Beads and old jewelry seem to multiply like bunnies in my house. Considering I’m the only female in a house of men, that is really saying something. I love crafts and I take great pains in pack ratting my supplies so I have what I need when I begin crafting something new. I have bins of jewelry that were my mother’s, my grandmother’s and my husband’s grandmother’s and even my friends have passed along their old bobbles. If you don’t have access to old hand me down jewelry like I do, they are easily found at tag sales and auctions at very reasonable prices and the projects that can be created from them make the hunt well worth the effort.
Wine rings make thoughtful hostess gifts. Using clear plastic wire ties (I recycle mine from packaging that is used to hold objects secure in a box), cut six pieces about 6″ long for a set of six rings. Depending on the size of the beads used, thread a section about 2″ long. Position the beads in the center of the wire. Using your own wine glass as a guide, wrap the beads around the stem loosely and twist the wire twice. Leaving approximately 1 1/2″ – 2″ on each end, cut the excess wire away. Wrap the ends of the wire around a pencil or the tip of needle nose pliers. To attach or take off the ring simply untwist the wire from the wine glass stem. Make five more to complete the set. Note: Use different color beads for each ring so they can be used as glass markers.
Using an 18″ length of the plastic wire, fashion a pretty bookmark for all your friends. Make a flat spiral at the top of the wire like a lollipop. Begin stringing beads randomly from the bottom. Continue with twists and spirals and adding more beads as desired. End with another spiral at the bottom of the bookmark. Use the spiral at the top of the bookmark as a paper clip marker while positioning the rest of the bookmark on the outside cover. This same design makes lovely Christmas tree ornaments.
Make patio candle holders by recycling glass jars. Cut two 36″ pieces of wire. Wrap the center of each wire around the jar top and twist to secure. Place each twist opposite each other on the jar opening. Thread beads on the doubled wire on each side of the jar. Leave 6″ unbeaded. Twist the unbeaded ends of the wire together and form a ring for hanging. Add approximately 1″ of sand to the jar and place a tea candle in the sand to complete.
Make a beautiful pendant necklace from a dangle earring that has lost its mate. Using needle nose pliers, detach the earring base from the charm part of the earring. There is usually a jump ring attached to the charm that you will also need. Attach the jump ring and charm to a necklace chain, cord or ribbon the desired length for your necklace.
Spruce up a purse by sewing beads around the top or replace worn handles with lengths of wired beads.
Make a beautiful Christmas decoration by framing a large piece of green velvet and gluing beads and bobbles to it in the shape of a Christmas tree. Fill in the center of the tree with a stunning collage of jewelry.
Create taper candle holders by filling jars with an assortment of beads and pushing the tapers into the beads to hold them in place.
Glue beads around picture frames.
String beads on several short lengths of wire and spacing evenly, attach to the bottom edge of a lampshade.
Wire a pretty dangle and attach to a ceiling fan chain.
Lastly, employ the large selection of jewelry findings at your local craft store and fashion new jewelry pieces that are more stylish for today with a touch of the vintage of yesterday.
