Make a Bracelet from a Plastic Box Handle

Before: box handle

This is a quick and easy project made from the handle of a box. Soften and form the plastic, drill holes and add findings for a chic new bracelet.

Materials
Box handle

After: Bracelet by GeltDesigns.com

16-gauge brass wire 

Tools
Automatic  center punch

Gather tools

Drill and drill bit
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Rawhide mallet
Steel block
Bail making pliers

Step 1
Gather your tools and equipment.

Step 2

Drill holes in plastic handle

Mark the plastic handle with an automatic center punch. Drill a hole in each side of the handle.

Step 3
Place the plastic handle in very warm (but not boiling) water and shape the plastic until it takes the form of a cuff bracelet.

Step 4
Use the bail making pliers to create a heavy "S" clasp using the 16-gauge brass wire. Cut off excess wire using the wire cutters. File the ends of the wire smooth using a cup bur, needle file or sandpaper.

Bracelet by GeltDesigns.com

Step 5
Place the formed wire clasp on the steel block and hit the clasp with the rawhide mallet to harden the metal and prevent the clasp from becoming misshapen.


Step 6
Feed the formed clasp through the drilled holes.

Related Tutorials
Make a Bracelet from a Handle
Make Your Own "S" Clasp

Day 111. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: box handle New Jewelry a Day.  

Make Cuff Links from Beer Bottle Caps

Before: beer bottle caps

Bottle caps are a great, inexpensive source of jewelry making materials. Beer bottle cap jewelry items are very popular among the college set --- especially in college fraternities and sororities. 


For this project, we used bottle caps from beer made by the Lion Brewery in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. The bottle cap we used was red with a claw design. For added bonus, the inside of the cap has a puzzle. While in this project we covered the puzzle with the cuff link finding, we enjoyed figuring out the puzzles on each cap before we upcycled the bottle caps by making them into cuff links.

Materials
2 beer bottle caps
glue
16-gauge round brass wire


Tools
Half-round file

After: bottle cap cuff links by GeltDesigns

Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutter
Needle files

Step 1
Select the bottle caps. We used beer bottle caps, but any bottle caps will do.

Step 2
File the edges of the bottle caps until smooth.

Step 3
Make or select the cuff link findings. Old-outdated cuff links can be covered and used as findings.

Make coil

To make the cuff link findings, make a coil with the 16-gauge wire using round nose and chain nose pliers. Bend the wire so it is perpendicular to the created coil. Measure about 1/2-inch. Create a second coil beginning at the 1/2-inch mark. Trim off excess wire with wire cutters and file the ends of the wire smooth using a needle file.

Bend the second coil so it is parallel to the first coil. Bend the cuff

Add arc to cuff link finding

link so it arcs a bit to make is easier to put the cuff link on and take them off again.

Step 4
Glue the handmade or commercial cuff link finding to the back of the bottle cap.

Step 5
Repeat to make matching cuff link.

Step 6
Leave the bottle caps as they are or embellish with paint, finger nail polish, or decoupaged papers for a completely different look.

Related Tutorials
Make Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps
Make Chanukah Menorah Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps


Further Reading
"Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration"; Martha Stewart Living Magazine; 2009.


Day 110. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: beer bottle caps
New Jewelry a Day.  

Drill Shells to Create a Beaded Shell Chain

Before: Shells

We've done it before, but we love taking shells we collected and turning them into jewelry. After sorting through our shell collection, we decided to take so large shells, drill the ends of shells and string the shells as if they were beads. We created a long chain of shells that can be worn as a single strand long or a double strand short necklace. The shell chain can also be wrapped multiple times around the arm and be worn as a bracelet.

Materials
Shells
Stringing materials 
G-S Hypo Cement or other glue

After: Shell Necklace by GeltDesigns.com

Tools
Bead board (optional)
Drill & micro drill bits (size 62)

Step 1
Arrange the shells on the bead board in the order desired.

Step 2
Submerge the shells in water and drill holes in each end. Tip: We like to use the plastic top of a Haagen Daaz ice cream container to hold the water when we drill shells.

Step 3
String the shells on the wire or stringing material in the set order.

Step 4
Finish the necklace by tying the stringing material in a knot and adding a drop of glue.

Warning: Be sure to allow the glue to cure overnight before wearing the necklace.

Related Tutorials
Make a Necklace from Shells

Further Reading
"Beaded Jewelry with Found Objects: Incorporate Anything from Buttons to Shells"; Carole Rodgers; 2004.
"Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making and Beading (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer)"; Chris Franchetti Michaels; 2007.
 "Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies"; Heather Dismore, Tammy Powley

Day 109. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: shells
New Jewelry a Day.  

Make a Ring from a Button

Before: Button

Buttons come in many shapes, sizes and colors. If you are like us, you or someone in your family has a box of old mismatched buttons just waiting to be used or made into something fabulous. Buttons are great for making jewelry. When we were sifting through our button box looking for a button to repair a jacket we spotted this little gem and thought: ring.

Materials
Button
18-gauge brass wire

Tools

After: Button Ring by GeltDesigns.com

Ring mandrel
Wire cutter
Needle files
Chain nose pliers

Step 1
Determine ring size.

Slide button on wire

Step 2
Cut about 12-inches of wire using wire cutters. Slide the button onto the center of the wire.

Step 3

Wrap wire around mandrel

Wrap the wire around the ring mandrel at the marker for the ring size needed. Take care that the button remains centered as you wrap.

Wrap the wire three times around the mandrel so the wire with the button is the center wire.

Step 4

Wrap around button shank

Wrap the excess wire around the shank of the button. Wrap with one side of the wire to create two complete wraps. Wrap with the other side of the wire to complete to more wraps. The shank of the button should be covered and the button sits on a seat.

Step 5

Back of button ring

Trim any excess wire with the wire cutters. File the ends of the wire smooth using needle files. Tuck the wire ends under the wire near the shank using chain nose pliers so the ends are hidden.

Related Tutorials
Make a Leather & Button Bracelet
Make a Button Bracelet
Make Button Earrings
Make a Chain and Button Bib Necklace

Further Reading
"Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping"; Linda Chandler, Christine Ritchey
 "Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping"; Dale Armstrong; 2009.
"Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever"; Cynthia B. Wuller; 2008.

Day 108. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: buttons
New Jewelry a Day. 

Make a Crab Pendant from a Toy

Before: Toy and Screw Eye

The toy box is a great source of interesting items to make jewelry. When we first found this toy, we thought we might electroform it.... but we liked the colors and decided against covering the crab with a coat of metal.

Materials
Toy
Screw eye

After: Pendant by GeltDesigns.com

Tools
Center punch
Chain nose pliers

Step 1
Gather your tools and materials.

Step 2
Use a center punch or nail to create a divot in the top of the toy where the finding will be inserted.

Add screw eye as finding

Step 3
Screw the screw eye into the divot. We used chain nose pliers to get greater leverage. There is no need to drill a hole first.


Step 4
Feed a chain through the eye.


Related Tutorials
Make a Necklace from Lock Washers & Toys
Make Wine Cup Earrings
Make a Charm Bracelet from Toy Figurines
Make a Cartoon Pendant
Make a Spider Pin from a Toy
Make a Necklace from Figurines
Make a Lizard Pin from a Toy
Make Dog Earrings from Toys  

Further Reading
"500 Pendants & Lockets: Contemporary Interpretations of Classic Adornments (500 Series)"; Lark; 2008.
"500 Plastic Jewelry Designs: A Groundbreaking Survey of A Modern Material (500 Series)"; Lark; 2009.

Day 107. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: toy
New Jewelry a Day.