Simple DIY Vintage Charm

Saw THE cutest vintage looking charm on a lady the other day and commented on how cute it was so I could buy more time to study it and take the mental notes!  I noticed the filigree frame right away since I already had some at home :)   She told me her son bought it for her birthday from a local boutique.  A very sweet gift indeed.  Here's my rendition of the charm necklace.

This project requires 5 minimal materials:    Filigree charm base, any chain you may already have, rosary link or even an eyeglass necklace will do, a single jumpring, a Vintage looking image cut from a card or downloaded and printed from free or purchased images available online, and lastly a clear sealant.

That's it!  This would make a lovely Mother's Day gift.  (hint, hint)

See other gift ideas here.

What to do on a quiet afternoon?

The house is empty, it's my day off and I just spent the afternoon doing what I love, making charm jewelry. I just completed the final assembly for a special order I've been working on, a retirement charm necklace gift.  Ahhh, retirement....can't wait!

This was made to order with a custom company logo charm, airplane charm, hand stamped "Enjoy the Journey" charm, hand stamped employee number, a uniform button, and strand of rhinestones.

A wonderful retirement gift, a memento of years of service.

Congratulations!

See other samples of retirement charms here.

One Charming Treasure
The Charm Hunter

Pretty Little Vials...

These pretty little glass vials can hold your tiniest of treasures...

Add a couple decorative bead caps to fancy up your bottle.  You can roll up a tiny note, fill with 

glitter, sand, etc.  Seal with cork and add charms, shells, beads, etc to embellish your pretty little treasure.

                                                    See other finished products here

I'd like to congratulate Lyndsee who recently graduated with her MBA while juggling three kids and a full time job.  How is that even possible?  I don't know, but Lyndsee did it!  I was pleased to make this personalized achievement charm that she purchased as a memento of her milestone achievement.  I thought she chose the most fitting scripture...

             "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."  Proverbs 16:3
                                                   
                                                             Congratulations Lyndsee!          

See other achievement charms        

You gotta love this...

    I'm partial to silver, but I've been collecting brass charms over the past year, one by one, whenever I could find them.  Some vintage, some costume and some new.  When I checked my stash, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had enough to make not one, but two vintage charm bracelets.

   To help "fill in" the bracelet, I beaded some loose beads and pearls and a rhinestone button. You are bound to find some mismatched pieces of your own jewelry to add to charms you've collected along the way too.  I recommend keeping a small bowl or coffee cup near your jewelry box to collect broken and lost and found pieces.  One day you too will have enough pieces to make your own.  :)

                                                             See other images here.

Here's an easy project to get your creative juices flowing:  Visit your local fabric store and look for accessory trims, usually sold by the yard.  Or, you may have broken pieces of your own treasured jewelry that you just can't part with.  Below are two rhinestone chain strands.  Approximately 8 rhinestone boxes from the bottom of the left strand, and 6 rhinestone boxes from the right strand, glue or solder the next 6 boxes up together.  (I soldered mine)  At the tips you can add single round rhinestone pieces for a finishing touch. You'll also have to attach two rings at the top ends for a clasp, or if it's long enough to fit over your head you can skip that last step.  That's it!

Simple and bling-bling elegant, a perfect finishing touch to any outfit...

Sell other images here.

DIY Charm Jewelry

Recycle and reuse broken elements to re-create beautiful charms!  All you need is a jewelry tray, an image on paper, a charm or a broken piece of china, and strand of rhinestones.  That's it.

I used a 1" jewelry tray, a broken piece of china shard, and piece of a broken rhinestone necklace.  Cut and alter elements to fit perfectly in the tray.  Once perfectly trimmed and centered, use an industrial strength glue to adhere to tray, then coat and seal with glaze.  Lastly, add a couple beads (also from broken and mismatched found jewelry pieces) and string to a necklace chain.  Wallah!

  That's all there is to it.  Now you have a beautiful charm necklace created entirely from recycled elements.

                                                  Additional images available here