How I Upcycled Old Jewelry into Christmas Ornaments

I love making beautiful things out of discarded objects. Life needs Art so I try to make a lot of it. Many hours of work went into making theses sparkly and intricate "Royal Ornaments". Hope you like my video!

[@sherrygraham8650]

I love #6, but they all show how beauty can be made from the broken.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Great comment, and thanks for choosing!

[@enough1494]

My fave is the peach and green flowered one. Beautiful!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Oh, thanks for liking them and for choosing! Sorry for not commenting sooner, I didn’t see your comment till now.

[@kathrynseaman6482]

Beautiful use for old/broken jewellery. Love the gold flower with pearls!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thank you for your beautiful comment!

[@utube101x]

I was looking for ideas to upcycle vintage jewelry and I think you inspired some ideas - I may do similar, more 3D and sun-catcher style since the Christmas season is over now.

[@dorothealeblancart]

So glad you were inspired, thanks for your comment!

[@2ksbill724]

Wow I Love it! If you take the pressure off you can untangle anything! Your pieces are beautiful!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks so much for your encouragement!

[@theresa5168]

Beautiful!🎉 Thank you for sharing.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for the compliment and the comment!!

[@susieq2cute]

My favorite is No. 6. But, they’re all beautiful.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for your comment and for picking your favourite!

[@roxannefoti7494]

Could you explain the pouring medium, please. They are beautiful.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for your comment … there is a thick plastic liquid called “Pouring Medium” that they sell in art stores which most people use for making artwork via “pours”. It’s fascinating art, you can look it up. Well that’s the stuff they use (and add colour to) and I bought a gallon of it once by accident thinking it was gesso! Not wanting to go back to the store I decided to find a use for it. 😂

[@angelinalozada189]

Just Lovely, Thank You.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thank you so much!

[@dannawarnell988]

Gorgeous!! So beautiful!! ♥️♥️♥️ sorry, cannot pick a favourite 😄 they are all beautifully unique!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks so much for commenting Danna! You’re very encouraging!

[@joansmith6259]

So beautiful, I love them all! Those backgrounds you've laid down really complement your designs!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Oh, thanks for that comment! The backgrounds took quite a while to do, and then I had to change some after the jewelry was attached, to make them “go”.

[@creativegirl9710]

Wow! absolutely gorgeous! I drooled when you showed your incredible collection of junk jewelry. If your selling these, they will be a hit. Love how you pour glue over all of it. So smart. I've made note of what your using.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for the comment friend!

[@creativegirl9710]

@@dorothealeblancart ❤👍

[@artsydancequeen2964]

I love them all but my favorite is the one with the angel. What do you pour on them after there are finished? Resin?

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks so much for your comment!! On these pieces I used pouring medium on the jewelry for a final coating, and matte varnish on the background (so it wouldn’t be shiny)

[@sherriedangelo5504]

Soooooo Beautiful!!!! Where do you find all the jewlery to use?

[@dorothealeblancart]

I’ve been collecting broken and old jewelry from second hand stores for 15+ years. Occasionally my friends will give me some of their old, overused jewelry. I began by using my own stuff… single earrings, tarnished chains, etc.

[@dorothealeblancart]

@@sherriedangelo5504 and thank you!!

[@loved1lost333]

I love #6! Great job

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for your response!

[@carolekinsey7835]

So unique and very beautiful. 😊

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks so much for your great comment!

[@JerrieLegree]

Beautiful!...but why are they all on blue background?

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for your comment! Great question and lately as I looked at them (in my living room) I thought the same thing. I think laziness is the answer. … I was imagining a snowy background. (By the way, my iPhone makes colours more intense than they really are.)

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Those are stunning! What kind of glue do you use? Does it need epoxy or just glue? Would Mod Podge work? I love them! They are wonderful🐝🤗❤️

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thank you for your encouraging comments! (Sorry my answer took a while, I’m in Nova Scotia and we’re currently out of power) As far as glue, this time I used Pouring Medium as the glue. Sometimes I use E6000 or white glue. I’m not experienced with ModPodge but I think it’s more for paper products.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@dorothealeblancart You’re most welcome. I hope you and your family were safe from the storm. I know it was bad up there. Thank you for the information. 🐝🤗❤️

[@dorothealeblancart]

@@deborahdanhauer8525 thanks for the well wishes ... we got power back on Wednesday afternoon ... some people are still out of power though. :(

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@dorothealeblancart I remember how difficult that is from ice storms we have gone through that caused power outages. Right now Florida is in a mess from the last hurricane (Ian) and South Carolina is getting a smaller version of the same one. It’s been a bad year for storms.😔🐝❤️

[@annabelleromero6171]

You indicated you used pouring medium to glue. Are you talking about paint pouring medium? The finished pieces are beautiful and don’t look like there is any glue residue. I would love to try this technique with my mom’s jewelry.

