Costume Jewelry Crafts
Use Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Brooches in Crafts
Costume jewelry crafts are simply crafts made using costume jewelry. This can include using a piece, such as clip on earrings, in a different way like for shoe clips instead of for earrings. Another option is to use numerous brooches to create a brooch bouquet.
The sparkle and glitz of many costume jewelry pieces, especially vintage costume jewelry, lend themselves to crafting. If you have some broken costume jewelry, those pieces are perfect for crafting and you won't feel guilty about taking them apart.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
What Is Costume Jewelry?
And should you really take it apart?
From Wikipedia: The term costume jewelry dates back to the early 20th century. It reflects the use of the word "costume" to refer to what is now called an "outfit"; for example, a "handsome street costume of maroon brown velvet." Costume jewelry is meant to complement a particular fashionable garment or "costume"; Hence the name, "costume jewelry."
This photo shows three vintage necklaces. On the green three-strand necklace, the beads are plastic; some are smooth and some are coated with something that gives them texture. This necklace is strung on a cotton type string, and the clasp is a cheap hook clasp in base metal. Even though it's an inexpensive piece, I think it's still pretty.
This would be a perfect piece to take apart if you wanted to because it's not valuable. Or it could be used as a lovely necklace for a doll or teddy bear. Many vintage necklaces are really chokers (only about 15 or 16 inches long) that don't fit many "modern" women's necks! Another consideration is using costume jewelry that you just wouldn't wear, such as clip-on or screw-type earrings.
To learn about the value of specific costume jewelry pieces, look for a mark or signature. This is a small, often hard to find or read, name engraved or stamped on the metal part of a piece of jewelry. Some examples are Coro, Trifari, Coventry, and many others. Antiquing On Line provides three pages of jewelry makers' marks. This list is probably not comprehensive but it's a good start for identifying whether your jewelry has value. For more information, check the Amazon links below.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Identify Costume Jewelry - and Determine Its Worth
Before taking apart your costume jewelry, you may want to do a little research to find out if it has value. These links provide research books that are a good starting point.
Costume Jewelry and Mosaic China on a Glass Vase
Earring Magnets
Use Costume Jewelry to Make Magnets
I love the look of unusual magnets. With a few pieces of costume jewelry, such as earrings or a brooch, it's possible to transform them into jewelry for your fridge or filing cabinet at work!
The three clip-on earrings pictured here were cheap costume jewelry pieces I got in a lot of jewelry at an auction. I was never going to wear them, and since they reek of the 1980s, I wasn't sure anyone else would ever want to either.
So, I clipped off the backs and glued a magnet to each one. Ta da!
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Make Costume Jewelry Crafts - Books to Inspire
These books show examples of upcycled costume jewelry. A little inspiration goes a long way in repurposed old, broken jewelry into something new.
Add Bling to Your Lamp Shade
If you have a simple lamp shade that you want to
dress up, clip costume jewelry earrings (the clip-on
and screw-on types) around the top. It looks lovely!
Make a Wreath with Costume Jewelry
Vintage or new costume jewelry works
One year at Christmas, I helped two of my grandchildren make this wreath. Since they were young (under 7 years old) at the time, I knew I'd have to do a lot of the manipulation of actually making the wreath. So, I let them choose the costume jewelry from my stash of goodies to use on the wreath.
First we covered a styrofoam wreath in white, red, and green felt by pinning it at the back. We draped necklaces around the wreath, using it as garland. I sewed the ends in place at the back. Then we began using straight pins to attach the clip on earrings and brooches to the wreath.
Finally, I added a hanger using a piece of ribbon to form a loop. They hang this wreath on their front door each year during the holidays.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Brooch Bouquets for Sale on Etsy - Click a small image to enlarge it.
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Brooch Bouquets - Costume Jewelry Made Even More Beautiful
Brooch bouquets come in all shapes and sizes. These links provide a range of lovely options to inspire.
- Pearl & Bronze Brooch Bouquet with Ivory Wrap by AlwaysAfton
This is a brooch bouquet made from repurposed bronze pins. Both ends of the pins were used, and at the side angle, you can see the pin hooks. - Vintage Brooch Bouquet by estherleejewelry on Etsy
This Green brooch bouquet is so fun! What an awesome work of art, created with treasured memories and family heirlooms: brooch bouquets. They are hand-made and designed with love and each one tells a story.
Costume Jewelry on eBay - Vintage Earrings
Find the perfect vintage jewelry on eBay.
Ideas for Crafts using Costume Jewelry
- Costume-Jewelry Makeovers - Martha Stewart Crafts by Material
Pardon the irony, but costume jewelry often feels a bauble too precious to wear on any given day. Thanks to Blueprint's easy, do-it-yourself reinventions, the "diamonds" in your jewelry stash -- from that crystal bracelet to those cubic zirconia earr - Collecting Vintage and Contemporary Jewelry: Craft Ideas for using Old Vintage Jewelry Pieces
Craft Lots, Junk Jewelry Lots, Pounds and Pounds of broken jewelry. I see this type of thing offered on ebay all the time. These lots are often full of broken jewelry, or worn jewelry of bits and pieces of old jewelry. Do you ever wonder what people - Build a Custom Jewelry Kit
Family Economics -- If there are occasions when you wish you had the perfect costume jewelry to coordinate with an outfit, but your accessory department lacks much diversity, there's a way to create custom jewelry for fairly cheap. Build your own cus - DIY Ideas and Crafts Using Old, Vintage Jewelry — Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Ten, Cool, DIY Projects using old jewelry. Make some amazing crafts and home decor projects with old jewelry. Get the creative juices flowing.
Affiliate Disclosure
This author, Peggy Hazelwood, participates in Amazon, eBay, All Posters, and other affiliate advertising programs. When you click an advertising link on this page and make a purchase, I receive a small percent of the sale. Thank you for reading this far!
