How to Make Unique Jewelry with Recycled Materials
Whether it’s collecting stones as souvenirs from trips abroad, using old Levi’s 501 jeans, or utilizing broken family heirlooms, crafting custom jewelry with recycled materials is a great way to put your own spin on an item that has been worn before. For creativity-seeking individuals looking for eco-friendly ways to reuse materials, here are the top tips for making personalized jewelry with recycled materials.
Gather Found Objects
The first step in making personalized jewelry with recycled materials is to go through your belongings and find as many natural, unique objects to use as you can. From stones, to charms, to items like buttons, coins, beads, or bottle caps, the possibilities are nearly endless. Additionally, you could go in your backyard or to a local beach and find a variety of treasures such as driftwood, colorful sea glass, and shells.
Once you have gathered enough items, take the time to lay them all out and select the ones that mean the most to you and that you think will work best for the jewelry pieces you’re creating.
Select the Right Base
Depending on how you are using the found objects, you generally want to pick a base that is well made and won’t tarnish easily, such as gold or silver. By starting with a well-made base, you can be sure that your metals and stones won’t be affected when the found objects are attached. From here, the base you choose will dictate what kind of jewelry you can make – from necklaces and earrings to cuff links and rings.
Work on Your Design
Once you have the pieces selected for your personalized jewelry, you can start sketching out your design. When crafting jewelry with recycled materials, the beauty lies in the variety and unpredictability of the items. So resist the urge to have an exact plan, and instead, use this as an opportunity to explore and use the found objects in unexpected ways.
Learn the Tools of the Trade
Since you will be crafting your jewelry by hand, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the tools necessary to actually make the design you have sketched out. A few basics you will need include saws, pliers, drill bits, hammers, files, polishers, and all the necessary supplies to put the jewelry together – such as glue, clasp, jump rings, and wire, depending on your design.
Put Your Design Together
Once all of the supplies have been gathered and the items have been prepped and measured, it’s time to start assembling the pieces of your jewelry. Be gentle, but firm, when putting the pieces together and take your time. You may need to use various tools, such as pliers and drill bits to complete each part of the jewelry. Additionally, depending on your pieces, you may want to consider obtaining the proper silver-smithing techniques to solder or fuse your jewelry, giving it a more polished and professional look.
Finishing Your Jewelry
Once all the pieces have been put together into the jewelry, be sure to give it a final look through, checking for any imperfections or loose stones that may have come apart. If you’re happy with the look, you can wrap it up as is, or give it an extra polish or patina to bring out the colors of each piece.
Wear and Share Your Masterpiece
The last and most exciting part is putting your custom jewelry on and showing it off! You have carefully and creatively brought together a unique piece of jewelry that you can share with others for years to come. If your piece includes personally significant items, remember to share the story behind it with family and friends!
Making jewelry with recycled materials is a sustainable way to up-cycle your possessions and can also become a creative outlet. With the right combination of found objects, accessory pieces, and tools, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece that allows you to express each of your personalities.
Jessica 
