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Jewelry art and crafts are trending, especially projects that transform old or vintage pieces into meaningful memory keepsakes and decor. There’s something magical about taking a broken brooch, a single orphan earring, or a handful of old beads and turn them into a polished piece of art. With just a few simple tools, anyone can create stunning designs without advanced jewelry-making skills—just creativity, a steady hand, and an eye for arrangement.
The real secret lies in collecting unique materials. Vintage jewelry is surprisingly easy to find once you know where to look: family jewelry boxes, thrift shops, flea markets, estate sales, church bazaars, and small antique vendors often carry beautiful pieces for minimal cost. Many crafters also use affordable “broken jewelry lots” available online, which offer a mix of beads, charms, chains, brooches, and stones perfect for crafting. When these treasures are paired with strong adhesives, the right backing board, and a thoughtful layout, even damaged pieces gain new life as sparkling, timeless art.
Materials and Tools for Jewelry Art
Before starting any jewelry craft, it’s helpful to have the right basics on hand. You don’t need fancy tools—just a few key supplies to make your projects polished, durable, and easy to assemble.
Jewelry Pieces and Embellishments
- Vintage or broken brooches, earrings, pendants, charms, and chains
- Beads (glass, crystal, pearl, or acrylic)
- Cabochons, rhinestones, and small stones
Bases and Backing Surfaces
- Canvas boards, unfinished wooden plaques, or shadow box frames
- Felt or velvet sheets for lining
- Chipboard or MDF boards for heavier pieces
Adhesives
- E6000 or two-part epoxy for strong, permanent bonds
- Gem-Tac or Liquid Fusion for delicate stones or rhinestones
- Hot glue for lightweight pieces only
Essential Tools
- Jewelry pliers (round-nose, flat-nose, cutting)
- Tweezers, scissors, and wire cutters
- Needle files or Cotton swabs for precise detailing
Extra Design Helpers
- Acrylic paints, scrapbook paper, or metallic sheets for backgrounds
- Mini LED lights, glitter, or gold/silver leaf for added flair
- Wax paper or trays to protect your workspace
These essentials cover nearly all projects in this guide, from wearable accessories to stunning wall art made from vintage jewelry.
Where to Find Vintage and Old Jewelry for Crafts?
The best jewelry crafts often come from pieces that might otherwise be forgotten. Here’s where to find them:
- Family and Heirlooms: Check relatives’ jewelry boxes for brooches, pendants, or single earrings. These pieces carry memories and are perfect for necklaces, wall art, or keepsakes.
- Thrift and Charity Shops: Costume jewelry, mismatched earrings, and vintage brooches are often very cheap. Inventory changes weekly, so frequent visits pay off. Bring a magnifying glass to inspect for damage.
- Vintage and Antique Stores: Small shops and flea markets are great for unique finds. Ask for single items or “destash lots” for affordable crafting. Look for sturdy brooches, lockets, charms, and bold costume pieces.
- Estate and Garage Sales: Early arrivals can score hidden gems. Even broken or outdated pieces are ideal for upcycling.
- Online Lots: Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace have “broken jewelry lots” with beads, chains, charms, and single earrings—perfect for variety at low cost.
Pro Tips: Organize by metal, color, or type. Inspect for damage. Buy lots instead of singles for more options. Even slightly damaged pieces can be reused creatively.
How to Make Wall Art Using Old Jewelry?
Turn old jewelry into a stunning wall piece.
- Plan: Arrange pieces on a canvas, plaque, or shadow box. Try patterns or abstract layouts.
- Attach: Secure with E6000 or tacky glue. Use tweezer or plier for small items and press heavier pieces firmly.
- Finish: Fill gaps with beads and charms. Let the glue dry completely.
- Optional: frame or spray a clear coat of primer to prevent corrosion.
Related: Best Sealer: How to Waterproof Acrylic Paint on Rocks, Wood, Glass Crafts
Tip: Start small, mix metals and textures, and embrace broken or mismatched pieces—they add character.
Ready to get inspired? Dive into our 30 creative jewelry craft ideas below:
Broken/ Junk Jewelry Crafts
1. Wall Clock Jewelry and Watches Decor
Attach watch faces and metal jewelry pieces onto a clock border. Arrange parts symmetrically to keep the look clean and artistic.
Donna
2. Vintage Watch Snowman Frame
Stack old watch faces into a snowman and glue pearl scraps as snow. Mount everything on velvet and frame it for display.
3. Old Brooches Bouquet
Arrange old brooches and chains on a velvet-covered board to display like a bouquet. The brooches are pinned on the fabric and are still wearable.
Cathy Murray
4. Jeweled Picture Frame
Decorate the frame of a photo frame with junk jewelry.
Shop Nov
Old Jewelry Holiday Crafts
5. Vintage Jewelry Wreath Art
Framed wreath by arranging old brooches, earrings, and jeweled pieces on a fabric-covered board, then gluing each one into place. The mix of gold, red, and green gives it a classic Christmas look. Perfect for turning broken jewelry into a stunning holiday decoration that lasts for years.
6. Christmas Canvas Art
If you don’t have the heart to ruin any of your vintage jewelry, you can search for broken pieces in yard sales, get a frame from Goodwill and use velvet cut from a thrifted dress at Savers to make this arrangement.
7. Santa Sleigh Canvas Art
A mixed art canvas art made using buttons, beads, and brooches collection.
8. Christmas Mirror
Holiday decor DIY wall mirror made with vintage jewels.
9. Keepsake Ornaments Christmas Tree
Beautiful Christmas tree photo frame display made using keepsake ornament collectibles!
10. Vintage Photo Christmas Scene
Arranging old jewelry and trinkets to form a beautiful Christmas scene. It’s amazing how everyday items can be transformed into something so festive and full of charm!
Vintage/Passed-Over Family Jewelry Craft
11. Vintage Jewelry Floral Bouquet Frame
Arrange vintage brooches and earrings into a floral bouquet inside a frame. Glue pieces petal-by-petal for a realistic bloom effect.
12. Heirloom Hourglass Shadow Box
Display old watches, chains, and keepsake jewelry in an hourglass-shaped layout inside a shadow box. Use velvet backing to highlight sentimental pieces.
13. Memory Jewelry Family Tree Art
Create a tree silhouette on canvas and glue family jewelry pieces as “leaves.” Use each item to represent a family member or memory.
14. Vintage Jewelry Shadow Box
Pin vintage brooches, chains, and earrings inside a deep frame to preserve them as art. You can add small labels or notes to document their stories.
Sparkling Charm
Related: Shadow Box Ideas – Practically Smart Ways to Display
Jewelry Beads Crafts
15. Beaded Hanging Plant
Wire crystal beads into flowing branches and glue them in floral foam securely. Let them cascade for a shimmering window display.
16. Whimsical Beaded Curtains
String assorted beads onto long fishing wire and hang them across a doorway or window. Combine crystal, wood, and metallic beads for a rich texture and magical mornings.
Wall Art Using Jewelry
17. Brooch Display Picture Frame
Found a new way to display my brooches. Took a collage picture frame and covered the back panel with black velvet. The pins are just pushed through the velvet and are still wearable.
18. Dazzling Art Painting
Glue jewelry pieces onto a painted canvas to create textured abstract art. Highlight sections with metallic paint for extra shine.
19. Enchanting Tree of Life Jewelry Art
Shape a tree using layered brooches and earrings for the canopy, then form the trunk with old chains. Add a dangling charm swing to give the piece a whimsical keepsake touch using grandma’s jewelry collection.
20. Elegant Swan Wall Art
Outline a swan shape and fill it with pearls, beads, and rhinestones. Add layered feather effects using broken jewelry pieces.
Mixed-Media Jewelry Crafts
21. Vintage Jewelry Trees
Glue jewelry pieces onto a styrofoam tree with dressmaker pins to make sparkling holiday trees.
Kim Pepper Blog
22. Christmas Brooch Wreath
Cover a foam or grapevine wreath with jewelry, brooches, or even collectibles from thrift stores to make a sparkling festive wreath.
Carrie Bachmayer
23. Beaded Suncatcher Embroidery Hoop
Staple chicken wire on an embroidery hoop to hang collectible charms, beads, and crystals. Hang it near a window so the pieces cast colorful reflections.
24. DIY Curtain Tie Backs
String beads or chains into loops and attach to wall hooks. Match bead colors to your room theme for a cohesive look.
Erica Martin
25. Brooch Bouquet for Wedding
Combine gifted brooches, pearl beads, and fabric floral patterns to craft a lasting bridal bouquet.
Accessories and Wearables
26. Beaded Charms
Thread collected beads and charms onto safety pins to make decorative accents. Clip them onto bags, scarves, or gift wrap for a customized touch.
Ryanne
27. Broken Jewelry Keychains
Attach leftover charms, pendants, and bead clusters to keyring hoops. Mix metals and colors to create personalized everyday keychains.
Upcycling old jewelry is one of those creative projects that feels both nostalgic and refreshing—you get to honor the past while making something beautiful for the present. Once you start sorting through beads, brooches, and little forgotten pieces, it’s amazing how quickly new ideas come together. So pull out that box of old jewelry and see what you can transform today—who knows what hidden treasure you might create next?
Drafted by: Sabah Waqas
Written by: Hani Shabbir
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Such a beautiful and creative idea! Turning broken or old family items into jewelry art is a wonderful way to preserve memories while creating something unique. Truly inspiring.