Test Tube Necklace/Ornamants

Just a quick peek today...

I love turning test tubes into wearable art or ornaments.....

How easy and fun are those?

Thanks for stopping by....

15 Jewelry Projects From Up Cycled Materials

I am always looking for ways to reuse something I have or something someone has discarded.

I also love the challenge of taking something common and doing something uncommon with it.

Take a look at some jewelry projects that started with some very non-jewelry related items.

These bangles got an upgrade with buttons and some earring flowers.

Find the post here.

A vintage spoon and a bullet casing became this fun necklace.

Find the post here.

These fun rose bracelets are actually made from plain white sheets.

See how to make your own here.

And more sheets transformed this bangle to a fun cuff.

Tutorial here.

These plastic bangles got a makeover with some washi tape.

Make your own by following this tutorial.

The following pieces remain among my favorites to this day.

These were made from plastic tubing, shotgun shells and were dressed up with recycled silk strips.

See the full post here.

Some incorporated hardware pieces as well.

Don't throw away that old puzzle because some of the pieces are lost.

Make some earrings instead.

See the post here.

You might want to raid your kids pockets after seeing this post.

A simple glass marble becomes a fun yet sophisticated necklace.

See it here.

The same post shows how to turn a tiny glass Christmas ornament into a tiny time capsule.

A bullet casing can become an amazing jewelry piece.

See the full post here.

These pretty earrings started with some paper flowers from the scrapbooking section of your favorite store.

See the post here.

How about making some very artistic earrings from some beads, yarn and discarded book pages?

See them here.

More buttons...

This time getting a new life as a fashionable choker.

Here is the post.

This bohemian sweetheart stars beads made from felt and discarded book pages.

See the post here.

I promise to bring you more up cycled jewelry pieces soon.  

It is my favorite thing to create.

Thanks for stopping by....

                  Linking up with these great blogs.

Bracelet Makeover Round Up

Christmas is right around the corner.

If there are a few gals on your list that you have not finished shopping for, try a few of these quick and easy bracelet up cycles.

For most of these, I started with plastic bangles.

A couple used metal bangles but you can use whatever you have on hand or pick up.

These pretty bangles are just updated with some vintage buttons.

You can find the directions here.

These are essentially the same but I used cheap earrings and removed the posts.

This fun shabby chic cuff uses recycled sheets and takes longer to locate the sheet and tear strips than it does to make the cuff.

Tutorial here.

These are my favorites.

I used sheets that we dyed with RIT dye to get these fantastic colors.

But you can use whatever you have on hand.

My tutorial is here.

 These would be great for a wedding party too.

And the last one just uses washi tape to dress up the bangles.

Tutorial here.

For the most part, it will take longer to assemble all the supplies than it will to make the bracelets.

An hour or two will produce enough to make a dent in that gift list.

Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs...

Sweet Peat Treat Pots

I love peat pots.

They are sweet and cheap and so easy to make over.

So, I decided to make some little peat pot buckets and show you how.

First gather your supplies.

I gave each pot a light coat of Chalky Finish Paint from DecoArt.

I just tore a little piece of washi tape for each one.

I stuck it on the pot and then burnished it with the handle of the scissors.

Then I set the eyelets in each pot.

I always have to look online to remember how to use my Big Bite...

Now, I will be honest.

This is where the project goes awry.

It was so humid the day I did this.

When I tried to add the wire to the eyelets and twist it, it ripped them right out of the pot!

Arghhh!!

I was determined to finish the last two so I looked around the studio for a solution...

Ta-Da!

Twine handles it is!

The second one was cut a little too short to tie a bow so I twisted it around and hot glued it to make a rose.

I actually like that better.

A quick coat of DecoArt's DecouPage to keep the tape from coming off and we are done.

I think they turned out sweet.

I added some Spanish moss, some chocolates and a sweet little pastel mushroom.

 To get the mushroom to stay, I added a piece of wire that slid right into the hole in the bottom of the mushroom.

The wire allows the mushroom to not fall out of the pot.

Later the recipient can use the mushroom for another project...

A perfect little container for a gift.

Thanks for stopping by...

We will be linking up with these fabulous blogs.

Washi Tape Bracelets

It seems like I have shown you a lot of bracelet ideas lately...

I have quite a stash so I do makeovers on them from time to time.

Today I want to show you a simple makeover that just uses plastic bangles and washi tape.

I pick up washi tape when I see it on sale.

Wrap the plastic bangle with washi tape, being sure to overlap and pull tightly as you go.  

When you have completely covered the bangle, tear off the end and use fingers to firmly smooth tape in place.

 If tape rips at any point, just overlap ends and continue to wrap.  

 Coat with 2-3 coats of DecouPage, allowing to dry thoroughly between coats.  

If there are any rough edges, smooth with fine grit sandpaper and recoat with DecouPage.

It is fast and easy to make a whole armload...

Or a branch load as shown here....

I love how each bracelet looks different based on what color the plastic was underneath...

At my shows, I display them in a long tray and people pick them up...

curious....

This idea has appeared in Jewelry Affaire magazine

as well as GreenCraft magazine.

It is an oldie, but a goodie...

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs...