Enamel flower pins, rhinestone brooches, orphaned earrings with clusters of pearls - even shoe clips have new life once they're upcycled into something new. Broken jewelry? There's a reason you kept it, isn't there? Check out the photos below and see what some creative folks have done with vintage costume jewelry and maybe you'll be inspired to go on an old jewelry treasure hunt of your own!
Brooch bridal bouquet with locket by Amanda Jane Heer via Etsy
DIY instructions for a jewelry bouquet from Fancy Pants Weddings
A few more versions of a vintage brooch bouquets...
by Noaki jewelry via Etsy
Or redesign them into something entirely new...
This is a great way to make use of orphaned earrings: attach them to metal jewelry blanks with stong adhesive (E600) and string them together with jumprings and lengths of chain to create a unique necklace.
Create a necklace with vintage brooches and ribbon with these DIY instructions from Martha Stewart
Bracelet made with vintage earrings by AmoreTreasure via Etsy
Rings made from old costume jewelry
Cute vintage jewelry belt buckle (above) and embellished purse (below) by Georgia Peachez
How about some home decor?
Manequin display from Bird Button Designs
Like the bridal bouquet idea? How about a retro brooch bouquet topiary?
Photo frame made with vintage costume jewelry by Kat Smith via Etsy
Wreath made from vintage jewelry from BHG
A framed version of a costume jewelry art Christmas tree
Swanky Fridge Magnets: Remove the pin-backs from old brooches with needle-nose pliers and replace with strong magnets
Brooch magnets from Just A Girl Blog
Before repurposing any old jewelry:
First ask close family members – daughters, sisters, if they'd like the pieces. Even if broken, they may have huge sentimental value to them if they are pieces that may have belonged to a common grandparent or aunt.
If someone wants to still wear the jewelry they could possibly take it to a jeweler and have the pieces rebuilt into something new.
If the jewelry is a family heirloom that is very old or antique, you may want to have the piece appraised by a jeweler and an antiques expert before configuring it into a new design since doing so could cause a loss of value if it turns out that your piece is a rare or valuable antique.
Once that is done, anything with sentimental value might want to be kept within the family. This is especially true if you have sisters or children who may place sentimental value on the items.
Sometimes a piece of jewelry, though it may be an inexpensive bauble, could have loads of sentimental value because it is a memento that represents an important time and place in a persons life. For example, maybe you have no use for grammy's Christmas tree shaped pin brooch, but your sister has vivid memories of grammy wearing it and would love nothing more than to own that piece. In this case, it's better to pass it on to someone who will treasure it as-is than to turn it into something new and or different.
Here are a few ways that you can incorporate old and even broken jewelry into your life and home while at the same time cleaning out your jewelry box:
First ask close family members – daughters, sisters, if they'd like the pieces. Even if broken, they may have huge sentimental value to them if they are pieces that may have belonged to a common grandparent or aunt.
If someone wants to still wear the jewelry they could possibly take it to a jeweler and have the pieces rebuilt into something new.
If the jewelry is a family heirloom that is very old or antique, you may want to have the piece appraised by a jeweler and an antiques expert before configuring it into a new design since doing so could cause a loss of value if it turns out that your piece is a rare or valuable antique.
Once that is done, anything with sentimental value might want to be kept within the family. This is especially true if you have sisters or children who may place sentimental value on the items.
Sometimes a piece of jewelry, though it may be an inexpensive bauble, could have loads of sentimental value because it is a memento that represents an important time and place in a persons life. For example, maybe you have no use for grammy's Christmas tree shaped pin brooch, but your sister has vivid memories of grammy wearing it and would love nothing more than to own that piece. In this case, it's better to pass it on to someone who will treasure it as-is than to turn it into something new and or different.
