How to Make a Bracelet From Antique Costume Jewelry
If you have antique costume jewelry pieces lying around -- either broken or seldom used -- create a new piece of custom-made jewelry by fashioning your pieces into a bracelet. You can use any vintage items, including buttons, pendants, charms, shoe buckles, earrings or rings. Once you have enough pieces to go around your wrist, or one piece you want to really show off, you are ready to create your new bracelet. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- For multiple-item bracelet:
- Stretchy ribbon
- Embroidery thread
- Beading needle
- Vintage jewelry pieces
- For single-item bracelet:
- Flexible nylon cable
- Clasp
- Wire cutters
- Crimping pliers
- 4 4 mm beads
- Large vintage jewelry piece
Instructions
-
Multiple Bracelet
-
1
Cut a length of stretchy ribbon long enough to loosely fit around your wrist. You should be able to comfortably fit the bracelet over your hand, but it should be snug enough that it will not fall off when your hand is relaxed. Sew the ends together with matching embroidery thread.
-
2
Lay one piece of jewelry on the ribbon. Sew the piece on to the ribbon, making several passes through the jewelry and ribbon.
-
-
3
Tie the thread into a knot on the underside of the stretchy ribbon. Snip off excess thread.
-
4
Sew on each jewelry piece until the ribbon is covered.
-
5
Use smaller items, such as beads, to fill in any unsightly open spaces by using the same sewing method as with the larger pieces. Make several passes through each bead and the ribbon. Finish each piece by tying a knot on the underside of the ribbon.
Single-item Bracelet
-
6
Cut nylon wire to loosely fit your wrist, plus add an additional five inches. The fit should be large enough to push over your hand and be comfortable, but not loose enough to fall off when you relax your hand.
-
7
Slide nylon wire through the clasp, then add a crimp bead, sliding the tigertail back through the crimp bead to create a loop. Pull the wire tight and use crimping pliers to flatten the bead. Trim off any excess wire.
-
8
Space out your four beads, leaving room in the center of the bracelet for your vintage focal piece. For the accent beads, slide on a crimp bead, an accent bead and another crimp bead. Flatten the crimp beads with crimping pliers.
-
9
Center your focal vintage jewelry piece on the wire before and after sliding on a crimp bead. Flatten the crimp beads to secure your vintage piece.
-
10
Continue adding accent beads at spaced intervals until the bracelet is full. Attach the other side of the clasp in the same way you attached the first, and finish by trimming off any excess wire.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Jewelry pieces that do not have an area to sew through or slide your wire through can be soldered to attach a loop. Local jewelers may provide such services for a nominal fee if you are without a soldering tool.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
