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What can you do with old sports trophies and medals

Craft Projects· DIY projects· Organizing· Wall Art

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Do you ever wonder what you can do with old sports trophies? Well then you have come to the right place because today I want to show you what I did with all of my husbands old sports achievements that he’s been so attached to and that we didn’t have room for. It’s the perfect way to upcycle trophies.

what can you do with old sports trophies

handmade display frame with old medals and trophy plaques

Ever since our wedding 20 years ago I was faced with the problem about what to do with my husbands huge collection of sports paraphernalia. (I know a lot of women have this problem!) He had been collecting all kinds of stuff, from his own athletic accomplishments to baseball/football cards and Sports Illustrated magazines. He was under the impression that we would display everything in the man cave. This actually made me laugh at first and then I wanted to cry! There’s just no way. If I would display everything that him and I love, our house would look like we could be on the show Hoarders. Everybody has to purge and that way we were able to come to a compromise.

I have found several solutions for all his things and in this post I will show you my way to repurpose trophies and his athletic accomplishments from early childhood to college.

He had 2 crates full of trophies, medals and plaques stored in his mother’s attic. She was sick of keeping his stuff and told him to take them. (Sigh out loud!) He actually thought we’d display them!!!!! He is so attached to his sports past.

old crate filled with trophies and awards

Well, guess what I got excited about when I saw the trophies? Yup, the crates! They are the best thing about this pile! Aren’t they cool?

I have seen some projects out there where people spray painted old trophies a glossy white but that doesn’t solve the issue of using up too much space. And the trophies weren’t nice shapes either. I had to come up with something that would display medals and trophies in a small space.

What I came up with isn’t in anyway a revolutionary new idea, but it solved the problem and he is happy with it.

 

repurpose trophies in a medals and trophies collage

What you need:

  • thrifted frame (or you could use a large taxidermy display case HERE  or a large shadow box frame HERE. The shadow box already has the fabric attached to the back and eliminates you having to staple it to the back)
  • red, white and blue craft acrylic paint or any other color (I chose this color combo to match his small medal ribbons)
  • primer (HERE)
  • antiquing glaze
  • fabric
  • staple gun
  • glue gun
  • chisel

 

making a display frame for your old athletic accomplishments

  1. I went to our local Salvation Army and found a homemade frame for a $1. It had a wooden back, no glass and a thick fabric cover. Perfect for my project but like I mentioned above you could use a display case (HERE) or a shadow box frame (HERE) for this project as well.
  2. I removed the plywood back and stapled my scrap fabric to it with my staple gun.
  3. I first sanded and then primed the frame with my favorite spray paint primer.
    The idea to paint the frame in red, white and blue came from the fact that my husband liked the old red white and blue ribbon that is left on the one old medal.
    I taped the primed frame and added the red white and blue stripes (You can click HERE to see how I paint really crisp strips and it sure works on a frame too). When I looked at the glossy results I decided to antique glaze the frame to make it look a little older to match the vintage look of the entire display. (My little daughter wasn’t too happy with the black glaze. She wanted to know why I’m ruining the pretty colors and making them look dirty. Haha!)
  4. Next I had my husband remove all the plaques from his trophies that he wanted to keep with a chisel (or you can use a flathead screwdriver). He cleaned them up a little but I wanted him to keep the patina on the plaques.
    Then I removed the old torn ribbons from the medals.removing plaques from old trophies
  5. I put it all together by laying out a collage of the plaques and medals on the fabric covered back.
  6. Then I attached them with hot glue and the medals with needles, so they could be turned around (please see below photo). You can bend and turn the needles the way you want to make them slide into the fabric.

hot gluing trophy plaques to a display collage

what can you do with old sports trophies

awards plaques and metals arranged in a collage

This small frame uses a lot less space then the 2 filled crates and we are both happy with the results.

sports trophies and medals collage in frame display

 How to display your old medals and trophies in a collage

more creative ideas for old trophies

 


 My daughter wanted her medals displayed a different way and you can read more about it HERE.

how to easily display kids sports medals

My son prefers not taking his medals and trophies apart but he also has a world flag and soccer patch display. Click HERE to read more.

sports display with world flags and soccer patches

 

You might also enjoy seeing how I hung up my husband’s Sports Illustrated collection (click HERE):

Basement Man Cave with Sports Illustrated Collection - Cuckoo4Design

upcycling your old sports trophies and medals in a collage

Thanks for the visit.
Tschüß

 

old salvation army frame
old white frame with old trophies and medallions

 

Valspar antiquing glaze on glossy frame

 

adding grey fabric to background with staple gun

repurposing old medals and plaques in a collage

putting vintage metals and plaques on display in an old painted frame

Neuweiler crates with old trophies
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camie at "Home is where they love you" says

    June 24, 2012 at 12:27 am

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this great idea !

