Yesterday I showed how I made a $150 bracelet for free. Today I am going to explain how I turned the faux jasper beads into a bracelet and show what else I made yesterday while playing. I used a watch! My mom gave me a really cool bracelet watch that used to belong to my Aunt Susie. It didn’t have a battery, and I don’t really wear watches, but I knew I could make it into a cool bracelet! I used a dot of self sticking Velcro on the face.

I attached the female part of the Velcro to the back of the faux jasper beads disc.

Look what else I made!

I made a rosette out of a vintage piece of lace and a fancier one out of some glittery fabric I got on clearance at Joann’s. I used my no sew, no hot glue method for these. I attached Velcro to them as well. I also used a button, a capiz shell with glass beads, supplies left over from my bottle cap necklace project with Swarovski crystals, and a twine disc made from a cereal box. All have Velcro and are interchangeable. How great would these be for traveling? One bracelet worn in a multitude of ways!

Linking Up Here:

Our Favorite Things – My Life’s A Treasure

Made By You – Skip To My Lou

Show Me What Ya Got – Not Just A Housewife

Trash 2 Treasure – Kammy’s Korner

Doggone Dirty Crafting – Rhinestone Beagle

Pinspirational Thursday – Confessions of an ADD Housewife

Today was too hot to work outdoors! It was kind of a relief to take a break from my outdoor projects as I had a design deadline I had to meet. So today I would take breaks and just play. Play! I never do that. But I should do it more often as it totally opened up my creativity! I made a bracelet that I have been wanting to make for a while now. I have been wanting to make a version of a jasper bracelet that I saw in a catalog for $150. Today I did it, not thinking about it, just playing and letting my creativity flow.
I took a strand of beads that I got at my sisters yard sale and painted it aqua. I used Krylon Aqua spray paint. When it was dry, I brushed it with acrylic paint that I got at another yard sale. I used olive, blue green, and turquoise mixing and blending as I went along so that the beads resembled the jasper beads in my catalog.

At this time, I was just playing, not even sure it was going to work. When the beads started resembling the ones in the catalog I knew I was on the right track. I needed a base for the bracelet so I took an aluminum to-go container (that I had washed and dried) and cut out the center in a circle. It needed some stability so I cut out some cardboard in the same size and shape as a backing. I used a cereal box from the recycle bin. I love repurposing!
I glued them together and spray painted them brown with Krylon Espresso. I brushed a bit of gold acrylic paint on and it was perfect!
I glued the faux jasper beads in the center of the disk with Tacky Glue, winding around from the center.

I kept gluing and winding until it was done. When it was dry I dabbed a bit of nutmeg paint on the beads here and there.

Check back tomorrow to see how I turned this into a bracelet and to see what other things I came up with while playing today. Play! Who knew?
Here is the $150 version:

Linking Up Here:

Our Favorite Things – My Life’s A Treasure

Made By You – Skip To My Lou

Show Me What Ya Got – Not Just A Housewife

Trash 2 Treasure – Kammy’s Korner

Doggone Dirty Crafting – Rhinestone Beagle

Pinspirational Thursday – Confessions of an ADD Housewife

Last week, while out jogging with Bella, I spied a cardboard box at the curb of one of the houses on our route. Guess what was in it? Leftover pieces from a crystal chandelier! I doubled back there towards the end of our run and stuffed my pockets full of treasure!
Today I made some earrings out of a couple of the strands. I washed and dried them and removed the hook that attaches crystals to the chandelier.

I used a finding with a loop on the end, threaded it through the hole in the top of the crystal, and bent it upward.

I looped it around three times and snipped the end with needle nose pliers.

I added a French wire hook and tightened the existing connectors and they were done!

So pretty and sparkly!

And the best part is, since I had everything, they were freeeeee!

Linking Up Here:

Our Favorite Things – My Life’s A Treasure

Making The World Cuter Mondays – Making The World Cuter

Show Me What Ya Got – Not Just A Housewife

Trash 2 Treasure – Kammy’s Korner

Doggone Dirty Crafting – Rhinestone Beagle

Pinspirational Thursday – Confessions of an ADD Housewife