Upcycled – Page 2

Make Geometric Modern Jewelry With Balsa Wood

Have you ever wondered what you could do with balsa wood? I mean besides kid school projects? I inherited a stack of the stuff and it has been stowed away for years, waiting for me to be struck with inspiration. I saw these cool, modern DIY jewelry pieces from Infinity Blend and now I can’t wait to get started! You don’t have to have special power tools with this wood, just a craft knife and tiny screw driver you would use on your eyeglasses.

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Click on the image above for the full tutorial, or go HERE:

How to make handmade wooden jewelry with simple tools

Be sure and thank Maria for sharing with SBLC!

Be sure and check out our other jewelry tutorials here at Saved By Love Creations!

How I Cut Wine Bottles for Perfect Rings

by Johnnie Collier

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I am cutting the heck out of wine and beer bottles these days as I create recycled bottle art. There are several ways to approach this task. You can score the bottle with one of the many bottle cutting jigs available, or you can go the tile saw route. Today I am going to show you the best wine bottle cutter I have found, and how I separate the glass cleanly after making the score line. You will learn the best way to cut a wine bottle, as well as how I make the rings, then fuse them in my kiln to get the smooth “donut” like the one I made for the pictured necklace.

Creator’s Bottle Cutter

This is the cutter I use. I love it. I have tried several, and this one gives me the best score line with the least hassle.

PROS: It is easy to get an even score line all the way around the bottle since the bottle is supported well and you have both hands free to rotate it. It is great for cutting several rings of the same height from a bottle because you can easily adjust the blade location an even amount using the ruler on the blade guide.

CONS: I wish I could cut the bottle neck with this cutter, but sadly, I can’t. The blade doesn’t reach high enough for that.

This video from Delphi Glass shows you how easy it is to cut with the Creator’s Bottle Cutter. After making the score line, the video shows heat applied to the score line with a candle. I started out that way, but then found a quicker way that produces very clean breaks.

First make all of the score lines for getting several rings from one bottle. I like to make my rings 0.5-0.75 inches tall, so I just move the blade that distance for each line.

Once the score lines are made, I put the bottle back on the roller and heat the bottom score line. I hold the torch in my right hand and spin the bottle on the rollers with my left hand on the neck of the bottle. It is important to keep the bottle moving because applying the torch in one spot for very long will cause the glass to splinter and shatter.

Sometimes a few rotations with the torch on the score line will be enough to separate the glass. After 30 seconds of heat if the glass is still intact, I submerge in a bucket of cold water and that does it. Now the bottom is off of the bottle and I move on to the next score line. When it breaks, I have my first ring.

To get the smooth, flat ring shown in the beer bottle necklace, I put my rings in my kiln (I have a Paragon Fusion 14) and run to full fuse. You could do these one at a time in your a microwave kiln. That is how I started!

I showed you my first microwave kiln project here:

Sea Glass Jewelry; How to Drill Holes in Sea Glass

by Johnnie Collier

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I have been playing with sea glass that I bought in Florida a couple of years back, and I finally had some success with drilling holes for jewelry. I had to break several pieces with my Dremel before getting the hang of it. You don’t have to have a drill press to do this. I actually find it easier to hold the drill in my hand so I can feel the pressure I am exerting.

This video from Marc Horne describes the technique I used for my pieces pictured.

To wire wrap your pieces like I did, visit this DIY Dichroic Fused Glass Pendant I shared with you previously.

Do you make sea glass jewelry? What is your preferred drilling method?

Beginner’s Glass Fusing ; Recycled Glass Dichroic Earrings

by Johnnie Collier

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I have had a microwave kiln kit by Fuseworks for at least a year, and have finally gotten around to experimenting with glass fusing for the first time. This pair of earrings showcase the very first attempt using the kiln! I love them. For so many reasons, I love them. First, fusing in your microwave is super easy and fun. It takes like 3 minutes for the glass to turn all glowy and molten. So awesome. Secondly, you can use recycled glass and you all know how all about repurposing and eco-crafts I am, right? Once you invest in the kiln, you can break old bottles for your base, and purchase dichroic, fusible glass for not too high a price. Especially considering how beautiful it makes the pieces. I got sheets of it at Hobby Lobby for $4.99, and can get at least 10 fused glass focal beads out of that.