  2. Julia Konya says

    June 25, 2012 at 12:39 am

    And thank you for stopping by my blog!

  3. juliet lee says

    July 26, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Your blogs are totally worth giving time and energy.
    crystal trophies

    • Julia Konya says

      July 26, 2012 at 11:08 am

      Well, thank you so much!

  4. Anonymous says

    July 27, 2012 at 1:37 am

    I like this idea! You can also take the little guys on the top of the trophies, remove them and make wine/bottle stoppers!!! 🙂

    • Cynthia Green says

      March 30, 2015 at 11:28 pm

      I would really like to know how to do this.

  5. Betsy says

    September 25, 2012 at 3:06 pm

    Love it.

  6. Betsy says

    September 25, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    so I love the idea but the real reason I am posting is that I am from Bethlehem and the ‘crate’ is from Allentown I thought that was pritty amazing being all of the links I could have clicked….also you are german yes? living in the states…my friend is American living in Germany and she has a blog….Life and Death in Franconian Village by Laura Libricz..just little coincidences…in the big, yet very small world we live in. Oh and on the trophys I have 3 just barley adult kids with lots of trophys so I shall be busy.

    • Julia Konya says

      September 25, 2012 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks Betsy!
      I know it’s a small world 😉 and it just so happens that I’m also from Franconia! Not kidding! I checked out your friends blog and she lives around Nürnberg right? That’s about an hour away from where I am from. She wrote her first historical fiction novel and I love historical fiction! How exciting! I think I may just read it when I’m finished with my current historical fiction book which also plays in Franconia!
      Talk to you soon!

    • Betsy says

      September 26, 2012 at 11:48 am

      This is gettin really weird…you are from Franconia, yes she lives in Mailach. Yes check out her book, you will enjoy it.
      I got the okay from my children to rmove theur names and make a trophy frame. I will then try and donate the trophys to a local organization.

    • Julia Konya says

      September 26, 2012 at 12:14 pm

      Good luck with your project!

  7. Anonymous says

    September 26, 2012 at 2:26 am

    What about donating the trophies to your local rec department or Boys and Girls club for them to reuse? They could add their own name plates. Love this idea!!!!

    • Julia Konya says

      September 26, 2012 at 10:36 am

      I did check into that but my husbands trophies weren’t in good shape at all.

  8. Lynette says

    November 8, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Wow – you turned the ugly things into an amazing and interesting decoration! Love it! http://lynettesphotoart.blogspot.com

    • Julia Konya says

      January 8, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks Lynette

  9. David Frum says

    January 5, 2013 at 5:51 am

    oh!great! idea is super friendly, knowledgeable, and they’re able to do a lot of different plaques, trophies, awards. Here is a sample “About Me” page that answers these questions. I love this post, lots of great info!Thank for sharing..
    Trophies and medals

  10. [email protected] says

    January 8, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Perfect. Funny that he can’t let go of the “bodies”.

    • Julia Konya says

      January 8, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks Karen. I know, isn’t it?

  11. Anonymous says

    February 16, 2013 at 7:52 am

    Wow great idea for medals! This is moving to the top off my project list this weekend!

  12. Anonymous says

    February 16, 2013 at 7:53 am

    Wow great idea for medals! This is moving to the top off my project list this weekend!

    • Julia Konya says

      February 17, 2013 at 11:29 am

      Glad you like it.

  13. Sophie says

    February 17, 2013 at 8:05 am

    Great idea! I have a ton of gymnastics trophies and scouting awards and I think I am going to do this for myself.

    • Julia Konya says

      February 17, 2013 at 11:29 am

      Hi Sophie, good luck with your project!

  14. Anonymous says

    May 10, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

  15. Anonymous says

    May 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm

    Just came across this- love the idea! Did you ever post what you did with the baseball cards and Sports Illustrated magazines???

    • Julia Konya says

      May 31, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      I have been wanting to but we’ve had issues with our basement and I didn’t want to take pictures in the mess. But I will hopefully get to it this fall when I’m going to redo the basement a little.

    • Anonymous says

      May 31, 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Ok great- I will look forward to the ideas! Stumbled upon your blog today looking for ideas for mine and my hubby’s old trophies, medals, etc! And now I have been all over your blog posts- love them!!!