[@ctfenlon]

I didn;t see how it is "glued" or resin, how does it stay in place?

[@dorothealeblancart]

On this project, I tacked everything down lightly with a thin acrylic varnish (sometimes I use thinned down white glue). And then when it’s totally dried, I paint on a layer or two of pouring medium - not so much that it flows over the piece, but I also paint the edges.

[@paulaneary7877]

How very lovely! I just finished a jewelry tree for a holiday gift and I was looking for something else to do with my broken jewelry, I am so GLAD I got to see this video. Your work is fantastic. may I ask what type of glue ue use on the first layer when gluing down the jewelry? Thank you so much for the video.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Oh, sorry for not replying sooner, just saw this comment today. I use acrylic varnish on the first layer, because it’s nice and thin and won’t push the finer pieces away from their designated spots.

[@dorothealeblancart]

And thanks for the great comment!

[@loriorciuoli8003]

Is that card board wood or metal your applying jewelry to?

[@dorothealeblancart]

Masonite with 3-4 layers of gesso. 😊❤️

[@snigdh24]

Wow that’s amazing, which glue u used plz tell me.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks so much!! I use E6000 for large heavy objects, acrylic varnish for small objects, pouring medium for a final coat.

[@snigdh24]

@@dorothealeblancart thank you very much mam😍

[@amyelsasser6737]

What did you pour over it. I'm just starting. Is it glue or resin pls and thank you 😊

[@dorothealeblancart]

I first used some really thin varnish to “tack” everything in place. Once it’s all set, I’ll either use a few more layers of varnish, and/or a thin layer of pouring medium.

[@dorothealeblancart]

Oh and it’s all acrylic based, I like to clean my brushes with water. Liquitex or craft store varnish.

[@bettyland8671]

beautiful

[@dorothealeblancart]

Thanks for commenting!! ❤️

[@Kareolle]

What glue did you pour over it?

[@dorothealeblancart]

I used a thinned out acrylic varnish at the beginning and then used pouring medium as a final coat.

[@lorrainekollar9616]

Really lovely

[@user-tl5ki5zl1r]

Дякую за Вашу працю !!! Успіхів Вам !!!

[@dorothealeblancart]

Would love a translation of your comment! Thank you!

[@user-tl5ki5zl1r]

@@dorothealeblancart I'm very grateful for your video! I wish you good luck ! Greetings from Ukraine!

[@dorothealeblancart]

@@user-tl5ki5zl1r oh so far away! Nice to meet you and I thank you very much for your comment!

[@enough1494]

New follower I have tons of jewelry! Lol

[@dorothealeblancart]

Yay thanks! That’s how I started, lol, couldn’t throw all my broken jewelry away!

[@enough1494]

I tried selling some as they are perfect, but…too big! Lol@@dorothealeblancart

[@MermaidGunner]

What mix do you use for glue/varnish?

[@dorothealeblancart]

I use a thin acrylic varnish for small pieces, so they won’t move so much. And then when that’s dry, I used a couple layers of acrylic pouring medium to protect.

[@angelinalozada189]

What do you use as a background?

[@dorothealeblancart]

I used masonite with several layers of gesso front and back.😊

[@dorothealeblancart]

Actually I used two 1/4” boards glued together to be able to hang them more easily. One board has a slot about one inch by 1/4 inch so it can fit a screw or nail that’s in the wall. These could also possibly be displayed on a little easel. They are 5 x 7 inches

[@mmaneos]

What are you using for a background? Is it on canvas or wood? ❤

[@dorothealeblancart]

It’s Masonite with 2 - 4 layers of gesso front and back.

[@mmaneos]

@@dorothealeblancart thank you!!!

[@sandrajackson1311]

4

[@dorothealeblancart]

THANKS!

[@jeffmay8640]

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