How to Use Vintage Jewelry in Home Decor

Vintage jewelry is easy to find inexpensively at garage sales, auctions and thrift shops. The designs are intricate, sparkly, and dainty, which makes them ideal accessories for Victorian and shabby chic décor. Even broken or unpaired pieces of vintage jewelry can be used in creative and simple ways to add instant glamor and elegance to your home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vintage jewelry pieces (beaded or crystal necklaces, charm bracelets, pins/brooches, clip or screw-back earrings)
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue stick
• Needle-nose pliers
• Items already in your home (glass or porcelain plate or bowl, mirror, picture frame, knobs, bow, wreath, basket, curtain tie backs, toss pillow hand towel)

1. Place a handful of vintage jewelry in a pretty bowl or plate. This is the easiest way to display even broken, mismatched, or unpaired pieces. A clear glass plate or bowl will show the jewelry well on a dresser, bathroom counter or within a curio cabinet.

2. Place a dime-sized dab of hot glue on the back of individual pieces of vintage jewelry, and attach them to mirror or picture frames. You could use one or two pieces for an accent or cover the entire frame with an assortment of jewels.

3. Place a dime-sized dab of hot glue on the back of jewelry pieces and attach them to drawer, closet or cabinet knobs for an instant dose of pizazz to tired furnishings.

4. Clip vintage earrings or pins to the bow on a wreath or basket to add sparkle to your arrangements. Since these don’t need to be glued in place, you can easily remove them and change the look to suit the season or for special occasions.

5. Drape vintage beaded necklaces around curtain or drapery panels. The necklaces stand in for more expensive yet basic tie backs. Also consider draping necklaces to the front of a curtain topper or swag. This look works well with beads or crystal necklaces.

6. Alternatively, apply hot glue to attach coordinating jewelry pieces to a standard curtain tie back for an interesting twist.

7. Pin a vintage brooch, clip, or screw-back earring to a pillow for immediate elegance. Try jazzing up toss pillows on your sofa or your bed with this method.

8. Hook an earring or pin to a bow on a wrapped gift or on a ribbon tied around a rolled hand towel. The later adds a sweet spa-like feeling to a powder room or guest bath. These simple adornments show guests and loved ones how truly special they are.

9. Clip a vintage pin or earring to a lampshade in need of embellishment. Draping a choker-style necklace or charm bracelet around a small lampshade adds an equally luxurious look.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid cleaning vintage jewelry with harsh jewelry cleaners. Simply soak the jewels in warm water with mild dish soap and gently pat dry with a soft towel.

[creativewhiz]

on 8/13/2009 ooohhh...I LOVE THESE IDEAS! I'm adding this as one of my favs. so I could look at it quickly when I want to decorate with vintage jewelry. thanks for sharing! 5* all the way!