Vintage jewelry is popping up everywhere, especially at flea markets and antique booths. You can find baggies for very cheap, or purchase individual pieces.
My jewelry has a different story. It was given to me years ago when a beloved great-aunt passed away.
A few pieces I wore back in high school, setting my own 80’s funky style with Bertie’s pieces.
Since I inherited her collection of costume jewelry, it has been sitting for decades, unused and unworn.
I simply didn’t know what to do with these outdated items!
What can I do with old costume jewelry?
This week I want to share a fast and easy idea for upcycling vintage costume jewelry, into something fitting for a modern wardrobe.
Certain items have a classic appeal and are still wearable, but if you have a bag of clip-on, or screw-back earrings, chances are they aren’t being worn.
How do you make repurposed jewelry?
My friend April came over and we spent an afternoon reimagining these tiny art pieces.
We chose to create hair clips!
The first step is to carefully use pliers to take off the back hardware. Wiggle back and forth gently, so as not to break the whole earring and avoid cutting fingers…they can be sharp.
We went to Hobby Lobby and in the jewelry-making section, there are bobby pins with circular bases at the decorative end.
These are easy to find at most craft stores. They hold a well of adhesive, allowing plenty of room for glue to cover the entire back of the earring.
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We also picked up some alligator clips, and while pretty, we noticed the pieces stuck better with the bobby pins.
We also experimented with ring bases, from the same section at Hobby Lobby and pin
bases.
All of them turned out great!
The next challenge is thinking up ideas for these necklaces.
Here are a few of the finished pieces, they will look especially fun with growing out short hair! You could also make them as gifts for people, and attach them to a piece of cardstock like on the picture below.
I have another plan in the works for celebrating the life of Bertie with the remaining jewelry. Something unexpected for a decor piece… you can see it here.
Have a wonderful time upcycling your costume jewelry!
Hello Christa! Your reimagined jewelry items are beautiful! I love to see vintage items removed from the shadows and featured front & center stage in creative new forms. Your website is a breath of fresh air. My only suggestion is that you might consider noting Michaels and/ or other craft suppliers as your store(s) of choice. The retailer you noted has an unfortunate ongoing history of judgment and exclusion that seems in opposition to the inclusion, warmth & kindness your website so generously offers. Thank you-
I have never known Hobby Lobby to be anything but warm and kind and inclusive. The ongoing history mentioned is nothing but conjecture and prejudiced rhetoric spewed by those pushing a liberal agenda.
As your opinion of Dave Green is understood, please keep in mind that he donates almost all of his profits. He is a very generous man who takes very good care of his employees, as I personally know several that work for his company. Unlike Bozo who does not do enough, doesn’t take care of his workers, and is an overall a hole. I won’t order a toothpick from Ama@$*. Makes me sick.
Hi Christa, thanks for the great tips very helpful 🙂
So glad you found useful info!
Hello Christa! Your reimagined jewelry items are beautiful! I love to see vintage items removed from the shadows and featured front & center stage in creative new forms. Your website is a breath of fresh air. My only suggestion is that you might consider noting Michaels and/ or other craft suppliers as your store(s) of choice. The retailer you noted has an unfortunate ongoing history of judgment and exclusion that seems in opposition to the inclusion, warmth & kindness your website so generously offers. Thank you-
I have never known Hobby Lobby to be anything but warm and kind and inclusive. The ongoing history mentioned is nothing but conjecture and prejudiced rhetoric spewed by those pushing a liberal agenda.
As your opinion of Dave Green is understood, please keep in mind that he donates almost all of his profits. He is a very generous man who takes very good care of his employees, as I personally know several that work for his company. Unlike Bozo who does not do enough, doesn’t take care of his workers, and is an overall a hole. I won’t order a toothpick from Ama@$*. Makes me sick.