How to Make Bracelets From Old Earrings & Brooches

Recycle old brooches and earrings into posh bracelets.

Vintage brooches and earrings look gorgeous in your jewelry box, but maybe they don't quite fit your style. If you aren't really a brooch person, or you can only wear sterling earrings, you may be missing out on some fantastic boho-chic looks.

Instead of forcing pieces into your wardrobe or letting them languish at home, turn them into something truly you. Reforming brooches and earrings into bracelets can take these pieces to a new, modern level of style.

Things You'll Need

• Flexible measuring tape
• Thick ribbon trim
• Ribbon clamp clasps
• Pliers
• Old earrings
• Old brooches
• E6000 adhesive

Instructions

1. Measure around your wrist and add about 1/2 inch to that measurement. For instance, if your wrist measures 5 inches around, your final measurement is 5.5 inches.

2. Cut a piece of ribbon to your final measurement.

3. Slide either end of the ribbon into a ribbon clamp clasp. Squeeze the teeth closed with pliers.

4. Lay all of your old earrings and brooches face down on a flat surface. Firmly grip the posts on the backs of each piece of jewelry with pliers and snap them off. For fishhook earrings, simply open the bottom loop in the hook and slide it out.

5. Arrange and rearrange the earrings and brooches on your bracelet until you're satisfied with the layout.

6. Smear the back of each jewelry piece with E6000 adhesive. Press the jewelry piece back down onto the ribbon. Use the tip of the adhesive bottle to smear the glue; if you use your finger, you may stick to your work. Let the glue dry overnight.

7. Clasp your new bracelet around your wrist with the claw clamp clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a charm bracelet with the same materials. Glue pendant bails to the back of each brooch or earring after breaking away the pins. You can then slip them onto a bracelet chain.

• Thick canvas ribbon or polyester ribbon work well for this project because they hold up for a long time. Choose a design with open spaces or pick a solid color of ribbon.

• Elaborate brooches make gorgeous centerpieces. Try placing coordinating pairs of earrings on either side of a brooch centerpiece.

References

• Beading Gems: How to Make Ribbon Jewelry
• Ribbon Choker: How to Make a Ribbon Choker Necklace or Bracelet
• AZ Central: Turn Old Jewelry into One-of-a-Kind Treasures