SUPPLIES:

I got my Beginner’s fusing kit at Hobby Lobby. It is cheaper on Amazon; Fuseworks Beginner’s Fusing Kit

Broken beer or wine bottles in colors of your choice

Dichroic and other fusible glass

Glass cutter

Running Pliers

Flush Wire Cutters

Round nose pliers

flat nose pliers

Antiqued Copper Wire 20 Gauge

Bead Landing Jig to make earring findings – you can make them your own way or buy them made, but I love this jig and it saves money to make my own!

TUTORIAL:

I used very imperfect rectangles of wine bottle shards, one slightly larger than the other, and a piece of transparent dichroic glass that came in my Fuseworks kit. Per the instructions that came with the kit, I placed the include fusing paper on the kiln, then stacked my glass layers on top of that. It is easiest to do this in the microwave because moving the kiln will cause your pieces to go all over the place and it gets really annoying. Put it in place in the microwave, then start layering your glass.

The larger green piece went first on top of the kiln paper. Next the smaller, then the even smaller dichroic shard, with the foil side face down. The kiln is small, but I did both of my earrings at the same time (not shown in pic).

Place kiln lid and turn on microwave for 2 minutes at first to begin fusing. Check after two minutes, making sure to wear gloves, by lifting lid. If your piece is uniformly glowing orange and the edges are rounded and fused together, you are done, but that is unlikely at 2 minutes. I kept going for 30 second intervals. The first attempt fused in 4 minutes. Then remove the kiln from microwave (without removing lid, which can cause rapid cooling and cracking of the glass) and place on heat resistant surface. I put mine on my stove burner.

Let cool for at least 30 min before removing lid! Don’t touch glass for 45 min, and even then, be careful! You can’t tell if it is hot by looking at it.

I left my pieces alone overnight while I decided what to do with them. Then I wire wrapped them like I showed you in this Bail free, glue free way to hang pendants tutorial. Or you can glue on a bail. Those came in the kit too!

I am addicted! I have had a couple of fails, but mostly just fun creating with a new technique, resulting in beautiful fused glass creations! I hope you love this medium as much as I do. Have you tried it before? Any tips you want to share?

DIY 5 Minute Button Ring

by Johnnie Collier

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This may be the easiest project I have ever done or shared! Make an adorable button ring in 5 minutes. What a great way to use the gorgeous buttons available in thrift stores and flea markets. If you can use glue, you can do this.

SUPPLIES:

Ring blank

E6000

Vintage Buttons – I used three in varying diameters

TUTORIAL:

To stabilize ring in upright position for gluing, push the base of it (where your finger goes) into a piece of styrofoam. Glue buttons on in a stack with e6000 and let it dry overnight. Told you it was easy and fast!

For more button craft ideas:

Make a Button Bracelet

by Johnnie Collier

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I found some beautiful wooden buttons in the scrapbook supplies at Joann’s recently and knew I wanted to make a bracelet using them. This project is super quick and easy. If you can open jump rings with pliers and use glue, you are well on your way to a cool piece of button bling!

SUPPLIES:

Jewelry Pliers

Jump rings

Metal connector pieces – These are the base for my bracelet. I found them at Joann’s on clearance in a pack of 6 (pictured above), perfect for the length of a bracelet.

Wooden buttons

Toggle clasp

E6000

TUTORIAL:

Attach metal connectors together using jump rings. Attach toggle clasp bar and ring the same way.

Glue the buttons onto the connectors as shown and let dry overnight.

For more button craft ideas:

Recycled Crafts and Decor Project Gallery from SBLC

by Johnnie Collier

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We have been busy gathering all of SBLC’s recycled craft projects and roundups into on spot! Now you have a go to destination for inspiration on crafting with junk. Feel good about yourself as you make beauty while helping to clear the landfills. Just click the thumbnail above or here: Saved By Love Creations Recycled Project Gallery. Enjoy!

DIY Jewelry Display from Repurposed Vintage Grater

by Johnnie Collier

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I am always on the look out for interesting jewelry display ideas. While out junking with the ladies, I spied this cheese grater, all rusty like I like it. Immediately “earring holder” came to mind. Not because I am a creative genius, but because in my Pinterest browsing I have seen just that – a cheese grater earring holder. This is the easiest project I have ever done.

I bought the thing for $3, brought it home and removed the tag with Goo Gone Sticker Lifter. You just apply the liquid, wait 2 minutes and scrape away the sticky.

