Updated May 2026
Let’s make jewellery out of plastic recycling!
Grace your necks with these super fun jewel-shaped pieces!
Find new ways to colour recycled plastic!
I bet your kids would enjoy discovering different ways to colour their plastic gems and look fabulous!
Valentines day, Love month
Love is in the air, to be precise, in the UK on the 14th of February, and in this post, I shall ‘Make Jewellery out of plastic recycling!
TO CRAFT NOW OR OVER THE HOLIDAYS!
A great project to keep or to gift for Valentine’s Day! or to have fun creating unique necklaces, especially over the half-term holidays!
WHAT MATERIAL TO CRAFT JEWELLERY
So I have been thinking about what I can use from my recycling bag to upcycle into fun jewellery.
Any range of different types of plastic would be a good resource to simulate crystals, adding other resources to make the jewellery interesting.
RECYCLE AND CREATE JEWELLERY EMBELLISHMENTS
Look around your home and find any item that would make a great resource for a necklace. It could be anything, such as a string, an unused chain, beads, or feathers, that you can wrap around your crystals and make your piece unique!
HOW TO COLOUR PLASTIC JEWELLERY
So how can you apply a colour to any plastic?
Having looked into this, I found a few easy solutions, one of which is to utilise nail varnishes that haven’t been used for a while, acrylic pens, or permanent markers.
So if you don’t want to apply a colour to your crystals, keep them plain and simple.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO USE NAIL VARNISHES TO COLOUR YOUR PIECE OF PLASTIC.
This short video demonstrates how to use any old nail polish creatively. Add drops of varnish into a basin of warm, tepid water, and the polish will emerge together.
If the water is too cold, the nail varnish will set quickly, and you need the varnish to merge when it’s the right temperature.
You can flick the nail varnish to create a pattern, then slide pieces of plastic into the solution instead of paper, and you will get a fabulous result!
Allow to dry, then cut into selected shapes.
Alternatively, apply acrylic paints in warm water to create a similar pattern.
MY INTENSION, A PLASTIC VALENTINE’S JEWELLERY GIFT
This brings me to tell you my thoughts on how to ‘make jewellery out of plastic recycling’
The crafted fun jewellery would make a super gift for someone special on Valentine’s Day, or even as a fun pressy!
Before we start our project, let’s find out more about gem stones.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK WHERE SOME GEM STONES ARE FOUND!
Natural gemstones have fascinated people for centuries. Gemstones from mountainous regions around the world are admired for their unique colours and patterns, making jewellery-making an enjoyable craft as well as an opportunity to learn about rocks and minerals.
In the video below, watch a villager discover a beautiful gemstone hidden inside an ordinary-looking rock.
For this post, gemstone jewellery has inspired me to craft fun jewellery, and even though I don’t have gemstones as such, instead, this is where I will ‘Make jewellery out of plastic recycling!
A material that can be adapted to look like gemstones, and in-hand turn into lovely jewellery!
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE JEWELLERY OUT OF PLASTIC RECYCLING?
RESOURCES.
Different plastic packaging, eg, milk cartons, fruit or food packaging.
Coloured strings long enough to go around the neck/ A spare neck chain.
Buttons, beads, coloured feathers. Needle and thread.
Bright-coloured nail polishes.
Acrylic pens, permanent markers. (not shown)
Puncher, large/small scissors/patterned edge.
LET’S GET GOING!
HOW TO MAKE A NECKLACE CHAIN
Watch this video to see how to make a crochet chain.
I used this method to create a necklace chain out of string.
SOME TIPS!
There is a large collection of resources. I have shown you a range of ways to decorate your pieces.
However, to keep this project simple, leave all plastics as they are in their raw state, and decorate how you like, adding buttons, feathers and or wrapping around with string.
MAKING YOUR NECKLACE.
Choose one style, to have many pieces on the necklace, or you can have just one plastic gem on your necklace.
Make sure the length of the string is the right length so that it can go over your head easily when you loop it. Once you have made your necklace, tie the ends into a neat knot.
MARBLING WITH NAIL POLISH.
- Marbling is fun, though you have to dip plastic pieces quickly to transfer colours onto them.
- Marbling should be done in a ventilated room, outside or with a cover to keep the strong nail polish aroma confined.
- Allow the marbling to dry before you cut out shapes.
PLAIT OR LOOP STRING.
- To get the plat or loop effect on the string, first, make a loop and pull through the long string, make another loop and pull through again, and adjust to even out the loops. (see video above.)
TAPE ENDS.
- To thread parts through the strings to form a necklace, twist some tape (sellotape, or masking tape) on the end of the string to make a point, then you can run plastics through the holes much more easily.
ADDING FEATHERS!
- Sew the feathers onto the string either where it is wrapped around a gem or on part of the necklace.
ADDITIONAL PIECE.
- The bangle is optional, but fun to make. You may have to squeeze it into shape, as it can get floppy and weigh down once you have applied the string around it.
BACK TO GEM STONE JEWELLERY
Continuing my search for unique and unusual jewellery gifts for Valentine’s Day — or a beautiful gift for someone special — I came across Shrink plastic jewellery!
Read on to discover more about simple creative and eye-catching designs.
So if you’re looking for a creative jewellery activity, you might also enjoy shrink plastic jewellery kits.
Children can design, colour and shrink their own charms, keyrings and jewellery, creating unique handmade keepsakes. Browse a range of kits to find one that suits your child and budget, and of course to gift!
“One of my favourites includes everything you need, including a heat tool, but there are plenty of other options to explore too.”
When you click links in this post and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the craft projects shared on this website.😀
(Affiliate disclosure)
Here are some examples of beautiful hand-crafted jewellery that might inspire you with your creation!
OR, ADDITIONALLY, HOW ABOUT GETTING YOUR HANDS ON THESE LUXURIOUS CHOCOLATES?
CHECK OUT CHOCOLATE TRADING CO. FOR OUTSTANDING UNIQUE CHOCOLATE DELIGHTS!
Get those taste buds zinging with an explosion of yummy concoction of mouth-watering, superior-tasting chocolates!
Chocolate Trading Co. offers a choice of chocolate boxes, which you can also personalise as an extra special gift for someone special.
WHAT OCCASION?
For ‘Love’ Day’ or for any occasion, a Birthday treat, a Thank-you gift, a ‘Well done’ treat or a ‘Congratulations’ treat! For any occasion you want!
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Furthermore, these outstanding chocolates are made with 100% cocoa butter, no vegetable oils, reduced sugar, natural flavouring and no additives!
There are many variations to choose from!
Are you tempted? Check them out, you won’t be disappointed!
TO CONCLUDE!
THE IDEA!
In this post, I show how to up-cycle your ordinary plastic throw-outs into fun chunky necklaces!
With a few colouring ideas and ways to design your gem pieces, kids will enjoy being inventive!
CHECK YOUR RECYCLING!
So hold on to your plastics, whether milk cartons or ordinary plastic packaging, as they will be the main resource to help craft your beautiful necklaces!