's the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

Kristie wrote:

I have the same problem. I have these large bookcases. It is senseless NOT to use them, but it does make it hard to display the collection.
I hope you don't mind my sharing some photos of the ideas I've come up with. :)
Bricks!

My husband complains that they are too heavy, but really they are not!
-Kristie

Your bricks idea is very interesting and unusual, Kristie! And the bricks with holes look really good. Although to me they seem to be too heavy, as well. :)

Not just practical but it also looks very nice :)