26 Creative Things to Make with Old Jewelry 2025
In a world where sustainability and creativity go hand in hand, finding new ways to breathe life into old treasures is more important than ever.
If you have a collection of old jewelry tucked away, why not transform it into something spectacular?
This article invites you to explore the enchanting world of DIY projects that turn forgotten jewels into functional art.
Repurposing old jewelry not only adds a personal touch to your surroundings but also promotes eco-friendly practices.
Dive into our collection of 26 innovative ideas and discover how you can transform your cherished keepsakes into stunning new creations.
DIY Ideas for Repurposing Old Jewelry
1. Vintage Floral Jewelry Wall Art
Turn your old brooches, earrings, and necklaces into a breathtaking wall art piece. Start by arranging these treasures on a blank canvas, crafting floral or fun patterns.
Secure each piece with strong glue, and layer different jewelry to create an eye-catching 3D effect. Fill any empty spaces with pearls or beads for added texture and charm.
This DIY project not only brings a pop of elegance to your wall but also adds a vintage flair perfect for shabby-chic interiors. It’s a creative way to give new life to old jewelry and transform your space.
2. Embellished Picture Frame
Add a sparkle to a plain picture frame by adorning it with old jewelry pieces. Arrange brooches, earrings, and pendants around the frame, mixing in pearls and colorful gemstones.
Secure each piece with glue to ensure it stays in place. This simple yet effective DIY project transforms a basic frame into a stunning display for your photos or artwork, adding a touch of elegance and making special memories stand out.
It’s a unique way to personalize your home decor with a touch of glamour and creativity.
3. Chandelier-Inspired Jewelry Wind Chime
Repurpose old necklaces, earrings, and pendants to create a dazzling wind chime with a chandelier-like effect.
Attach these jewelry pieces of varying lengths to a metal or wooden hoop, allowing them to dangle and catch the light.
Hang this shimmering piece in a sunny spot where it can sway gently in the breeze.
The colorful and reflective elements create a charming accent for both outdoor and indoor spaces, turning recycled jewelry into a delightful work of art that sparkles and dances with every gust of wind.
4. Pearl and Gemstone-Accented Mirror
Enhance a mirror with a vintage touch by decorating its frame with old jewelry. Choose a mix of pearl and gemstone pieces and arrange them around the frame, securing them with glue.
This DIY project transforms an ordinary mirror into an ornate, classic centerpiece for a hallway or bedroom. It’s an elegant way to upcycle old jewelry and elevate your home decor, adding a touch of sophistication and history to your space.
This creative endeavor not only personalizes your mirror but also brings a luxurious element to any room.
5. Jewelry Drawer Pulls
Transform ordinary drawer pulls into stunning statement pieces with vintage jewelry like brooches or pendants. Pick decorative brooches and attach them to drawers using strong glue or screws.
This adds a unique, glamorous touch to any furniture, making your dresser or cabinet look refreshed and elegant. It’s a simple DIY to personalize furniture and showcase beloved jewelry that might otherwise be forgotten.
With just a few steps, you can turn everyday furniture into a showpiece that reflects your personal style and creativity.
6. Decorative Ribbon Bookmarks
Create stylish bookmarks by combining old jewelry with colorful ribbons or leather strips. Cut the ribbon to your preferred length and attach small charms, brooches, or pendants to one end using glue or sewing.
These bookmarks add a touch of elegance to any book, making reading more enjoyable. They are perfect gifts for book lovers and can be easily customized with jewelry that reflects personal style.
This project is both fun and useful, making each reading session a little more special.
7. Jewelry Monogram Wall Art
Craft a stunning monogram wall decor by arranging old jewelry into the shape of a letter. Start with a stencil on a canvas or board, and fill it with brooches, pearls, and crystals.
This creates a personalized, luxurious display that adds sophistication to any room. It’s a perfect way to showcase your favorite pieces in a unique and artistic way.
This DIY project not only enhances your space but also turns cherished jewelry into a beautiful, personalized art piece.
8. Embellished Hair Accessories
Turn old jewelry into elegant hair accessories by attaching brooches, pendants, or earrings onto hairpins or headbands.
Use strong glue to secure these pieces, creating unique, glamorous accessories. These hairpins or headbands can enhance any hairstyle, making them ideal for special occasions or everyday use.
This easy DIY project allows you to enjoy your vintage jewelry in a new way, giving a touch of luxury to your hair while showcasing your creative flair.
