Recycle and Restore Your Style!

In this “go green” era, everyone is becoming more conscious of the environment and how we treat it. Why not take your recycling to the next step in jewelry? There are hundreds of ways to recycle products and turn them into fashionable new things! We’ve shared what you can do with leftover jewelry chain with our Scrap Happy bracelet, but there are others out there getting down and not so dirty with their recycled style.


Photo Source:The Daily Green.com

Explore your home to find your next inspiration, from the inside or the outside. From bike tires to keyboards, anything can be turned into fashion with the right components! The first step is deciding what type of jewelry you want to make. We have a great Getting Started page that will help guide you in the right direction if you’re new to designing.

If you’re just looking to add a little touch of ‘green’ into your designs, try our recycled jewelry components! These charms and pendants are made by repurposing old things like steel file cabinets and serving trays! Use one to complete your looks or try your hands at one of these FREE design ideas below from our Learning Center:

Recycled Chain Earrings

Recycled Chain Bracelet

Recycled Lampwork Magnets

Happy Recycling!

-Marissa

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Comments

  1. Reply

    I think upcycling, especially items that won’t deteriorate quickly in landfills, is very important. Handles from cabinets, broken frames with a design…………..I’m always looking for ideas.

  2. Reply

    I am loving the trend toward “mixed metals”. A scrap of leftover gun metal chain can give a sterling bracelet a fresh new look . I’m also starting to mix shiny copper with antique brass and silver. Using up those stray findings is my way of cleaning up what I used to consider “waste”.

  3. Reply

    We have been using recycled materials for two years. At Spellbound Beads we make wearable art using the pages of discarded and well-loved/worn books to make paper beads and enhancing with beautiful crystals and other findings. It’s fun to see all the new products we can use. Thanks for the great posts!

  4. Reply

    This is what got me interested in jewelry making years ago. Family “heirlooms/junque jewelry” had possibilities. Since then I have learned to drill, wire wrap, paint/patina, and upcycle many objects ‘d art, and have found this to be the most creative part of creating.

  5. Reply

    I am one of those Scrabble tile re-purposers, and I like to throw vintage gemstone beads into designs when I can get my hands on them.

    • R & T
    • August 4, 2012
    Reply

    I need some ideas on how to recycle my old 1980’s earrings.

  6. Reply

    I removed the zipper pull tabs from an insulated lunch bag – they are an interesting shape and have a sun-spray design, kinda plain and yet … They will be designed into earrings!

    • Irene
    • August 4, 2012
    Reply

    I repair, repair and repair!

    My returning customers are not allowed to buy more than what they need unless they turn in a broken/forgotten piece for me to upgrade it to fit their style. I can’t stand the possibility of a pile of broken jewelry just going to waste. I also get a lot of broken pieces for me to fix and pass on to women who otherwise would not be able to afford those pieces.

    take care and keep sharing.

    • moneill339
    • August 4, 2012
    Reply

    I have been recycling old jewelry into new for 8 years. Even when it wasn’t so cool! I go to flea markets, antique stores, get old clip on earrings that are really quite beautiful and then use them in my designs.That way,no two jewelry items are alike. One of a Kind, people! Love it! and so do my customers! They love a story about where I found the components. Thanks Peg

    • Julia
    • August 5, 2012
    Reply

    I have used old jewelry components for years; I especially love the vintage moonglow lucite beads, and some of the vintage, no-longer available Swarovski crystals! Gorgeous beads that add a unique touch to any piece they’re incorporated into . . .

  7. Reply

    I have started recycling vintage jewelry in some things. I never use good jewelry though. I only use jewelry that is damaged. Be sure you don’t ruin a perfectly good piece of jewelry. Especially a signed piece that could be worth several hundred dollars!

    • Leah
    • October 8, 2012
    Reply

    I’d love to share this resource for recycled jewelry ideas http://www.brilliantearth.com/news/recycled-jewelry-ideas/ My husband and I are past customers of Brilliant Earth and love everything about this company. Their metals are all 100% recycled and their diamonds are also all conflict free.

    1. Reply

      Cool resource, Leah! It’s great to hear about a company that recycles precious metals

  8. Reply

    One of my favorite experiences is to be handed a ziploc bag of discarded or broken jewelry, with the comment, “Here, I thought maybe you could do something with this…” It’s like Christmas and finding buried treasure all at once! I’ve made necklaces, earrings, bracelets, package ties…. I love it! It’s a spur to my creativity as well as my way to help keep stuff out of the landfill.

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