Making Jewelry Out of Junk

Using useless things that just lay around the house to make Jewelry is becoming increasingly popular these days.  Many people are making "Upcycled" Jewelry out of recycled metal, paper, bottle caps and other things.  Making Jewelry out of Junk is a way to stay stylish and environmentally friendly, which is important in this "Green" world of ours.  There are several artisans who will take old extension cords and use the old copper electrical wire from them to make beautiful wire-wrapped items.  Soda cans can be cut, or the pop tabs used to create pendants, chains, earrings, rings, and other jewelry items.  You know those annoying ads that you receive in the mail every Tuesday?  How about boiling those down to create paper-mache beads!  Or maybe you could cut them up and roll them into oblong paper beads.  Take those scrapbook paper remnants and make origami earrings out of them!  Or maybe you could string a bunch of bottle caps together to create a beautiful bracelet. The possibilities really are endless.  You can make something out of nothing!

Soda Pop Tab Ring

The ring pictured is of my own making.  It is made from upcycled soda tabs, a glass bead, and some silver-plated copper wire.  Easy Peasy!

How to: Barefoot Sandals – Amphitrite’s Regalia Collection

These Sandals are great for occasions when shoes are not required.  They are very popular for beach weddings, going to the lake, or chillin’ by the pool.  You can also wear them with your favorite sandals or flats to give them a bit of flair.   They are also sometimes called Barefoot Thongs, Bottomless Sandals, Slave Sandals, and Soleless Sandals. 

I wear a size 8 shoe.  You may need to adjust the number of beads used based on whether your foot is larger or smaller than mine.

Okay!  Let’s get started with the tutorial.  Forgive the blurry pictures, I need a new camera :\

Basic Design

Difficulty:  Intermediate

Tools and Materials Needed:

1.    Round Nose Pliers

2.    Chain Nose Pliers

3.    Flush Cutters (Wire Cutters)

4.    Fabric Measuring Tape

5.    Two 3” Piece of Chain

6.    Six 1” pieces of Chain

7.    Four 2” Pieces of Chain

8.    20 Gauge Wire

9.    Eight Silver Ring Beads

10. Sixteen Blue Circular Beads (Make sure they Fit in the Center of your Ring Beads)

11. Thirty White Seed Beads (Size 6/0 or “E”)

12. Four Jump Rings—Open (Mine had an inner diameter of 6mm)

13. Two Lobster Clasps

14. Twp pieces of Thread or String

STEP ONE:  MEASURE YOUR FOOT

Using your Fabric Measuring Tape, take the following two measurements.

 Measurement 1:  From the Base of your 2^nd toe to where your foot meets your leg. (Mine was 4.5”)

Measurement 2: Around the Ankle (Mine was 9.5”)

STEP TWO:  MAKE THE PIECE FOR YOUR ANKLE

Step 2 Part B

a.    Cut four 3” pieces of your 20 Gauge Wire

b.    Using one piece of the wire, make a wrapped loop through one of the 2” pieces of chain. 

c.    Thread on a Seed Bead, then a Round Bead, Then another Seed Bead. (Hereon referred to as a “Link”)

d.    Make a wrapped loop at the other end through a 1” piece of chain.

Step 2 Part D

e.    Using another piece of wire, make another wrapped loop through the end of Chain.

f.     Make A Link.  Attach a 1“piece of chain through the other end.

g.    Repeat Steps E and F

h.    Make a Link.  This time, attach a 2” piece of chain at the end.
Now, you should have 2” Chain, Link, 1” Chain, Link, 1” Chain, Link, 1” Chain, Link, 2” Chain.

i.      Do not attach the clasp just yet.

j.      Fold the finished piece in Half and tie a piece of string around it to mark the halfway point.

k.    The ankle piece at this point should be larger than your Measurement #2.

      

Semi-Finished Ankle Piece-- Step 2 Part J

• SET THE PIECE ASIDE

STEP THREE:  MAKE THE PIECE THAT GOES ON YOUR FOOT

a.    Cut a piece of wire that is Three inches longer than your Measurement #1.

Step 3 Part B

b.    Make a wrapped loop through Both ends of one of the 3” pieces of chain. 
 
So, the chain will make a loop.  Please note that if you are planning to do vigorous activities, such as running, while wearing your sandals, I strongly suggest using some elastic instead of chain for this toe loop.

c.    Straighten the wire with your fingers.

d.    Onto the wire, thread one seed bead.

e.    Now, put one of your Round beads inside of one of your ring beads and thread the wire through both. (A “Combo”)

Combo Bead

 f.     Thread another Seed Bead, then a Combo, a Seed, Combo, Seed, Combo, Seed.
 

 






So, you should have five seed beads and four combo beads on your wire.  With the toe loop, it should be about an inch longer than your Measurement #1.

 STEP FOUR:  COMBINE THE PIECES

Step Four

a.    Now, take your foot piece and your ankle piece and combine the two by making a wrapped loop with the foot piece through the center of your ankle piece (remember you had that marked with thread?).

STEP FIVE:  ADD THE CLASP

a.    Thread a seed bead onto a jump ring, then add the lobster clasp – attach to one end of your ankle piece.

b.    At this point you’ll want to try on your sandal.  Make sure your point your toes while trying it on so that you will be able to walk in them.

c.    Thread a seed bead onto another jump ring and attach it to your ankle piece where it is the most comfortably enclosed.  Trim any excess chain from the end (Unless you want to keep it for decoration).


  The ankle piece will end up measuring about 1" larger than your Measurement #2.

STEP SIX:  MAKE THE OTHER SANDAL

a.     

Repeat Steps 2 – 5

YOU’LL END UP WITH A PAIR OF VERY ELABORATE, BEAUTIFUL, BAREFOOT SANDALS.