Repurposing Prom Jewelry into DIY Creations

We all have old and lonely jewelry pieces in our collection that are outdated and just taking up space. From prom jewelry like choker-style necklaces and vintage brooches from grandma, they were highly valuable then, but out-of-date now. Rather than pushing these items to the back of your junk drawer, repurpose old jewelry items into new pieces with intrinsic worth and enduring style.

Here are some inspiring ideas for you on how to reuse your broken shiny jewelry and make something pretty, sparkly, and the most important, something new!

BROKEN JEWELRY DOOR WREATH

If you’re wondering what to do with all the broken or old jewelry that you’ve been collecting over the years, then this is the DIY project you’ll want to try.

What You Need

• An assortment of brooches, earrings, charms, buttons, decorative pieces, etc.

• Cream-color satin ribbon
• Long straight pins
• Hot glue gun
• Styrofoam wreath

How to Make It

• Lay the Styrofoam wreath on a flat surface. Start wrapping the wreath with a cream-color ribbon and pin the ends to secure.
• Arrange the jewelry on the ribbon and use hot-glue or pin to hold them in place.
• Wrap the ribbon around the top of the wreath for a hanging loop and tie in a bow.

RHINESTONE SWEATER FROM A REPURPOSED JEWELRY

We have often seen embellished sweaters with super unique, oversized rhinestones. These elements can be easily found in stores, or you can also use that old prom jewelry you no longer wear!

What You Need 

• Any sweater of your choice
• Rhinestones, jeweled buttons, or lone earrings
• Fabric glue

How to Make It

• Map out a design that you want on your sweater and then glue rhinestones into place. Whether it’s a jeweled neckline or a patterned design, both will awaken a boring sweater within minutes!
• And you’re done, go out and work that runway trend in real life!

LAYERED BANGLES MADE FROM BROKEN JEWELRY

Have you been saving broken prom jewelry like a necklace or pendant? Or, do you have a wide variety of pieces in similar color schemes? Then you’re in luck because you’ll have no trouble creating awesome attention-grabbing DIY layered bangles!

What You Need 

• Bangles
• Hot Glue Gun
• Silk Thread
• Bead, jeweled buttons, or old crystals

How to Make It 

• Wrap the bangle with a single-color thread or use multiple colors to create a pattern on the bangle.
• Adding glue to the inside of the bangle will help to secure the thread.
• Keep wrapping the bangle in the same direction.
• Secure a bead, crystal, or sequin to the outside of the bangle with a glue.
• After gluing items onto the bangle, make sure to let the glue dry completely before wearing the bangle.

CUSTOM PHONE CASE FROM VINTAGE JEWELRY PIECES

Tired of having your phone case look like everyone else? Well, where’s the harm in giving it a little sparkle? You can do this with just glitter, a brooch, and rhinestones to customize your case. This project makes a fun, personalized gift idea as well!

What You Need 

• Phone Case
• Vintage brooch, rhinestones
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun

How to Make It

• Measure the phone case and brooch.
• Remove the brooch pin with a plier.
• Use an adhesive to stick the brooch onto your phone case.
• Let it dry for several hours following the directions for your glue, and you’re done!

JEWELED CLUTCH FROM OLD PROM JEWELRY

If you have a lot of old pendants, earrings, and brooches that you don’t wear, but like the design or color, then you can glue them to a clutch for an extra bit of sparkle that makes them more exciting and wearable. It takes all of two minutes with a hot glue gun, and it’s a fun way of recycling your old jewelry to form a far more expensive jewelry box clutch!

What You Need

• Broken or old bracelets, necklaces, and earrings
• A hard case box clutch
• Pliers
• Hot glue gun

How to Make It

• Gather the old jewelry you would like to use. Then cut them into separate parts to prepare.
• Design the placement and glue pieces onto clutch one-by-one.
• Leave it to dry. There it is!

BEDAZZLED BELT BUCKLE WITH PROM NECKLACE

Take out that old necklace you no longer wear and dress up an otherwise dull belt. You can also pick up a belt if you don’t have one already. We’re going to dress up that buckle with your vintage necklaces or other jewelry and make it fabulous. Not only it is beautiful, but it also has a fantastic vintage, old-world look and feel!

What You Need 

• Broken or old necklaces and brooch
• Belt
• Plier
• Hot glue gun

How to Make It 

• Remove the brooch pin and necklace pendant using pliers.
• Glue an old brooch or smaller pieces from necklaces and earrings to the buckle.
• Leave it to dry, and it’s done!

So, there are a few ideas! I am sure you guys can think of tons more. I’ve seen many people making vintage cameo brooches into cuffs, and decorating gorgeous wedding bouquets with old jewelry pieces. It’s fun to repurpose your old prom jewelry because you’re able to customize anything you want and add character to everyday items.

If you have extra or random earrings laying around, don’t think twice. Rev up your glue gun and learn how to repurpose old earrings into new DIY creations!

Show us your creations by tagging @shoplctv in your Instagram posts!