Suggestions for Homemade Jewelry

Jewelry is an important symbol of affection or gratitude for a person. Because of the meaning behind jewelry, it can be expensive especially when the materials used are rare and valuable, such as gold or sterling silver. However, necklaces and bracelets need not be limited to expensive materials that has to be purchased from stores. You can make your own jewelry using simple materials and yet the time and thought you will place in making them will make the jewelry more special.

There are many jewelry items that you can personally make and you do not have to undergo extensive training to make them or purchase expensive materials either. All you need is a local hobby store, and your creativity to make one item after another that can impress not just the receiver, but yourself as well.

Bracelets can be easily made with a few simple materials. Whether made of leather, beads, or just simple strings, you can make the chain easily and add any pendant, accessory or embellishment that you can think of. For formal bracelets, you can use special beads, or silver embellishment. Funkier bracelets that you can use probably for a young or teen receiver would be made of cartoon characters or sometimes even buttons.

Necklaces are also easy to make and you can be very expressive when it comes to the pendant. It can be a simple image such as a heart or a star, or it can be silver pendants spelling out the person’s name.

Earrings that are styled dangling are easier to make than studs. Materials for earrings are inexpensive and are readily available from hobby stores.

You can also make hair accessories or hair jewelries. Swarovski-embellished pins are elegant but can expensive. Hair clips with floral designs or geometric patterns are cheaper and they can be great gifts as well.

Anklets are great gifts especially if you have been out of town. A seashell from your beach trip, or a small pin or pendant from your last cultural trip can be used as an accessory for a homemade anklet made of string, leather or beads.

Packaging is very important in homemade jewelry. It can enhance the beauty of the jewelry and make it look more presentable when you are giving it. A homemade jewelry may be inexpensive for the most part, but what the receiver will truly appreciate is not the cost, but how carefully and thoughtfully you have prepared the gift. Small boxes are readily available from stores, and do not forget to put ribbons or laces to make the packaging even more elegant.

As mentioned, jewelry is special because of the meaning and thoughtfulness behind it. So whether you are working with sterling silver or ordinary strings in making your jewelry, it will be a treasure that is worth keeping because of the bond created between the giver and the receiver. With this, it becomes as valuable, if not more valuable, than gold or diamonds that you can simply purchase anytime and anywhere.

Ricky Dean writes about various arts and craft topics. To learn how to make jewelry, visit Dinosauric.

By Ricky Dean
Published: 11/25/2010