Scrap Happy!

Here at Artbeads we sell chain by the foot. If you’re designing a bracelet, you often wind up with two to four inches of chain left over. The same thing happens with necklaces—you are more apt to have remnants after your project is done. With a few other basic supplies and very little time, you can turn these scraps into something that will make you so happy to wear! Their various styles will add cool dimension and you can create whatever feeling you wish to provoke from your imagination. We’ll teach you how to connect them together, but the end result is up to you. We made our bracelets using jump rings and a simple wire wrapping technique.

Multi-Stranded Silver Chain Bracelet
Arrange your scrap pieces in the order you like before connecting them together. Find two larger open jump rings that will fit three chains together and two smaller jump rings that will connect to the larger ones. We used 1.27 x 8.0mm sterling silver open jump rings for our smaller choice. Attach one end from each chain to a single large open jump ring and close. Attach this jump ring to a smaller jump ring, and connect the smaller one to one portion of your desired clasp. Repeat this process for the other end. We used a sterling silver heart and arrow toggle clasp.

Industrial Chain Bracelet
Connect one heavy gauge open jump ring to each end of your chain. Attach one large lobster claw clasp to one jump ring and close. For our bracelet, we attached one 10mm sterling silver 13 gauge open jump ring to one end and one 12mm sterling silver 13 gauge open jump ring to the end that would connect to the clasp. Make sure the jump ring you use to connect the clasp is durable enough to hold it.

Leather and Links Bracelet
For this bracelet, we used a scrap piece of chain as well as some small pieces of leather cord. Thread one piece of leather through each open end of your chain. Connect both ends of the leather together and wrap the ends with sterling silver wire to hold them in place. Attach an open jump ring to each loop you created with the leather strands, and then connect these jump rings to a second smaller jump ring. Our larger jump rings are size 20 gauge. Connect the smaller jump ring to your desired jewelry clasp. Follow this same technique for a bracelet with multiple chain strands in the center. Learn how to finish fibers with wire wraps by reading our Handy Tip in the Learning Center.

Take a new twist on fashion by turning your leftover chain scraps into jewelry you’ll want to wear. Get scrap happy with your favorite pieces!Recycling your old pieces of chain is a perfect project for Earth Day this Sunday, April 22.

-Marissa

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Comments

    • Gloria Patterson
    • April 18, 2012
    Reply

    Cute and a good idea! Love the look with the toggles! Thanks!

    • Ali-Kat
    • April 18, 2012
    Reply

    good ideas

    • Joanne Cammett
    • April 24, 2012
    Reply

    Great Idea! I save all my small pieces of chain..I was thinking it would be a great idea to connect them with beads to make a bracelet and or necklace. Thank you!!

    • KimMJ
    • April 24, 2012
    Reply

    Great idea for incorporating leftovers. I think I will purchase small lengths of chain just to give one a try as a I love them all! Thanx for sharing 🙂

    • Treena
    • April 24, 2012
    Reply

    I make dangly earrings out of small pieces of light-weight chain. You only need about 6-8 links. I fasten various beads onto them – they don’t even have to “match”.

  1. Reply

    I recently took a few links from three different chains and make a bracelet. I posted a picture on my facebook page:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/AnnaLis-Handcrafted-Jewelry/296994210374007

    • Sandy
    • April 24, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve been reusing small pieces of chain to make earrings and unusual necklaces (chains don’t have to match) but I didn’t think of including my left over pieces of leather…..great tip. Thanks!

    • Ro
    • April 24, 2012
    Reply

    Great Idea I have been using leftover chain for Earings Didn’t think of bracelets Thanks

    • BKathie
    • April 25, 2012
    Reply

    Great ideas! I have been wondering what to do with my leftover chain and bead pieces. Thanks for the super ideas. :>)

  2. Pingback: Recycle and Restore Your Style!

    • sally jennings
    • August 5, 2012
    Reply

    great idea, i always have scraps of metal, beads, chains laying around

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