I love to use old items to make unique jewelry.
In other words, using ordinary objects to make extraordinary jewelry!
Making this sort of jewelry takes a little planning. You don’t get a collection this varied by going to a store and picking it up one day. You find things here and there as you go along and eventually you have a collection to choose from.
What is in the Vintage Elements Charm Necklace, and where did I get them?
1. Piece of a vintage ruler – I purchased this pre-cut and pre-drilled on Etsy.
2. Tiny skeleton key – I don’t actually remember where I got this key, but I pick them up everywhere I find them, such as antique stores, thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales.
3. Buttons – I collect them through yard sales, thrift stores, estate stores, etc.
4. Zipper – I purchased a bunch of them at Lancaster Creative Reuse. To use them, I just cut the bottom of the zipper and slid the zipper pull off.
5. Crystal Bead – I bought a bunch of costume jewelry at an estate sale, and this was one of the broken pieces. I took apart this necklace and made this dangle bead charm.
6. Clock Hand – I also purchased the clock hands at Lancaster Creative Reuse.
7. Rusty Washer – I found this in a parking lot and thought it was beautiful. I sealed it with lacquer that is made for this purpose.
8. Chandelier Crystal – The chandelier was broken and I bought the pieces from my friend who owned the chandelier.
9. Little Metal Vintage Number – I purchased a few dozen from someone who had a large collection of these.
To put this necklace together:
If the element could be added to the chain with a jump ring, I used a jump ring. Otherwise, I wire wrapped the elements.
What do you have around your house that you can make into a necklace?