Repurposed Cart to DIY Jewelry Storage

by Johnnie Collier

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There are tons of cool ways to make your own jewelry holders using the most random of objects. I shared a roundup with you not long ago – 50+ DIY Jewelry Display Ideas – with some of my favorite ways to store your bling. Today I am excited to share my jewelry storage solution using a cool rusty cart given to me by a friend. I saw it in her barn and lit up, immediately picturing bracelets and earrings dangling from the naturally aged, patina wire grid. She was happy to part with it, and I am equally thrilled with my awesome antique display. This project took a whopping 5 minutes.

I sprayed the cart with the water hose to removed the cobwebs and other debris. Then I wiped it down with a lint free, soapy, wet cloth. This was mainly to get rid of loose stuff. I love the rust, and wasn’t trying to get rid of that!

I spray 3 coats of Krylon Crystal Clear, which I had on hand for sealing polymer clay pieces. This was to protect my jewelry from the rust on the cart. I let that dry and it was good to go!

Need some jewelry to put on your new display? Got you covered:

Check out 50+ Other Creative DIY Jewelry Display Projects:

DIY Recycled Can & Plastic Bag Flower Pendant

by Johnnie Collier

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Recycled crafts are a favorite of mine, especially upcycled jewelry. Today’s project brings these together in flower pendant made from recycled aluminum cans and plastic bags. It’s true. I used a combination of techniques I have shown you in the past; dissecting aluminum cans and fusing plastic bags, both to be die cut with my Sizzix. This project is fast, simple, eco friendly, and pretty awesome.

SUPPLIES:

Sizzix Die Cut Machine

Flower Layers #2 Die

Soda can

Metal snips

Chain for stringing pendant

Hole punch or hammer and nail to punch hole

Eylet and Eylet setter – I use Crop-a-dile

Paint for petals or you can use the color of the can – I used Vintaj Patina Antiqued Copper

Plastic Bags

Copy paper

Iron

Ironing board

2 pairs of chain nose pliers

TUTORIAL:

The following video shows how to prepare the can and die cut the flower petals. You will use the Flower layers die instead of the rose die in the video.

*If you don’t have a Sizzix, you can still cut the can with paper punches like I showed you in this

As you can see in the pendant photo, you need 2 of the larger petal layer cut from aluminum cans. Paint them if you are going to. It would look cool with a fun color/patterned can too! If you are painting them, use alcohol inks, Vintaj patina or spray paint for metal. Acrylic paint won’t stay put.

Now to cut prepare the plastic bags for cutting with the Sizzix, you need to fuse them as I showed you in this Recycled Plastic Bag Bracelet Tutorial

Die cut the two smaller flowers from your fused plastic bag material.

Now you are ready to layer your petals. Hole punch the center of all 4 layers then, arrange them in a staggered fashion and insert and set eyelet.

Shape the aluminum petals with round nose pliers or a bamboo stick for dimension. The plastic you can just fold into position with your fingers. It won’t bend and hold shapes like the aluminum, but you can cup it some.

Make Geometric Modern Jewelry With Balsa Wood

How to make handmade wooden jewelry with simple tools

Be sure and check out our other jewelry tutorials here at Saved By Love Creations!

How I Cut Wine Bottles for Perfect Rings

Sea Glass Jewelry; How to Drill Holes in Sea Glass

Beginner’s Glass Fusing ; Recycled Glass Dichroic Earrings

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

DIY 5 Minute Button Ring

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

For more button craft ideas:

Make a Button Bracelet

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

For more button craft ideas:

Recycled Crafts and Decor Project Gallery from SBLC

DIY Jewelry Display from Repurposed Vintage Grater

Repurposed Cart to DIY Jewelry Storage

Check out 50+ Other Creative DIY Jewelry Display Projects:

DIY Recycled Can & Plastic Bag Flower Pendant

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

CHECK OUT 50+ MORE ALUMINUM CAN CRAFTS WHILE YOU ARE AT IT:

Meet Johnnie

Categories

Recent Printables

50+ Roundups

Be sure and check out our other jewelry tutorials here at Saved By Love Creations!

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

For more button craft ideas:

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

For more button craft ideas:

Check out 50+ Other Creative DIY Jewelry Display Projects:

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

CHECK OUT 50+ MORE ALUMINUM CAN CRAFTS WHILE YOU ARE AT IT:

Meet Johnnie

Categories

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