PVC Pipe Handbag Display Tutorial

Weeks and days leading up to my first Craft Show I agonized about how I was going to display the Coffee Burlap Tote Bags, as I wanted them off of the table as they would have taken up WAY too much real estate on the table! :) I looked online for inspiration and came up empty handed, so I sat down with a sketch pad and pencil and came up with a PVC Pipe Handbag Display, and would love to show you how I went about constructing my contraption!

This is the sketch I started with (no laughing please...I never dreamed of making this sketch public, but thought it was a must with this tutorial!!!).


The shopping list for this tutorial is quite simple:

• Terra Cotta Pot (I washed up a pot that I found in the garden= free!)
• Plaster of Paris (I bought my bucket at Michael's with a 50% off coupon- score!)
• 3/4" PVC Pipe (I bought the 10' pipe at Lowe's for only $1.68, as it was much cheaper than buying the pre-cut 2' pipes!)
• 3/4" PVC End Caps (3)
• 3/4" PVC Tees (3)
• Spray Paint

I started out by cutting two 16" arms (+/-), one 30" vertical support, 6" vertical separation (between arm #1 and #2), and a 4" vertical top piece. Please note that all measurements are approximate and can be altered to meet your needs!

After I cut the pieces I started assembling the contraption. Just remember that every arm needs a Tee fitting as well as an End Cap, and the top of the contraption needs to be finished off with an End Cap. :) I suggest the contraption is spray painted at this point in the process, and any required touch-ups to be completed after the Plaster of Paris is set.

In addition, I cut four spare pieces to anchor my vertical support piece. The spare pieces were 100% trial and error (see photo below). My goal was to provide extra support at the bottom of the contraption so that I did not have to hold the vertical piece while the Plaster of Paris set and hardened.

After the contraption is assembled and nestled into the pot, I lined the pot with plastic (to cover the hole at the bottom of the pot!) and prepared the Plaster of Paris. I do have to caution you that my pot did crack a bit as the Plaster of Paris expands as it hardens, however I positioned the pot so that the crack was in the back and no one (except me!) noticed! :)

The completed PVC Pipe Handbag Display...painted and ready to go!