    • Julia Konya says

      May 31, 2013 at 8:58 pm

      Thank you so much! That made my day, because it’s been one of those frustrating ones 😉

  16. Angeline Rhyne says

    August 31, 2013 at 11:14 am

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  17. Angeline Rhyne says

    August 31, 2013 at 12:47 pm

    Very wise words. I implore I can be the religious mom, my offspring needs to grow up having so that others can see God from side to side her and not the planet.
    Awards

  18. the Sweetest Memory says

    March 6, 2014 at 5:26 am

    Fabulous idea! I am pinning. Kari

  19. Julia Konya says

    March 16, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    Good luck!

  20. MYeller0330 says

    March 31, 2014 at 2:40 am

    My fiancé and I were just talking about what to do with trophies and this looks great!

    How did your husband get the plaques with the names on them? They look tough to get off and we’re hoping it’s something we can manage!

    • MYeller0330 says

      March 31, 2014 at 3:01 am

      I guess I should clarify a bit, how did he get the plaques off? If you could clarify on that process a bit that would be fantastic! Thank you for sharing this awesome idea!!

  21. Julia Konya says

    March 31, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Hi, we just used a screw driver or speckling knife to get under the plaques on the trophies and pried them off. Since most of them are only glued on and the glue was old, it was really easy. Some of them were screwed on and we just screwed them off.
    Hope that helps and let me know if you have any more questions.

    • MYeller0330 says

      March 31, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      Ok, great! That shouldn’t be too bad (hopefully ha). Thank you so much!

  22. Fred Hutchinson says

    May 20, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    This is a great way to store your collection of trophies. When I was a kid I collected a lot of awards through scouting, sports, and school. I am definitely going to try this out.
    Fred Hutchinson | http://www.trophyawards.com

  23. michelesner says

    June 4, 2014 at 2:13 am

    Absolutely the best idea ever! Thank you!

    • Julia Konya says

      June 4, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Thank you!

  24. Joseph Russo says

    September 5, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Amazing service – I called the shop to ask for advice. golf awards I couldn’t have had a more helpful and more patient person!! Great quality items, really quick delivery – would definitely recommend.

  25. Monica Ortiz says

    October 14, 2014 at 10:37 pm

    Julia, this is a great idea!!

    • Julia Konya says

      October 18, 2014 at 7:20 pm

      Thank you!

  26. shirley rennicker says

    November 6, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    love to see how you make so many things from what you have.Love it

    • Julia says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:16 am

      Thank you Shirley!

  27. Kate says

    March 5, 2015 at 7:50 am

    The only “change” I would make is instead of painting the Red white and blue, I would actually use the old ribbons you removed and spread them out as the backdrop and mount the medals on top

  28. kassie says

    October 21, 2015 at 9:41 am

    How did you get the plaques off of the actual trophy it self?Mine seem to be super glued on and I don’t want to break them off.

    • Julia says

      October 21, 2015 at 6:58 pm

      Mine just popped right off

  29. Cheryl Smith says

    December 22, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I love the idea of combining all of my old trophies into one case. This would make it really easy to show. I am definitely going to try this idea for my trophies and my children’s trophies.

  30. Nicole says

    January 28, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    Have you ever come across lead crystal plaques that are either broken or no longer useful? Any thoughts on how to repurpose those? I have about 10 that are either broken are just “NO” but feel guilty throwing them away.

    thanks:)

  31. Kathy Sims says

    June 5, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH for this idea!!!! Now I can get all those dusty trophies off my shelf!!!!

    • Julia says

      June 6, 2016 at 6:10 am

      SO glad you like it

  32. Pam Clackler says

    July 2, 2016 at 11:49 am

    Love, love, love this idea. I have all kinds of heirloom academia medals for me and hockey medals and trophies for my boys. I love the red, white and blue. Fantastic job and great inspiration!

    • Julia says

      July 12, 2016 at 11:37 am

      Thanks so much I’m glad you like it and good luck.

  33. Haley says

    April 12, 2018 at 6:05 am

    This is such a great idea and it looks awesome!

  34. Lisa says

    April 12, 2018 at 6:01 pm

    Julia I just LOVE this project!!!! Every woman that is married to a guy with two crates of tropies that his mom saved since kindergarten thanks you! 🙂

  35. Michele says

    April 12, 2018 at 8:23 pm

    What a wonderful idea! We have boxes of my husband’s trophies in the attic—I’m so doing this! Thank you!

    • Julia says

      April 19, 2018 at 6:35 am

      Oh good luck Michele, I’m glad you like it.

  36. Margaret says

    April 13, 2018 at 11:13 am

    Love this idea..Thank you for all the good ideas you post.

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I’m a German citizen living in the US who is cuckoo for all things DIY, design and pets. This is my design journey of our small home on a budget. Come stay a while and look around.

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