From Junk To Art: Making Recycled Jewelry

The latest fad in accessories: recycled jewelry

. It's unique, it's environmentally conscious, and it's fun and easy to do. You can make your own funky (or elegant) jewelry simply by using unwanted things around your house.

Start by looking for inspiration in the garage, junk drawer, closet, and attic. You want to find loose items that you can convert into original jewelry. Metal materials work great as pendants. Mini locks, safety pins, watch faces, and spare keys are some good choices. Be open to items that can be turned into beads. These can be just about anything: labels, wrappers, magazines, comic books, newspapers, maps, etc. Even the most random items, like old x-rays, can be folded and hung from earrings. Consider also using a piece of a larger object, like a china plate or a baseball.

Once you have an assortment of materials, unleash your creativity. You may need to purchase some earring hooks or necklace fasteners from a craft store. Or you can use pliers to bend and fasten together pieces of wire. Start by choosing the focal point for your necklace or earring: a single object, like a key, or a conglomeration of things, like homemade beads. If you need to form any of the pieces, such as the beads, do that first. If you're using paper, fold it and glue it in the shape you want or wrap it with wire. If you're using something that came from a larger object, you'll probably want to sand it down and maybe paint it or apply a finish.

Next, decide what to use as the base. Malleable materials, like fabric, string, or even plastic after it's melted, are best. Plastic utensils, bottles, and even vinyl records make for really unique jewelry. Necklace accessories can be strung on wire, string, or shaped plastic. The more bizarre, the better. For example, telephone wire comes in different colors and can be coiled easily. Simply remove the wire from the rubber with copper wire strippers.

The style of the jewelry is your last decision. A single pendant can hang at the end of the string; beads can cover the whole necklace, separated by knots or folds in the wire. An earring can be small and close to the ear or large, dangling just above the shoulder. The great thing about designing your own jewelry is that you get to make the call.

Making jewelry from recycled materials is not only an eco-friendly act, it's a great way to express your individuality and creativity .

by: Art Gib

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