Digging in the Trenches: FOUND - DIY Recycled Jewelry Holder Project

It makes me smile when one of my little craft projects gets some lovin'. Just found out today that my DIY Project: Upcycled Spindle Jewelry Holder was featured over on DIY&Crafts.com. Thank you DIY&Crafts!

Ooooh - it just inspires me to dig back in and get another project going...AND what would you know, it just happens that I stumbled upon some spindles in a cleaning project we were doing just a few days ago. Perhaps I should make up my next version of recycled spindles & glass knob jewelry holders that have been spinning on my brain for awhile now.

For today,  I need to get back to preparing a guest area for our dear friends from Kenya who are coming to stay with us this coming week. So exciting. I am sure I will have plenty of fun posts to share about their visit.

In the meantime if you want to try making up one of these lovely spindle jewelry holders recycled out of old furniture pieces - hop over to my earlier upcycled spindle jewelry holder post for some instructions.

-Simply Sublime

FREE Give-Away: Silver Scripture Necklace Jeremiah 29:11 Hope by Imani Design

Welcome! I am so glad you stopped by.

I wanted to start the new year by blessing your SOCKS OFF! What better way than by offering you one of my Scripture Necklaces that I create through my home business? So I am offering a chance for someone out there to win a FREE one! 

Check it out....

ENTER to WIN!!!

Two chances to win - 

1st Prize: Hope Scripture Necklace

2nd Prize: Four "JOY FULL" Burlap Gift Bags

FREE GIVE-AWAY by Imani Design. Drawing will be on January 6, 2014. All you need to do is hop on over to the Imani Design Facebook Page, like and comment on the FREE GIVE-AWAY post.

Wouldn't you just love to ring in the new year with a Scripture Necklace reminding you to live out your year full of hope? We have made it super easy for you. Just click on any of the links and it will direct you straight to the page.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

-Simply Sublime

How to make an Upcycled SCRABBLE PENDANT Necklace

How to make an

Upcycled Scrabble Pendant

What you will need:

Old Scrabble Game Piece

Paper / Fabric (I used thick scrapbook paper)

Acrylic Lacquer (Diamond Glaze or another brand)

Glue-on Bail

E6000 glue

scissors

Items you will need

I also am using a small bead to embellish - see photo below

Trace scrabble size onto desired location of paper.
Pay attention to what you want the pattern to be
on your pendant. 

Trim the paper to just a hair smaller than your scrabble piece.

Notice I am working over a plastic work area - this becomes important during the glazing phase.

Add a line of the glaze on the plain side of the scrabble
piece

Use your trimmed paper to smooth the glaze into a thin, even coating on your scrabble piece. Then place the paper on top. Gently smooth the surface of your paper with your fingers to make sure all bubbles are removed under the paper. If some glaze oozes out the sides simply wipe off. 

Now it is time to add a coat of glaze over the top of  your paper.

Make sure not to have any bubbles. Don't shake the bottle of glaze.

The glaze in now applied.

This is where I like to add an embellishment of some kind. It could be a small pearl, bead, crystal.

I was impatient so I placed the bail under it for this photo - but usually you would wait until the glaze has completely dried to apply your bail. The milky appearance of the glaze will disappear when it is dry...it will be clear.

This is the glue you will want to use to affix the bail to the back of the scrabble piece. It takes about a pea size drop or smaller, depending on the size of your bail. 

Is this about the simplest project you've seen? Once you have these supplies you will begin thinking about all kinds of variations on how to use them.

-Simply Sublime!

DIY Project - Upcycled Spindle Jewelry Holder - REDEEMED Line

REDEEMED: to free from what distresses or harms


Some of my favorite moments in life are when I find something that has been junked: possibly broken, fading, old, damaged...just plain discarded as useless & and I am able to restore it to something pretty, useful, interesting and valued. I might like to add in the process of getting older, used & discarded these pieces usually have developed some unique character of their own in this process as well. Reminds me a bit of my own life:

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption - Psalm 130:7 esv

Today I am going to show you a REDEEMED piece I made: BrOkEn TaBlE PiEcEs upcycled in to an adorable Jewelry Holder. The main spindle in this piece was rescued from a garbage pile. Poor little thing - but look at her shine now! She has sparkle, color and a purpose.

This process is pretty simple. Once you have your spindle you will want to gather your other materials.

Wood Sign for Base

End Caps for Dowel

Felt Protectors - adhesive backing

Here is the official List of supplies:

• Glass knob for the top (hardware store or even better a local RE:Store for used home building supplies.)
• Wood sign plaque blank (see photo above):  from craft store with routed edges - this one is 8" square
• 1/2" diameter Wood Dowel: from craft store about 10" - 12" long
• 2 Wood end caps (see photo above): found near dowel in craft store to cover each end of dowel - make sure the diameter of the hole in the end cap matches the diameter of your dowel.
• Flat head screw: for base
• One can of spray paint in your favorite color.
• Felt adhesive back dots

1. Step 1) You will want to begin by drilling a hole through a larger diameter area of your spindle towards the top. The hole needs to be the size of the dowel you purchased.
2. Step 2) Apply a bit of wood glue in the recently drilled hole and slide your dowel in. Wipe of excess glue on dowel.
3. Step 3)Apply dowel caps with wood glue to each end of dowel. 
4. Step 4) Drill hole through center of sign plaque base. Helpful Hint: on bottom of wood plaque draw a straight line diagonally from corner to corner to create an X - Voila! where they intersect is the center. Drill away. 
5. Step 5) from the bottom of your plaque up screw into the bottom of your spindle. (I apply a little wood glue in the spindle hole first.) Make sure this is straight up and down - you don't want a Leaning Tower of Jewelry... (okay that was cheezy) 
6. Step 6) Sand a bit with a medium and fine grit sand paper
7. Step 7) Spray paint away with your favorite color. If you want a finer finish you can also prime this first.
8. Step 8) Once paint is dry it is time to attach the decorative glass knob on top - again with a bit of glue and then screwed in. 
9. Step 9) Attach adhesive felt dots on the bottom for protection.

Note: Most spindles in furniture have a screw hole in them that they attach to the other pieces with. If your are damaged you may need to fill the holes with wood filler and let it dry for a couple days before starting this project. See below:

Hope you enjoy this project and are able to give it a try. I wish I would have taken pictures in the process to show you. Next one I get my hands to I will! I hope you have a chance to REDEEM something discarded in your near future. It is a great feeling!