9. Jewelry Keychains
Transform old jewelry pieces into eye-catching keychains by mixing charms, pendants, and beads. Attach each piece to a small chain or directly onto a keyring for a layered, eclectic style.
Use jewelry with different textures and colors to give each keychain its own personality. This DIY lets you carry a piece of jewelry history with you, making it an ideal gift or personal accessory.
It adds a touch of style to everyday keys and lets you share a bit of history in a fun and practical way.
10. Vintage Jewelry Magnets
Turn small brooches and clip-on earrings into elegant magnets for your fridge or magnetic board. Remove the pin backing and secure a strong magnet using super glue.
These magnets introduce a vintage charm to any metal surface, showcasing intricate jewelry designs in a useful way.
This quick project is perfect for small, unused jewelry, transforming them into delightful mini decor items that add a touch of sophistication to your daily life.
11. Jewelry-Adorned Candle Holder
Enhance a simple candle holder by wrapping it with strands of beaded necklaces, brooches, and other decorative jewelry.
Secure the jewelry around the base with glue to create a layered, glamorous appearance. The candlelight reflects beautifully against the metallic and gemstone pieces, casting a warm, cozy glow.
This DIY adds elegance to any space, making it perfect for centerpieces or ambient decor on special occasions or for everyday charm.
12. Brooch Bouquet
Craft a timeless bouquet for weddings or special events by mixing brooches, pearl earrings, and crystal pins with artificial flowers.
Use a foam ball as the base, inserting jewelry and floral stems to create a bouquet that sparkles from every angle. The brooch bouquet offers a beautiful alternative to fresh flowers, adding a vintage, sophisticated touch.
It becomes a treasured keepsake long after the event, showcasing heirloom pieces in a memorable and stylish manner.
13. Jewelry Christmas Ornaments
Transform your tree with unique Jewelry Christmas Ornaments. Start by taking plain baubles and adorning them with sparkling beads, elegant brooches, and shimmering chains from your old jewelry collection.
Use a strong adhesive to ensure each piece is securely attached. These customized ornaments add a vintage, luxurious touch, catching the light beautifully.
This DIY project is perfect for creating one-of-a-kind decorations, adding a personal, elegant charm to your festive decor. With each ornament, you’ll infuse your holiday scene with a touch of glamour and creativity that everyone will admire.
14. Jewelry-Covered Treasure Box
Repurpose a small box into a Jewelry-Covered Treasure Box. Begin by gathering vintage jewelry like brooches, beads, and chains, and attach them to the box using glue.
Layer different textures and colors to achieve a rich, opulent look. This jewelry-encrusted box serves as a stunning storage piece for small treasures or jewelry itself.
It transforms a plain item into a glamorous statement piece, ideal for adding a touch of luxury to your home decor or for gifting. Your creativity will shine through, turning everyday storage into an artful masterpiece.
15. Jewelry Napkin Rings
Create elegant Jewelry Napkin Rings by attaching brooches or decorative pendants to ribbons or metal rings. Secure the jewelry with glue or wire, and wrap it around a napkin for a luxurious dining experience.
This DIY adds a sophisticated touch to your dinner settings, making it perfect for holiday dinners or special occasions. These napkin rings offer a unique, reusable way to showcase your favorite vintage jewelry.
Impress your guests with this simple yet stunning addition to your table, bringing a sense of style and refinement to every meal.
16. Jewelry-Embedded Coasters
Craft stunning Jewelry-Embedded Coasters by embedding old jewelry pieces in resin. Arrange pearls, small brooches, and beads within coaster molds, and pour clear resin over them to set.
Allow the resin to cure completely before use. These coasters are not only functional but also serve as eye-catching additions to any table, preserving the beauty of vintage jewelry in a practical, stylish way.
Perfect for adding a touch of elegance to coffee tables or as a thoughtful gift, these coasters make every drink moment feel special.
17. Beaded Lampshade
Transform a plain lampshade into a stunning centerpiece by draping it with old beads and jewelry chains. Start by securing strands to the top edge, letting them hang freely for a layered effect.
The beads catch and scatter the light, filling the room with a cozy, ambient glow. This DIY project adds vintage charm to any space and cleverly repurposes old jewelry in a stylish way.
Perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your bedside or living room lamps, this beaded lampshade is both practical and decorative.
