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 plastic!

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.

GATHER A SELECTION OF RESOURCS!

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 in 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!

I wanted to align this project with a relatively new company, Kailash Energy, they craft beautiful jewellery, although in this case, with a spiritual background.

WHAT I DISCOVERED!

I touched base with this new, amazing jewellery company. The material they use is sourced from the Himalayas, around Mount Kailash.

Tibetan jewellery incorporates natural elements such as crystals, gemstones, and traditional materials like jade, turquoise, and coral.

See later how to get hold of these beautiful finds!

THE PROJECT IN HAND.

For this post, Kailash Energy has inspired me to craft fun jewellery, and this is where I will ‘Make jewellery out of plastic recycling!

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!

3) Cut away the top and bottom of a plastic bottle and cut diagonally all the way around the bottle so it creates a spiral.

4) Light a candle and gently heat the rough ends of the plastic to singe off sharp parts. Colour and wrap string along the spiral and tie at each end for effect.

5) Here is a tray of warm water with dripped in nail polish. Float the plastics to transfer nail colour onto the surfaces. This is marbling.

6) This is how a piece of plastic would look once nail polish has transfered.

8) Now it’s time to colour your plastics, using permanent markers and acrylic pens. Then punch holes ready to thread onto your strings.

9) Tie together string, and or chain to make your necklace.

10) Take all your chosen parts wrap strings around some for a raw look and start to thread designing your necklace.

11) This is another version of a necklace with 2 strings and a chain.

Jewellery out of plastic cartons — 12) Two necklaces and a twisted bangle.

13) The spiral cut out of a water bottle and wrapped in plain string makes an unusual twisted bangle.

14) One Necklace with heart and feathers.

15) A second necklace with different shapes.

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.

PLAT 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 KAILASH JEWELLERY…..

Continuing my search for unique and unusual jewellery gifts for Valentine’s Day — or a beautiful gift for someone special — I came across Kailash Jewellery.

Read on to discover more about their creative and eye-catching designs.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF KAILASH ENERGY?

Kailash Energy is a jewellery brand inspired by the sacred Mount Kailash

This mountain is located on the Tibetan Plateau.

WHAT ELSE DOES KAILASH ENERGY OFFER?

LET’S TAKE A LOOK!

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)

The brand aims to share spiritual energy and cultural heritage through handcrafted pieces.

Crafted by Tibetans, these artisans utilise traditional techniques to craft each piece,

Ensuring that the jewellery embodies the spiritual essence of the region.

Below is some of the beautiful hand-crafted jewellery from Kailash Energy.

KAILASH ENERGY AS A BRAND!

The brand’s foundation and its focus are a commitment to ethical production and cultural preservation.

By employing local artisans and utilising traditional methods, they support the local economy and help maintain cultural heritage.

As well as eco-friendly activities at Mount Kailash Their ethos covers:-

Litter removal.
Educating visitors on sustainable practices.
Engaging in conservation projects.
Preserve the purity of the sacred site.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

A portion of the company’s proceeds is allocated to charitable causes. eg…..

Improving living conditions,
Support for Education.
Support for Healthcare.

Through these initiatives, Kailash Energy honours the spiritual significance of Mount Kailash while contributing to the well-being of the Tibetan community and the preservation of their environment.

This is the scene leading up to Kailash Mountain.

There an unbelievable amount of visitors honour the sacred grounds, worshipping from afar.

Cleansing their spirit and being blessed.

Kailash Energy is a true wonder, and they craft unique pieces that capture the essence of Kailash Mountain.

Whoever sees these wonderful ranges of jewellery, whether necklaces, bracelets or earrings, there will be something that will grab your attention, and you can wear one of these pieces with pride that also carries a sense of blessing.

So how about taking a leap and jump in and see what super rustic and authentic pieces Kailash Energy have to offer!

OR, ADDITIONALLY HOW ABOUT GETTING YOUR HANDS ON THESE LUXURIOUS CHOCOLATE?

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!

THE INSPIRATION!

Introducing Kailash Energy, who inspired me to be creative and how the final crafted product aligns with their unique jewellery.

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!

AN ADDED NOTE!

If Valentine’s Day is not your thing and you are just looking for a great craft project to do with your kids over the holidays, this is a super activity to keep them busy.