Breaking a favorite china dish doesn't have to mean losing it altogether. Gather the pieces and make jewelry from it to save the memories. This project is so simple that you may find yourself breaking things on purpose!
Simple Sanding Project
For a rustic look, smooth the edges of the broken pieces, and you're set to show off your new accessories. Add a bit of texture with a wire wrap, if you like.
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Things You'll Need
Safety goggles
Hammer or tile nippers
Rotary tool
Silicon carbide grinding stone attachment
Buffing attachment
Jump ring
Warning
Always wear safety goggles when cutting or grinding china, as slivers can fly a good distance from the pieces.
Step 1
Don your safety goggles before using the hammer or nippers to break or cut the broken china into jewelry-sized pieces.
Step 2
Grind all sharp edges with the rotary tool to smooth them. Grind the sides of each piece as well.
Step 3
Buff the edges and sides of the china to smooth and polish them. Wet the area slightly to make the task easier.
Step 4
Dip the smoothed piece in water and use a smaller grinding attachment to drill a hole in one end. Dip the piece in water every few seconds to keep the china from overheating, and to facilitate the grinding.
Step 5
Add a jump ring to the hole and thread it onto chain, cord, ribbon, or other hanging material.
Foil and Solder Project
Add a little shimmer to the edges of the broken china with copper foil tape and a soldering iron.
Things You'll Need
Safety goggles
Tile nippers or cutter
Sandpaper
Copper foil tape
Soldering iron
Lead-free flux
Pliers or long tweezers
Jump ring or bail
Jewelers' glue (optional)
Step 1
Heat the soldering iron.
Step 2
Cut the china pieces to the size you want for your jewelry pieces and sand the rough edges.
Step 3
Wrap the self-adhesive metal foil around the sides of the china, folding it to the top and bottom and smoothing it as much as possible with your fingers. Press firmly to be sure that the tape adheres well.
Step 4
Melt some solder and then brush the flux on one side of the piece. Pick up the piece with the pliers or tweezers and run the solder along that side. Continue to flux and solder all the way around the piece.
Step 5
Solder a jump ring to the top of the piece, or glue on a bail.
Leather and China Jewelry
Add a soft layer of leather to broken china for a fast, chic jewelry piece.
Things You'll Need
Safety goggles
Hammer or tiles cutters
12-gauge jewelry wire
Leather
Leather glue
Paint brush
Embroidery scissors
Step 1
Break or cut the china into the size and shape you like.
Step 2
Bend a 1/2-inch piece of wire into a U shape and push it through the leather. Bend the ends 90 degrees to secure it. This will be the bail to hang your china piece from.
Step 3
Brush the back of the china with glue and place the leather on the piece. Press it firmly and smooth it from the center to the edges.
Step 4
Add glue to the sides and wrap the leather onto the sides. Allow the glue to dry before trimming the excess with the embroidery scissors.
Tip
You can also glue a premade bail onto the china before adding the leather.