18. Jewelry Wine Glass Charms
Craft unique wine glass charms by attaching small beads and pendants to hoop earring bases. Secure each piece to a hoop that fits around a wine glass stem.
These charms help guests identify their glasses easily while adding a glamorous touch to your table setting.
Ideal for hosting or gifting, especially when made from personal or vintage jewelry, these wine glass charms bring a personalized flair to social gatherings, ensuring your table setting stands out with style.
19. Jewelry Curtain Tiebacks
Turn old jewelry chains and brooches into elegant curtain tiebacks. Combine beads and chains to form a tieback that wraps around curtains, securing with a decorative brooch.
This project adds a sophisticated, vintage look to window treatments, perfect for formal rooms or enhancing traditional decor.
The tieback not only holds curtains stylishly in place but also adds a touch of timeless beauty, turning a simple window into a statement piece.
20. Garden Jewelry Stakes
Repurpose brooches and earrings into whimsical garden stakes by gluing them onto metal or wooden sticks.
Place these stakes among potted plants or in garden beds for a sparkling touch amidst the greenery. The jewels twinkle in the sunlight, creating a playful, elegant decoration for outdoor spaces.
This DIY project showcases unused jewelry creatively, adding a touch of magic to your garden and making it a delight for anyone who visits.
21. DIY Beaded Necklace with Mixed Pearls and Gems
Transform a mix of pearls, crystals, and gemstones into a unique necklace. Gather your old pearl beads and gem pendants to arrange them in a pattern that creates an eclectic yet elegant look.
Attach these beads onto a gold or silver chain using jump rings or wire, making sure each piece is secure. This necklace showcases a variety of bead sizes and colors, creating a layered and textured appearance.
Perfect for adding sophistication to any outfit, this project gives new life to forgotten jewelry pieces, making them shine again.
22. DIY Phone Case Decor with Vintage Jewelry
Repurpose vintage brooches and old jewelry pieces to design a custom phone case. Start with a plain case and arrange jewelry pieces like pearls, rhinestones, and small brooches in a visually pleasing pattern.
Use a strong adhesive to attach each item firmly. This decorative case not only protects your phone but also makes a fashion statement, adding a touch of glamour with intricate jewelry elements.
It’s a fun and easy way to personalize your phone and show off your style with a creative twist.
23. DIY Gift Wrap Embellishment with Brooch Accent
Add a luxurious touch to gift wrapping by using a brooch or decorative pendant as a centerpiece. Wrap the gift in simple paper and secure it with a ribbon, then fasten the brooch or pendant on top, right at the ribbon’s intersection.
This technique turns an ordinary package into an eye-catching gift, making the wrapping as memorable as the present itself.
It’s a thoughtful way to personalize gifts while finding a new use for cherished jewelry, making each gift feel extra special.
24. DIY Sun-Catcher with Beads and Pendants
Create a stunning sun-catcher using beads and pendants from old jewelry. Attach various beads and pendants to chains or thin strings, arranging them at different lengths for a cascading effect.
Secure them on a circular frame or rod, and hang the sun-catcher near a window where sunlight can catch the beads, creating colorful reflections.
This piece adds a whimsical, artistic vibe to any space, allowing your old jewelry to shine in a new way. Let your creativity sparkle as you brighten up your room with this delightful project.
25. Earring Display Board
Transform an old picture frame into a one-of-a-kind earring display by incorporating a layer of corkboard or foam wrapped in decorative fabric.
Pin your earrings and small jewelry pieces in an orderly fashion across the board, creating a tidy and visually stunning display. Choose floral or patterned fabric to add vibrant color, turning your jewelry into functional wall art.
This project makes it easy to keep jewelry accessible and organized while adding a personalized touch to your decor, making it both practical and beautiful.
26. Embellished Tote Bag
Revamp a plain tote bag into a standout accessory using pieces of old jewelry. Select a mix of brooches, beads, and gem pieces, arranging them in a pattern that catches the eye.
Secure them with fabric glue or sew them on for added durability. This DIY project gives an everyday bag a touch of elegance and uniqueness, transforming it into an eye-catching statement piece.
It’s perfect for breathing new life into your tote and adding a personal, stylish flair that’s sure to impress.
Meet Danielle, the creative mind behind diyercraft.com, a space where she shares her love for all things DIY. As a busy mom and wife, Danielle juggles family life while finding time to create unique and budget-friendly projects that anyone can try at home. When she’s not crafting or writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and finding new inspiration for her next DIY adventure!