Do you have time on your hands and are looking for projects to keep you occupied? Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Do you have a surplus of old costume jewelry? If you don’t have your own supply, the local Arc Second Hand Stores in Butte County are a great, inexpensive resource to begin a new hobby – one that might even make you some extra cash. 

First, visit the Arc Thrift Store in Chico, Paradise or Oroville and pick up one or more “grab bags of jewelry” that are stuffed full of old one-of-a-kind pieces. These are put together randomly just for crafters who use jewelry to add bling or create projects worthy of oooh’s and aaaah’s. Then scout out all the fun art projects online by searching on Pinterest. You’ll find endless ideas for the do it yourself crafty-at-heart-person using old and broken jewelry.

Second, pick out an item that you would like to bedazzle. The item you pick can be anything, such as a picture frame, furniture knobs, book marks, plant stakes, elbow patch, planter box, or create a masterpiece to hang on the wall for everyone to enjoy.

For Your Wardrobe

You could re-invent a belt buckle, a hat, a pair of shoes, make an elbow patch, or even create a piece of jewelry to match an outfit. Add jewel trim to the drawers of you dresser, night stand, finials on your curtain rods, around a mirror, or jewel up wood letters to spell your name. Make a do not disturb sign for your bedroom door. Get creative. And remember you can purchase that belt buckle or hat at your favorite thrift store.

[Image Source: What the Buckle] 

For Your Living Room

Create a work of art to display on a wall. It can be fun to pick and choose from among your jewel pieces to coordinate with the color and theme of your room. Make a picture frame to work with the colors in the picture, or decorate a lamp shade. Right now vase lamps are popular – you can fill them with almost anything by taking broken pieces of jewelry or beads to add a fun classy pop of color.

[Image Source: Art Ekstrax]

For Your Kitchen

Decorate a planter for the windowsill, bedazzle your cabinet knobs, make beaded tassels for your curtains, or tassels for a table runner. You could even take your DIY craft fun outside.

For Your Patio

Create a beautiful border around your patio table, decorate outdoor planters, do some beaded/jewelry work on placemats or coasters, or make pieces of art to hang on the sliding doors. Pick a theme or use brightly colored pieces to make flowers or plant stakes. Make a glorious wind chime to twinkle from a porch front.

[Image Source: Lush Little Landscapes]

For Your Garage

Decorate your license plate or hang a jeweled distance ball for guidance when parking your vehicle in the garage. Jewel up the remote for the garage door. Even jewel up the end of any pull strings for utility work lights.

Then visit your favorite craft supply store to purchase the right kind of adhesive, paint, and other items you choose for your jeweled DIY projects.    

Remember, you can find jewels galore at your local Arc Thrift Store in Chico, Paradise or Oroville. We look forward to seeing you soon!