Junkmail Jewellery

Rubbish Revamped: Junkmail jewellery

Posted by Danielle L.

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Eco-jewels: make beads for necklaces or bracelets from junkmail, leaflets or old maps.

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You Will Need (8 things)

  • 1 x Paper
  • 1 x PVA Glue
  • 200 mm Wire
  • 200 mm Elastic Thread
  • 1 x Scissors
  • 1 x Ruler
  • 1 x Nail Varnish
  • 10 x Toothpick

Steps (9 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    You will need:
    A sheet of paper of your choice, eg this is a cover from a local magazine, Community Index
    Scissors or craft knife
    Glue
    Stretchy elastic thread
    Pen
    Ruler
    Tooth picks (about 10)
    Piece of wire
    Polystyrene block
    Clear nail varnish or other glossy varnish

  2. 2

    Instructions for tidy freaks
    On the wrong side of the Community Index cover, mark notches 2cm apart at the top of the page. At bottom of the page, mark one notch 1cm from the edge of the page, followed by notches all 2cm apart. The red arrows show a 2cm space. Now join notches from one end of the page to the other to make triangles. Cut out the triangles using scissors or a craft knife.

    Or… Guide for haphazard hackers
    Cut out long triangles from one end of the page to the other. Doesn’t matter if they’re not the same width. Variety is the spice of life.

  3. 3

    You will now have several triangles of paper, each of which will become a bead.

  4. 4

    Wind the triangle of paper around the toothpick. Put glue on the last 4-5cm of the strip and firm down.

  5. 5

    Make several beads like this and place them upright in the polystyrene block.

  6. 6

    Remove the beads from the toothpicks by twisting them off gently.

    Thread them on some wire, sticking either end into the polystyrene block.

  7. 7

    Paint the beads on the wire with clear nail varnish or other glossy varnish. Nail varnish dries quickly and can be reapplied within minutes. For other varnish, follow instructions on tin. Apply 2-3 layers of varnish.

  8. 8

    Thread one bead, tying a loose knot around it. Thread the remainder beads, measuring the beads on the elastic thread to suit your wrist size. Untie the first knot and tie two knots between the two ends.

    This bracelet contains beads made from the magazine cover and newspaper strips.

  9. 9

    Alternatively string your beads into a necklace using thick thread – eg tapestry thread – and incorporating beads from broken jewellery or buttons.

    Paper or ‘junkmail’ jewellery can be made with all manner of paper: try magazines, brochures, maps, old calendars.