Here are a few ways that you can incorporate old and even broken jewelry into your life and home while at the same time cleaning out your jewelry box:
- Create a new piece of jewelry from some old: Fashion orphaned clip on earrings into a brooch by adding a glue-on pin back. Or turn various broken pieces into a bracelet by gluing them onto bracelet blanks that you can purchase at craft supply stores or from jewelry maker supply catalogs such as Rio Grande or Fire Mountain Gems.
- If you have an overwhelming supply of chunky 1950's to 1960's era clip on earrings these are specially great to use in crafts. Use a strong adhesive to glue them around a photo frame or mirror frame.
- Create a bouquet of old pins, brooches, pendants and earrings.
- Use an adhesive to glue a strong magnet to the reverse or flat side of old jewelry pieces, turning them into refrigerator magnets.
What do you think? Which is your favorite?
Have a great week!
Laura
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Article copyright ©Laura Beth Love 2019 and may not be republished in print or other media without express written permission from the author. For any link corrections please leave correct info in comment area.
Hello!!!! I've got here by Pinterest and loved it! What a nice blog! Congrats! If U like food and recipes, take a peek at my blog: www.saladaderucula.blogspot.com !
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting!
DeleteSuch creative ideas...I really love the bouquets and the framed pieces on the black background.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post!
Deletebeautiful ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteFun stuff! My favorite is the wreath.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteThese are just incredible! Brilliant ways to display these gorgeous collections.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post!
DeleteOh, love the floral arrangement in the jar and the bookmarks. And if I were getting married now, I would definitely want a bouquet! I wish I had my mother's costume jewelry .... I'll just have to look more closely at garage sales! Absolutely wonderful ideas!
ReplyDeleteI love the bouquets too!
DeleteWow! There is so much you can do with vintage jewelry! I love a lot of these ideas and now I wish I had kept my mom's old jewelry...darn
ReplyDeleteThrift shops!
DeleteLove this and all your ideas!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! Glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteWonderful blog, fantastic ideas, gorgeous pictures. Now I'm overflowing with inspiration. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat! Glad you liked the post and found inspiration in it!
DeleteThanks to these wonderful ideas I may be able to relinquish my hold on all the great jewelry that I have been hoarding and do something productive and fun with it.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! Might as well enjoy it, better than keeping it in a drawer!
DeleteWow! So many awesome ideas! My mom offered me all her old costume jewelery before she passed away when I was in my early 20s but I thought it was old and ugly- THEN and declined! I wish I had I had her jewels now but I saw so many pieces in this post that reminded me of her. Thanks for posting. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Holly!
DeleteHow could we not like these. I have my grandmothers from the early 1900's
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful - I'd keep that tucked away safe and sound :)
DeleteVery impressive and creative! I have acquired many vintage pieces of vintage jewelry, mostly with beads and have re-created other pieces with them. It is a great feeling to give them new life. What you have done here is very inspiring and very creative. I love your style. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I am also sharing and pinning this blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, glad you like!
DeleteReally enjoyed looking at all the ideas of what to do with old jewelry. Nice
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by :)
DeleteWOW! That's all, WOW! and Thank You!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like!
Deletegorgeous photos
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting :)
DeleteReally very beautiful
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteThese are fantastic!! Where do you get all of your jewelry to upcycle with?
ReplyDeleteThrift shops and flea markets, and sometimes from friends/family. Ask people and they will give it to you when they are going through getting rid of things!
DeleteVERY IMPRESSIVE ITEMS.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS :)
DeleteLove ALL of this! I've had a shoebox of old jewelry just sitting "there" with my husband begging me to get rid of...who knew I was just waiting for this idea! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting all these ideas together. I absolutely love them, esp the bouquets, framed art, and upcycled jewelry pieces - heck, I love them all :0) Definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I've seen a lot of new necklaces in stores that are inspired by this trend of upcycling old brooches and earrings. They have the look, but are not vintage. Interesting how the trend of upcycling is inspiring new jewelry designers today.
