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Want to upcycle an old container to store your jewels? Here’s a tutorial to show you how.
Do you ever finish a good moisturiser or yummy snack and look at the packaging and think, I could use this for something? Well I do! If you want to upcycle an old jar into a cool container to store your jewelry, follow along. Please note that this tutorial contains affiliate links.
You’ll need the following tools and materials to make your upcycled jar:
1: An empty jar. I used this glass and plastic jar that was leftover from an old moisturiser.
2: Air dry clay. I used terracotta colour clay but you can also use white.
3: A pen, rolling pin, jar or something else that is round that you can use as a rolling pin.
4: A cookie cutter shape. I used this fan shape.
5: A tub filled with water.
6: Paint brushes.
7: Acrylic paint. I used brown and red paint.
8: Paint pens.
9: PVA glue.
Follow these steps to upcycle your old jar into a trinket container:
1: Take a lump of clay and roll it out flat using the marker pen or rolling pin.
2: Drape the flattened clay over the lid of the jar.
3: Press the clay around the sides of the lid.
4: Pinch off the excess clay using your fingers and fill in any gaps.
5: Smooth out the clay using wet fingers.
6: Flatten the excess clay again and cut out a shape using your cookie cutter.
7: Add some texture to the clay on the top of the jar and one side of the shape.
8: Press the two pieces of clay together.
9: Smooth out the clay again using wet fingers.
10: Set the lid aside to dry.
11: As the lid dries, some cracks might occur. Fill in any cracks using some extra air dry clay. Wait for it to dry before adding the paint.
12: Once the clay is fully dry, add some acrylic paint to the surface, do a couple of layers for good coverage.
13: Add extra decoration using paint pens if you like. I used a pastel red paint pen.
14: Add a layer of PVA glue over the painted surface to seal it. Once the glue is dry, the lid is finished and your upcycled jar is ready to be used.
Here is the finished jar with some other upcycled jar designs I made previously. How cute! These jars are great for storing silver jewelry to protect it from oxidisation.
If you’re looking for more DIY jewelry storage options, check out these tutorials:
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Looking for fun ways to store your jewelry? Why not make a cute little ring dish?
I love having my jewelry out on display so I can admire it even when I’m not wearing it. I usually keep my special pieces in little bowls and dishes so they can add some sparkle to my home. This tutorial shows you how to make an adorable trinket dish using air dry clay. Please note that this tutorial contains affiliate links.
You’ll need these tools and materials to make your trinket dish:
1: Air dry clay. I used terracotta colour but you can also use white clay if you prefer. White clay will give a base for more vibrant paint colours when you come to decorate your designs.
2: A dish filled with water. This allows you to smooth out the clay.
3: A pen or something else round like a bottle, or a mini rolling pin for rolling out your clay. I used a marker pen.
4: Paint. I used some pink acrylic paint, you can use any colour you like.
5: Paint markers. I used a metallic blue paint marker.
6: Some PVA glue for adding a shiny top coat to the dish.
7: Paint brushes.
Follow these steps to make your adorable trinket dish.
1: Grab a chunk of clay.
3: Roll it out flat, trying to keep it in a circular shape. Keep the thickness of the clay consistent by using a rolling pin or something similar to flatten the clay.
4: Take one side of the clay circle and pinch it. This will form a fold in the clay and start to form a bowl shape.
5: Pinch the other side of the clay to finish forming the bowl shape.
6: Dip your finger in water and use it to smooth out the edges of the bowl.
7: Set the bowl aside to dry, depending on how dry the air is where you live, this could take a few hours to a couple of days. I accidentally left mine in the rain so it took a little longer to dry!
8: Once your bowl is dry, you can add paint. I painted mine with pink acrylic paint. I suggest doing a couple of coats of paint, waiting to do the inside and the outside so that the paint doesn’t smudge while its drying.
9: Once you are happy with your paint coverage, add extra decoration using paint markers. I added metallic blue dots to mind.
10: Coat the bowl with PVA glue to give it a glossy topcoat that also protects the clay from moisture.
Now your trinket bowl is finished and ready to use! Here’s mine with some silver rings inside.
If you liked this tutorial, you can also learn how to make a ring stand out of air dry clay here.
