DIY Recycled Denim Jewelry

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Hello neighbors! On Mass Appeal, we will be doing 3 segments on DIY denim jewelry. Today, we will be making these bracelets. These segments are produced to give you quick and easy projects that look good enough to wear. The techniques can easily be expanded to make professional grade pieces of art if you choose. We will be making the easy stuff you can do with your kids for less than $10 in supplies in less that an hour. 🙂 My daughter and and I made these while watching Wonder Woman 1984.

Here is what you will need to make the bracelets:

SUPPLIES

Jeans

Metal cuff bracelet or bangle bracelet (It will be covered with fabric so it doesn’t matter if it’s tarnished with flaws. You can get one cheap at goodwill or a discount store.) Bangles work but are harder to glue.

Glue gun and glue sticks

E6000 clear permanent glue

Decorations such as rhinestones, ribbon, resin cabochons, half pearls or old jewelry. (I have boat loads of this stuff if you need some!)

Craft felt or fabric for lining

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Cut denim into a rectangle about 1 inch larger than the bracelet as shown.

Step 2

Trace around the cuff bracelet with a pen. Cut around the edge with about 1/4th inch extra fabric.

Step 3

Cut little sections around the outer edge of the denim so you can glue them inside later. Cut a pattern the same size as the pen tracing. Then cut it a little smaller. This will be used for the felt inside lining. You can put the paper pattern inside and see how it will fit.

Step 4

Use your hot glue gun to glue the denim to the end of the bracelet.

Then cover the inside fabric with E6000 glue as shown. Flatten the denim firmly on to bracelet, then use the glue gun on the other end. (The glue gun is just to hold the denim firmly in place. The E6000 is permanent.)

Step 5

Now we glue the edges to the inside. Put a line of hot glue around the inside edge, folding the cut edges over. Do this all the way around.

Step 6

Take the felt lining and hot glue the inside end to secure it. Then use E6000 on the inside of the bracelet and glue in the entire lining. Use the hot glue on the other end also so it dries securely. Then let this dry for about 3 hours.

Step 7

Decorate! This is my favorite part! You can use broken necklaces, flat back resin cabochons, beads, ribbon, glitter glue, etc.

A: For your first decoration layer, you will want to use the E6000 directly on the denim for things like lace and ribbon.

B: For the next layer, such as rhinestones or pearls put E6000 on the back of the stone and a drop of hot glue in the center to secure it instantly.

C: Then for the small accent rhinestones, just use the E6000 glue. Allow the entire piece to dry over night.

That’s it! It’s really easy. With fashion jewelry, it’s not the quality of materials you use but the DESIGN that makes it look artsy. If your design is good, no one will notice you used “recycled or cheap” materials. Then when you get good at it, you can buy real stones, antique lace, etc. As usual, I have enough findings for all of us, so let me know if you need anything. It’s free for Mass Appeal viewers! For people outside of Massachusetts, it’s just the shipping cost and the price of the supplies. Nothing major!

The next segment we will be making these denim earrings, then the necklaces. Let me know if you want a specific style and I’ll try to make you something. Thanks so much for watching. I love sharing DIY videos with you.

LINKS:

Broken jewelry lots