Saturday, September 7, 2013

MAKE JEWELRY WITH THRIFT SHOP FINDS, TINY TOYS, EVEN OUTDOOR FAUCETS!

Create unique jewelry with recycled and upcycled materials. It's easy and fun!

how to, how-to, tutorial

Find inexpensive costume bits and pieces to assemble into a new necklace! Alter old-fashioned screw-type earring backs by snipping off the screw and rolling what's left into a loop. The backs of clip-on earrings often pull right off with pliers.
Start your design at the center of a chain with the largest elements. Work outward on each side with smaller parts.
arts and crafts, recycled art
This neck candy was made with junk pins and ear bobs.

altered art, handmade jewelry
I like to use all silver-tone or all gold-tone pieces together,
but you can mix and match.
Necklace above done with deconstructed brooches and earrings on a spare chain.
The two pieces seen directly below utilize a common piece of 
hardware: faucet handles! Other materials include vintage 
earrings or buttons, chains, clasps, findings (including jump 
rings &/or jewelry wire), and a few beads. Tools needed
 are pliers and wire cutters. I also added a touch of metallic 
acrylic paint to the "flower" shapes.
create unique jewelry
Old faucet handles as elements in a bracelet and a necklace. 
frugal, arts and crafts, art project
String some beads & add a few novelties!
This necklace is a mix of high and low: 
glass beads left over from other projects, 
and plastic key chain dangles. Achieve 
a similar Pop-art effect with small 
novelty pencil sharpeners.
(Be sure to see some tips on jewelry-making, at my last post.)

mixed media art blog

2 comments:

  1. very kool paula!
    i especially love the faucet necklace!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paula, you're a genius! I'll never look at faucet handles the same way again. And I really admire those junk jewelry necklaces. What a great way to upcycle those rarely-worn pieces languishing in my jewelry box!

    ReplyDelete

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