Odd Earrings are Perfect!!

by Natasha
(Scunthorpe. UK)

I craft on a budget, a very tight one!!

I was clearing out my jewellery box and found around 20 odd stud earrings. If they have jewels I leave them as they are and plain ones can be decorated with glitter etc.

I use mine as brads to hold flowers I've made together and I simply use a small pair of pliers to bend the stem of the stud flat at the back, and secure with double sided tape before attatching to my card.

Or I'll use them as embellishments by using wire cutters to snip the stem off the stud before attatching to my card!!

Before using though I always make sure they are clean by using surgical spirit which I often have round the house. Ensure you dry thoroughly before using!!

Christina says ...

This is an excellent tip and one I am sure many people will use. I also find car boot slaes a good place to buy old jewellery.

Once it is cleaned, as you recommend than it can used in several ways to make embellishmments for your cards.

You will find some ides in Working With Beads and there is a video on Decorating Hatpins in the Tutorials in the NavBar to your left.

With the addition of ribbons and other things in your "Stash" you will be amazed at the beautiful embellishments that you can create from throw away items.

And save yourself a fortune in the process.

Natasha please add some photos of your cards using this tip into the Gallery page so that we can what and how you have included these into your designs.