Here are some other air dry clay tutorials you can follow:
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Having Trouble deciding what to make? Here are my top 10 fave tutorials!
Here is a count down of my top 10 favorite tutorials on DIY Jewelry hub so far. I hope some of your faves are in here too!
10.
Transform beautiful buttons into stunning and unique earrings. This tutorial is a personal favorite of mine and I wear my button earrings all the time!
Check out the button earring tutorial out here!
9.
This one is for the fellas! A quick DIY that leaves you with some incredible and unique cufflinks. I gave a special pair to my Dad.
Click here to make your own unique cufflinks.
8.
This design is pretty cool! Using memory wire and some crimp beads you can make your beads float across your chest.
Here are all the steps to make your own floating bead necklace.
7.
How cute are these? I love these festive pom pom earrings, especially as the silly season is coming up soon!
Make your own pom pom earrings, follow these steps.
6.
Recycling doesn’t have to be messy! I love upcycling old cardboard tubes and and plastic rings into jewelry.
Make yourself some recycled ribbon bangles!
5.
This beaded triangle pendant is one of my favorite designs! All you need are some awesome beads and three eye pins and you’re on your way.
Check out the triangle pendant tutorial video for some DIY inspiration!
4.
Want to make your own beaded rings without using a ring finding? Here’s how! You’ll be decorating your fingers with these delicate beauties.
All the steps to make beaded rings are right here.
3.
Anklets are great, especially in summer. This video tutorial shows you how to make a simple beaded anklet to make that ankle shine!
Follow the anklet making steps right here.
2.
This looping technique is super easy to do and gives a great effect! I bet every necklace you make using this technique will look completely different. This tutorial is also perfect for making gifts.
Check the beaded loop necklace tutorial out right here!
1.
What’s more exciting than making your own bead jewelry? Making your own beads! Using air dry clay to make your own beads is easy, fun (and just the right amount of messy).
Get stuck into the bead making, all the steps are right here!
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Want to make something sweet for Mom? How about a handmade heart?!
Mom’s love something that comes from the heart… so why not make her a pretty rustic handmade heart pendant or bead out of air dry clay? Here are some instructions for making handmade hearts two different ways to give to your mom this Mother’s Day.
You will need the following tools and materials to make these clay hearts:
1: Air dry clay.
2: A skewer.
Follow these steps to make these cute clay hearts:
1: Pull out two small pieces of clay from the package.
2: Work the clay a little bit and form them into balls.
3: Take one ball and flatten it slightly.
4: Using your fingers form the flattened clay into a rough triangle shape.
5: Use the skewer to define the top of the heart.
6: Poke the skewer through the top of the heart to turn it into a pendant.
7: Create your desired pattern on the heart pendant. I used the end of the skewer to create a polka dot effect.
8: Repeat steps 3 to 4 to form the second heart shape.
9: Use the skewer again to make a hole through the center of the second heart that runs from top to bottom.
10: Create a pattern on the second heart.
11: Set both hearts aside to dry!
12:Now that your clay hearts are dry all that’s left to do is to add your new beads to some stunning jewelry designs. What will you make for your mom?
Here are a couple of pics to give you some heart-filled inspiration!
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Keep Your Rocks On Display, Make Your Own Clay Ring Holders!
I love rings, and I have many more rings then I could ever wear at once. If you’re like me and you want your ring collection to stay on display so you can admire them all the time why not make yourself some ring holders? These ring holders are made out of air dry clay. Using clay gives you lots of scope for creativity, make your holders in any shape you like. This tutorial shows you the steps to make a simple ring holder.
You will need the following tools and materials to make a clay ring holder:
1: Air dry modelling clay.
I used this terracotta colored Fimo air dry clay; however this DAS terracotta air dry clay will give a similar effect!
2: Some scrap paper or baking paper to work on (this clay can get a little messy).
Here are the steps for making a simple clay ring holder:
1: Take a portion of clay out of the package to work with.
2: Work the clay with your hands for a while so that it become easier to form into shape without any cracks.
3: Once your clay has become more pliable, roll it between your hands to form a slight cone shape. Make sure the cone is thin enough at the for you to fit your rings on. Make sure that the bottom of the cone is wide enough to stop your rings from falling off completely!
