DIY Christmas Ornaments {A Thrifted Repurpose Project}
3 Materials
$15
2 Hours
Easy
If you have a DIY Christmas tree, you must have some DIY ornaments too, right?
Last week's thrift store trip turned up a pretty sweet stash of chunky necklaces. They made perfect repurpose material for some unique, shiny ornaments that are quick and easy to make.
Aren't they just gorgeous? 
They were only $4, so that does make them kinda cute after all. But...
They were only $4, so that does make them kinda cute after all. But...
Makeover time!
Once off the strings, I divided the beads up into four little piles and sprayed each collection with 4 different metallic spray paints.
The only thing that kept this project from taking an hour or less was that it was pretty chilly outside the day I painted them, so they took a while to dry.
Those who are clever and make these during the summertime can have a lovely collection put together in less than an hour, which is perfect for Creatives who don't have a lot of extra time - or for the overachiever who puts the rest of us to shame.
But paint is amazing, isn't it? It can totally transform something from plain and forgettable into beautiful and memorable. I really love the metallics because they have that stunning quality, yet are still somewhat neutral.
Once they were dry, all I did was string them randomly onto a length of 20 gauge, gold craft wire.
For the top, I twisted the wire into a loop, wrapped the end around the base wire,
then slid the top bead over the connection.
Simple.
For the bottom, I made a simple spiral twist - much like this one - below the bottom bead, and that was it!
Each ornament coordinates, but is distinctly different.
I like that!
They were perfect for my little DIY Faux Christmas tree.
I love how they gleam in the lights.
And that's totally it!
All from a $4 collection of chunky, outdated jewelry.
Aren't thrift stores so much fun?
Resources for this project:
Rust- Oleum metallic spray paints
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Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Comments
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4 of 26 comments
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How about dipping them into a bucket of warm water and nail polish, just like the clay pots.
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That sounds like a great option to try.
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Great idea! Now I have to see if I can swipe some of my sister's beads from her jewelry making kit!
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Have fun!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
how did you paint all those beads without them getting gloppy? They look great.
could you spray the beads before taking them off the strings?