At Upcycle with Jing, my journey into upcycled jewelry began with a simple plastic bottle and a YouTube tutorial, as part of a university project. What started as a small experiment has since blossomed into an exciting business to me. Over the years, I’ve practiced and experimented countless times, perfecting the art and techniques of creating sustainable yet luxurious jewelry from plastic bottles.
One of my favorite designs is the Lily of the Valley. This design has become especially popular during the summer. Inspired by Finland’s national flower, the Lily of the Valley, which flowers bloom for just three weeks in May. This design captures the essence of summer. Now, with our DIY Jewelry Kit - Lily of the Valley, you can create your own pair of these beautiful earrings and celebrate summer in style.
What You'll Need:
- Materials: PET plastic bottle (green and clear or any color you like)
- Tools: Hole puncher, round nose pliers, candle & matches, scissors, cutter, markers
- DIY Jewelry Kit - Lily of the Valley from Upcycle with Jing (includes cutting pattern, beads, and all necessary metal parts)
Instructions:
Step 1: Harvesting the Leaves and Flowers
Start by cleaning the plastic bottles. Using the cutting pattern, carefully cut out the leaves from the green plastic bottle and the flower petals from the clear plastic bottle respectively. Gently curl the flower petals by holding them near the flame of a candle, and use the cutter to etch leaf veins for a more realistic look.
Step 2: Positioning
Arrange the flowers, leaves, chain, and earring hoops until you are happy with the layout. And mark their position.
Step 3: Fixing the Flowers
Thread the eye pin through a bead and a flower petal, then attach them to the chain. Repeat this process.
Step 4: Fixing the Leaves
Attach the leaves to the top of the chain using small rings, ensuring they are positioned at different points to create a natural flow.
Step 5: Attaching the Hoops
Finally, secure the earring hoops to complete your design.
Creating these earrings might seem challenging at first, but with practice, you’ll find the process incredibly rewarding. Plus, you can explore endless possibilities by experimenting with different plastic bottles to create unique pieces.
Start your upcycling journey and discover the joy of turning everyday materials into beautiful, sustainable jewelry.