4: Make the base of your ring holder flat by carefully pressing it against your work surface so that it can stand on its own. Once you’ve got the basic shape you can add some decorative elements to your ring holders. I decided to keep these ones quite plain.
5: That’s it! How easy was that? Once you have formed all the shapes that you want, place the holders in a safe place, maybe out in the sun so they can dry.
6: Once your ring holder is dry (it may take a couple of days for your clay to dry completely) it is ready to use! You can also paint your ring holders with acrylic paint to add an extra element of style. I painted these holders using turquoise and gold colored acrylic paint.
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Give Your Jewelry a Unique Edge by Making Your Own Beads!
I love making jewelry with pretty beads and pendants made out of different materials like gemstones and glass, but sometimes I want to my jewelry designs to have a special, one of a kind edge. To make sure that my designs are truly unique, I sometimes make my own beads out of air dry clay. Using clay allows you to get really creative with the shapes and forms that you create. Not only can you make your own beads, you can made some beautiful pendants and charms as well. Using air drying clay requires a little bit of extra patience (As you wait for them to dry) but it is an easy fun (and slightly messy) material to work with!
In this tutorial I will show you a few different ways that you can make unique clay beads and pendants.
You will need the following tools and materials to make these clay beads and pendants:
1: Air dry clay. I used terracotta colored Fimo Basic air dry clay.
I used terracotta colored Fimo Basic air dry clay but this DAS air dry clay in terracotta gives a similar finish. You can also purchase it in white!
2: Baking paper. Baking paper is a great surface to work on and helps to keep your surfaces clean!
3: A skewer for making holes in your beads and pendants.
4: Buttons or other materials for adding pattern to your beads and pendants.
The Steps:
Here are the steps for making a round clay bead:
1: Lay down a piece of baking paper.
2: Take out a portion of clay.
3: Begin rolling and shaping the clay in your hands. Forming a spherical shape can be easier if you roll the piece on a flat surface.
4: Once you are happy with the shape you have made, take the skewer and poke a hole through the center of the bead.
5: Your shape might be a bit disfigured after poking the skewer through, carefully reshape it again and poke the skewer through the hole from the other side. This will ensure that the hole is evenly shaped on both sides.
Here are the steps for making a textured round clay pendant:
1: Take another piece of clay and begin shaping it into a sphere.
2: Take the spherical shape and then flatten it between your palms to make a disk shape.
3: smooth the surfaces out by pressing each side lightly against a flat surface.
4: Once you are happy with your shape, take a button and press it into the upper face of the clay. Make sure you press down firmly to get a good impression in the clay.
5: Remove the button to reveal the impression made in the clay.
6: Take the skewer and use it to create a hole in the pendant disk. As with the round bead, you may need to poke the skewer through from both sides.
Here are the steps for making a rectangular clay pendant:
1: Form a rectangular shape with a piece of clay using your fingers to make your desired shape.
2: Take another button or charm and press it firmly into one end of the clay shape.
3: Remove the button to see the impression it has left in the clay.
4: Use the skewer to create a hole at the top of the pendant. Make sure you poke the skewer through to create an even hole.
Here are the steps for making a coiled clay pendant:
1: Roll some clay backwards and forwards on a hard surface using your fingers.
2: Continue rolling until your piece of clay is a long flexible log shape.
3: Coil the log into a spiral shape and pinch the end to create a space for the hole to be placed.
4: Poke the skewer through the top part of the pendant. Make sure to even out the hole on both sides.
When you have finished making all of your clay designs, pop them outside to harden in the sun. If that doesn’t suit you can leave them to dry inside.
Once your pieces are dry you can get to beading with them right away or you can add some extra pizzazz by finishing them off with some paint.
Here are some tutorials that show you can use your handmade clay beads and charms:
- Turn your clay charms into scented diffusers
- Make a flower necklace with clay beads
- How to make clay love heart charms
- Make a double strand necklace with clay statement beads
Here is some more inspiration for making jewels out of your handmade clay beads and charms.
Some of these beads have a metallic finish that was achieved by mixing gold acrylic paint into the clay when it was still wet. 
These clay beads were painted with acrylic paints after they had dried. 
These hand formed cube beads were painted with red and gold acrylic paint. 
A memory wire bracelet made using hand painted clay beads and blue glass seed beads. 
Handmade clay buttons This tutorial contains affiliate links