ReplyDeleteI've just started a collection of vintage jewelry pieces and have some odds and ends. Am debating whether to ultimately sell them to other artists or creating something new with them. Decisions. Decisions.
These ideas are amazing!
ReplyDeletehttp://colourmeviolet.blogspot.com/
I love each and every one of these! I'm just starting a collection and now regret turning down some jewelry at flea markets, etc. Earrings don't have to be worn as earrings, they can become a bouquet! Thanks for a beautiful post..
ReplyDeleteWhat type of glue should I use if I wanted to the a frame or mirror?
ReplyDeleteI would use E6000
DeleteI found your blog/post from Pinterest. I have a framed jewelry Christmas tree that my grandmother made. She made 5 of them (one for my mom and each of her 4 siblings)with her old costume jewelry, both great-grandmother's jewelry, and jewelry from anyone else in the family she could pawn it from. Ha! I remember when she made them, I thought she was little crazy... Although, she did let me pick the one I liked best and gave that one to my mom. I inherited it after my mom died. I have it hanging in my studio, I love all the memories that it holds.
ReplyDeleteRuthie
I lost my mom 13 months ago and have salvaged a lot of her costume jewelry. I have no idea where to begin or what to make. Any suggestions on where to start? A bok to read? I imagine I need tools to take the backs off the earrings so they'll lay flat. I also imagine that when I lay it all out an idea will come to me...but I want to do it right. I don't want to just throw something together. Email me at mikbrown123@gmail.com. Thanks.
DeleteI am still dabbing at the drool on my chin! I also found you through Pinterest and glad I did. Now I just have to acquire a LOT of vintage jewelry!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! I love those bouquets.It's amazing, you can really tell the old pieces. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYou do some pretty inspiring stuff. I wish I could find the jewelry pieces. I live in Arizona and haven't found much by way of old costume jewelry at the yard sales. It's too expensive at the second hand shops. Nice site anyways. Your time and efforts are appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI would try doing the magnets and bracelets! Thank you for sharing this! I love your blog :)
ReplyDeletemaialovetheo.blogspot.com
Laura Beth Love............ you are AWE INSPIRING and AMAZING. Thank you for your blog. Please keep doing it - it is soooo appreciated by me and millions of other I am sure. God Bless.x
ReplyDeleteBeverly Hughes your kinds words have made my day. Thank you :)
DeleteThanks for gathering all these gorgeous examples of creativity with vintage jewelry. How inspiring!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your pictures and ideas. I would like to attempt one or two of these ideas, but need to know how to remove tack pin backs...any ideas? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSaw them off with a jeweler's saw.
DeleteGreat ideas. I have heard that people were up-cycling vintage costume jewelry but this is the first time I am seeing the finished product. I love it! I have been collecting vintage costume jewelry for over 15 years and I am thrilled for all the attention my hobby is getting today. Up until this point I have been using broken pieces for decorating jewelry boxes, books and bottles. Finding your blog has given me new inspiration. I definitely will be following you on pinterest. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad that you were able to get a few new ideas from the post!
DeleteLove your ideas. I have started to do something with what I have saved since, from my mothers to mine own. Your ideas gave me refreshing designs. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGreat! I hope that you make something wonderful :)
DeleteHey Laura, I lost one of my Grandma's brooches. It was wooden and circular, in the middle it had one single pearl stuck. How can I remake this brooch from the beginning? Can you help me? :( Rosie
ReplyDeleteVery nice post!
ReplyDeleteHello thank you for using my tree of life vintage jewelry tree as an example . None of my trees have a drop of glue on them. I wire everything down,even the broken jewelry isn't damaged. My trees can be found on Bree Trees and jewelry on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteThank you for displaying my original design of the tree of life vintage jewelry tree. What a surprise! When I create my Trees I do not use even a drop of glue I preserve the jewelry and use wire to attach every piece even the broken pieces . My trees can be found on Bree Trees and Jewelry.
ReplyDelete