Lapidary / Gemstone Community Forum

I joined a rockhound club here last year and all of the members have been encouraging me to put in a competition case in our upcoming Gem and Mineral show. Was wondering on here what some members experiences have been with putting together award winning cases? Tips, hints, do/dont do...etc

Presentation is #1
That takes in color and what theme you use.
Different levels work very well.

Good Luck.

Look at Elementary and Bobby1. They are begged by clubs to come and show their stuff:)

#1 go online and get the AFMS competition rules!!!
http://www.amfed.org/rules/
#2 Study the rules carefully
#3 Decide which category you want to compete in
#4 Study the category rules carefully
#5 Ask any members of the club that have competed what they experienced in the judging
#6 See if any of the members are certified judges - ask them many questions
#7 Look at other member's cases and see what liner designs and colors work well
Things that will reduce your score:
Poorly fitting liners
Liner covers dirty or wrinkled
Labels not mounted well, incorrect spelling, incorrect identification
Items in case not clean, well finished, well designed
Item holders poorly made, etc.
Bob

My advice, just go for it.  It doesn't have to be perfect your first time out and you will learn more each time you do it.  I've been doing displays for the show here for three years and seem to learn new things every year.  I finally got my case liners looking respectable but still need to work on my labels and such.  Our club's show is fairly small so not high powered competition, judged by club members so political, and basically just for fun. 
I will say, if they do have a theme try to follow that.  This year our focus is on garnets.  Don't know if I'll actually be able to put in an all garnet case but it will be fun to try I suppose. 
If you have outstanding specimens, use those since they will stand out from the crowd. 
Most of all, have fun.  Best of luck to you.  Hope you post pictures of your display on here so we can see the cool stuff you have. 

If anyone reading this post has pics of past show cases, please show off. Would love to see how they are putting them together. I have a general idea of the basics, but was wondering about more in depth esthetics for the showmanship aspect. Such as the base of the case. Does it have to be a smooth, flat liner or can you have say something like river worn gravel covering the floor of the case with small pieces of drift wood to enhance the overall look and feel? Or would that cost you points?

This was my case from last year.  Again, not sure of specific rules for AFMS since our club is not affiliated with them.

(https://gemstone.smfforfree4.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi119.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo129%2Fsweetinmontana%2F2011%2520Helena%2520Gem%2520and%2520Mineral%2520Show%2Fviewofshowcase.jpg&hash=630fb81cdc9adfa281c2c5a6caaf7606)

Diane this is a very nice display case. Is that Ultra Suede on the walls?
And I love the steps and the way you made a map of Montana:)
Very cool wish I could see this up close:)

No, not ultra suede, it is just a felt fabric, can't remember what it was called but got it at a local fabric store.  It took a while to make the steps and get them to fit the display.  I didn't get the measurements quite right so had to do some last minute modifications when I got it set up.   The whole thing is made using foam board and foam pieces (I got them out of a dumpster behind a furniture store...shhhh, don't tell...lol) and fabric stretched over it and glued in place with hot melt glue.  I had pieces of styrofoam all over my living room for weeks after I made it.  That stuff sticks to everything...lol.