Handcrafted Jewelry

Four Surprising Materials for Handcrafted Jewelry

Handcrafted jewelry is something truly special; I must say, I am in love with it. Crafting has healed me and taught me to embrace change in my life, believing in the continuous evolution of existence.

There were times when I didn't recognize myself, suffering from nerve damage due to chemical exposure at work, which weakened my hands and caused loss of sensation. As a martial arts practitioner, I knew the solution was to activate the body, not avoid action.

I wanted to find an activity that would bring me joy and help strengthen my hands. Truth be told, I tried various hobbies before discovering knitting—baking bread, bead threading, sculpting with materials like paper mache and clay—all of which I abandoned for one reason or another.

The conclusion is that everyone has a passion, making them repeatedly want to return and create with their hands.

So, as a public service, I invite you to explore this surprising list of materials for creating handcrafted jewelry, some inexpensive and easy to find and others more complex and technical. All that's left is for you to experiment and adorn yourself.

A small recommendation before we begin.

Starting any journey is not easy and can sometimes be frustrating. Try to persevere and create several times before deciding, "This isn't for you." If it's a technical difficulty and not a lack of passion, the answer is probably "try again" or "look for a teacher." A teacher doesn't have to be paid; you'd be surprised how many communities of kind women are willing to help and teach you.

Now, we are ready for the first suggestion.

Handcrafted Jewelry from Recycled Materials:

Think about the amount of waste produced today. In 2008, an article published on YNET claimed that an average family in Tel Aviv produces about 2.5 kilograms of waste per day, while a family in Jerusalem produces 1.3 kilograms per day—that's a tremendous amount!

One way to reduce this is through recycling, which involves taking a product that has reached the end of its life and turning it into something new.

In my opinion, creating handcrafted jewelry from recycled materials is especially suitable for those of us who connect with the idea of ecology and have an open mind because the challenge is to take a raw material in, let's say, an unglamorous state and see the potential for beauty and aesthetics while recycling!

Handcrafted Jewelry from Paper:

Paper is a very special material for creating handcrafted jewelry for several reasons. The first is that it can be easily painted and decorated. You can find paper in many forms, such as in books you love or old books found on the street. These allow you to integrate messages and words that add layers of recycling and mystery because you often can't tell where the page came from.

Various packages with interesting hues or unique textures can be an intriguing option for raw materials.

Origami as a pendant or an earring can add creativity and sophistication to your look, whether it's a specific pattern or an animal. Paper folds that can be hardened with glue or plastic will preserve the paper over time. However, some prefer the natural look of paper when making handcrafted jewelry.

Handcrafted Jewelry from Coins:

Coins are a somewhat problematic material. The first issue is that defacing coins is illegal, so if you choose to try this, know that I do not recommend it unless you use old coins that are no longer legally in circulation, such as tokens.

There are artists who use coins as raw material that they saw to highlight certain parts or heat and reshape, sometimes adding an element that turns them into a ring or earring.

Coins are complex because they are made of metal, and working with metal requires ironworking equipment.

However, the results can be beautiful and eye-catching for those who want to try creating handcrafted jewelry.

Handcrafted Jewelry from Resin and Natural Materials:

Resin is a plastic material used in many fields, from carpentry as a glue to repairing boats made of fiberglass.

It usually comes in a liquid state in two separate containers that can be mixed in a disposable plastic measuring cup (this could be a plastic cup, a small sauce container that came with takeout, or even a bucket, depending on the desired quantity).

This material's uniqueness is that it can be used to encapsulate items from the plant (or animal) world. You can collect fresh flowers, leaves, beautiful branches, and anything that inspires you, pour some resin, place the object inside the prepared container, and cover the item.

The resin can be dyed with special resin colors and then processed like wood until it resembles a glass-like jewelry piece.

This is not the simplest technique; observing safety rules is also important.

However, resin is an interesting material that opens many possibilities for exploration and creation in all aspects of handcrafted jewelry.

In conclusion, this is a brief overview of several options you can experiment with.