Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A to Z, 2012-- J is for...

ME!

No, wait... that's not quite right... well, I mean, it is, but it's not the word I want to talk about.

Today's word is Junk.

As much as I love to use fancy rocks and beautiful gems and whimsical glass, there is something to be said for creating something beautiful out of practically nothing. I believe that the term now is called "upcycling"-- using things that would have otherwise been discarded, for an entirely new purpose.

My mom picked up a pair of earrings down in Florida, made from soda can tabs and shells:

Thanks for sending me the photo, Mom! Love you lots <3

On Pinterest, you can find many more things like this-- a ring made out of an old forka bracelet made out of old credit cards or gift cards, a bracelet made out of knitting needles, beads made out of old rulers, a bracelet made out of tape measures, a necklace out of old book pages...

Oh... I almost forgot... they have beads made out of paper, too! This example used Archie comics... I wonder who made it? They must be an AMAZING artist, and a wonderful handmade jeweler~ hee hee hee!
(By the way, those links are NOT from *my* Pinterest page... just someone who has very similar interests to mine!)



I love getting deals at thrift stores and bargains at yard sales. It's the thrill of the hunt-- the idea of finding something special that I can use for a project, something that has been discarded by someone else.

On my most recent thrift store expedition, I found two very interesting objects at an absolute steal-- less than $5 for both--
I'm going to have to do a close-up of each of these at some point. They're all really interesting beads-- carved from stone-- some of them look like chess pieces, others look like Transformers, others look like Aztec relics. Oh, and there's one bird thrown into the mix, too~
Or at least, I think it's a bird... either that or a fish...
And "found object" number two-- a brass bracelet, with black and white resin centers!
I've already taken apart the black and white and brass bracelet-- I'm using one of the "links" as a focal point on a necklace-- but I have NO IDEA what the stone beads are going to be yet.

My family always said that one man's trash is another man's treasure, and I couldn't agree more. Before you throw something away, think not what it is today, but what it *could* be.

See you all tomorrow. Happy creating!

6 friends stopped by to chat:

AntiquityTravelers said...

Love the 'upcycling' ... I wrote a blog about that back in Feb! Lots of fun stuff out there being made this way. There is a group on Etsy with a bunch of artisans making great stuff out of 'another man's trash' ! :)

AntiquityTravelers said...

oh, and check out this blog if you haven't already! http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/

My Arabic Journey said...

Dropping in from the A-Z Challenge. Happy creating!

nutschell said...

I actually have trouble throwing things away bec. I always think I've the time to do some creative with them:)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Happy A-Zing!

Sylvia Ney said...

One man's junk is another man's treasure! ;-)

New follower here. I’m enjoying reading my fellow “A to Z”ers. I look forward to visiting again.

Sylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Love this post. Those can earrings are adorable! I am a huge fan of reusing, especially in my crafts (I mostly make bottle cap earrings).

xoxo Lloralye @ Adorning Schemes A to Z

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