Upcycle Old or Broken Jewelry

One of the things I love to do, is to take broken or old jewelry and upcycle it into new and beautiful jewelry. I am always looking for tutorials, and ideas to do this. Below is a video with ideas for purse bling using broken jewelry. Check it out!

 

Reclaimed Sapphire Gemstone Ring, and Glass With Painted Pictures Upcycle Recycle Projects

If you follow this blog, then you know that I love to paint. I love to paint on objects, more than paper, or canvas. Last Fall I created a beautiful Turkey abstract painting. I had it available for sale, but it didn't sell. It is not easy to sell art, lol. Anyways I came across these large pickle jars, and decided to use a new technique to affix the paintings to the jar, rather than painting directly on the jar. I have done three, so far, of the really big ones. They can be used as a hurricane lamp, with a candle, solar light, or flameless candle. But, also can be a vase, storage container, or cookie jar. Unique and beautiful table decor, or gift idea.

One of the other things I like to reclaim, recycle, and upcycle, is broken jewelry. I hate to throw away broken jewelry, especially when it is nice jewelry. Using a technique I discovered on my own, from tinkering with it, I created the lovely pinky ring below that features a real sapphire gemstone, and one point diamond from a broken necklace, that is now a wire wrapped ring. If you love handmade, unique, beautiful jewelry, I recommend you check this ring out.

 To see both items, visit my Etsy shop, by clicking the highlighted link, or you can always click my sidebar widget. You can always search for my shop, by using the hashtag #missy69 

Check out my weekly link up party, in the post below.  It is free to join, renews weekly, and a great way to build back links to your handmade goods. 

Upcycled/Recycled Ice Coffee Jars Into Witch and Warlock Gothic Wine Glasses Halloween Party Bride and Groom

These are iced coffee glass bottles that have been cleaned, sterilized, had all the sticker glue removed, and then hand painted on. These are a witch and a warlock hat, for a Halloween party bride and groom, or those who love a non traditional gothic Halloween wedding. Just add a fancy straw and make a toast. They are painted in acrylics, and then sealed for durability. Visit my Etsy store, to purchase, make a custom order request, or check out all my awesome items.

Earth Day Is April 21st Recyclable Jewelry Tutorial with Bottle Caps

All this next week, I will be posting ideas on how to recycle, reuse, and reduce jewelry and other items to make jewelry. If I find other cool ideas, I will share them too. First up, is this beautiful bottle cap necklace.

Another Sale, Butterfly Feeder and Family Tree Art

I did not get to paint yesterday, but that is because I was trying to tie up other projects that needed finishing. For our Earth Kids group, I want the kids to make butterfly feeders. I always try to test one out first, because just because something looks like a good idea doesn't mean it will actually work. The first butterfly feeder we tried was a flop. So, then I decided to use some of the jars I had painted on, but that did not make good candle jars or jars for gift giving purposes, to attempt a butterfly feeder. I saw the original idea on Pinterest. So, I got out one of my trusty jars. I then made a hole in the lid. Then you cut thin strips of a sponge and shove them tightly into the hole. You want them tight so the food fills the sponges and does not leak out around them. And I learned from my mistake, learn how to make a hanger for it first. Because, the jar is hanging upside down a traditional plant hanger will not work. So I crocheted one. Well technically it would have worked if I could have crocheted it higher, but you want the butterflies and hummingbirds to be attracted to the bright paint on the outside of the jar. And of course the jar fell over and it didn't work. So I bought 16 gauge colored copper craft wire and wire wrapped the jar. Now it hangs nicely, as you can see in the picture. This will be the project for our next Earth Kids meeting on the 16th. To make the butterfly nectar you mix two parts hot water to sugar. Let the sugar dissolve and cool before adding it to the jar. Be sure you know where you want to hang it and have everything ready before you tip it to hang. The liquid fills the sponge rather quickly and you can end up with a sticky mess all over you. Put it near your garden to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It does attract ants as well. The jar filled lasts about two weeks or so. I also got the first six pictures hung to our family tree. This will be an extended project because the frames are not cheap. Even at a dollar a piece, I have already spent six dollars. I won't buy anymore navy blue ones either. They just don't stand out as much.