August 29, 2011

10 Ways to Repurpose Clip-On Earrings!

How much do I LOVE vintage earrings? 
(a lot.)


I've posted a couple of projects before which involved clip-on earrings and I have so many more pairs in my jewelry box that thought it would be fun to see how many projects I could come up with for them! I only photographed ten of them, but the possibilities are just endless with these little gems.  

Grab your pliers(for twisting the backs off) and your super-glue and let's get started!


#1 Add one to a simple necklace to totally change the look of it! I have it on a double strand "pearl" necklace, but it would be cute as a pendant dangling from a simple gold chain, too.


#2 Glue one to the top of a ribbon-wrapped pen! When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with flower pens. (It's what princesses use, you know.) I love the idea of making a little bit more grown-up version. It takes all of 2 minutes with a hot glue gun, and a bouquet of these would be nice by the kitchen phone!



#3 Love these baubly bobby pins! Glue a small circle of felt to the back of the earring, then glue it to another felt circle with the bobby sandwiched in between.




#4 Add kitsch to a dresser by glueing an array of lonely unmatched earrings to the knobs.



#5 Elegance meets functionality on a kitchen message board! (Tutorial here) Earring clips become note holders and others are glued to the top of push pins to keep recipes (or dream men) handy.



#6 Earrings are gorgeous decorations on a vase or candleholder!

#7  For people (like me) who wear their favorite shoes almost every day, a set of earrings clipped onto the front or back can add some fun variation!

#8 I loved this one. I have so many dollar store bangles that I never wear! Glued together with a bit of sparkle on top they are much more interesting and wearable.

#9 A great use for frames with the glass missing. A little hot glue and a few snips of ribbon "stems" and you have a quirky little work of art!


#10 Last but not least: probably the best reason to collect vintage clip-ons...to wear them!!
 Don't be afraid of throwing a little vintage in your look once in a while! You might be surprised how much you like it! :o)

So there are a few ideas! I bet you guys can think of tons more. Earrings as fridge magnets? On the face of a clock? I've also seen people make gorgeous wedding bouquets from vintage pins and earrings. Vintage earrings are getting pretty popular, so if you want to get your hands on them check your local thrift and antique shops, they usually have some!

Happy crafting!

Love, (and God bless you!)
Disney





56 comments:

I♥naptime w/ Chocolate Sundaes said...

You are SO cute!!! I loved this post! My grandma gave me several pairs, and now I know just what to do with them! Thanks hun! xoxo

♥L`Appartement♥ said...

You have great ideas...especially nice are the Bobby Pins and the shoes.Unfortunately I have no old ear clips.But perhaps I find some on the next flea market.Many Greetings and that you for the inspiration♥EVELYN♥

Hannah said...

Disney you are so fun! These are all such fabulous and fun ideas!!

Justine and Fernando said...

Lord. You are brilliant. As usual!

Elisabeth said...

Brilliant ideas!
And I absolutely NEED a Mr Darcy picture postcard on my board, could you tell me where you got yours?
:-)

CREATIVE MIND said...

many cute ideas..you dearest!!! awesome post :)

Nelli Joy said...

Oh what a lovely post! Such great ideas! I love how you've taken such care with the photographs. Really creative :)

Kelly's Korner said...

#9 Reminds me of a giant bouquet my grandmother made when I was a little girl. (I think it was her...) They had been saving earrings, brooches, and other costume jewelry for years to make it. I will have to see if she still has it.... Thanks for the post! Now I'm thinking of fond memories of my mother and grandmother! :)

Candice said...

How creative!! I want to try some of these, Disney!

Kendra said...

So much fun!

Nancy's Couture said...

Wonderful ideas! I really, really loe the bobbies!!!

Carol Fleisher said...

What great ideas! I have my grandmothers clip on earrings I just never knew what to do with them until now (besides wear them) Thanks! :)

Beth @ dot...in the city said...

I'm loving these ideas! My grandma had a ton of clip-ons when I was growing up and I loved to play with them, so this just brings back memories. There's a cute secondhand store in town & I will have to check out their stash :)
I love all your ideas-- the doorknobs are my favorite!

Alyssa said...

cute ideas! =)
my favorite place to pick up vintage earrings - goodwill/salvation army. they are less than $1 usually and so much selection!

cara said...

I love all of these ideas, especially using jewelry to spice up other jewelry and on the bottom of that message board. So clever!

Rachel said...

Thanks for these ideas. I have a couple of pairs that just kill my ears. Now I know what to do with them.

Maxly said...

Disney--I love your blog--I have been a follower for a couple of years--so glad you are back.

As I am craft challenged, could you do a tutorial on how to wrap the pens? What kind of ribbon, what kind of pen? I think this would be GREAT for a charity I do Christmas/holiday crafts for (i knit). And give me a good reason to visit all my thrift stores!

Thanks so much.

Gail said...

Loved this post! What kind of glue did you use with the pearl necklace and wrist bangels?

Christie @ A Lemon Squeezy Home said...

You are so cute! These are all great ideas--I especially love the bangle one! You are great!

Michelle L. said...

Fab roundup - so many great ideas!!!

Hattie said...

I always pass these over at thrift stores because I could never think of anything to do with them. I love the pen and necklace ideas! Thanks so much for the inspiration :-)

Kate said...

What a fun post! I've been looking for some clip ons to do #7 but I didn't even think about the other ideas! Love it! Pinning this post right now!

Connie Girl said...

Those are so cute! I showed this post to my friend and she loved the bulletin board. She came up with an idea to glue a magnet to the back then you could put them on the fridge. Wouldn't that be cute to hold your kiddo's art pieces?
I have to see if I have any of my grandmothers earrings!
Thanks for the cool ideas.

Jessica said...

great ideas! too cute!

Katie @ My Darling Days said...

Fantastic projects! These are such awesome ideas, so simple... yet I probably would have never thought of them in a million years!

Jenny said...

great ideas! thanks for sharing those. I always look at clip-on earrings when I'm at the thrift store but am never quite sure what I would do with them.

Hilary said...

My grandma has made Christmas tree pictures with old earings and costume jewelry, but I like these ideas better. Hmm, think I'll be getting out my pens and floral tape.

mouse said...

thank you! i've been needing some inspiration like this. i can't stop buying clip-on earrings and i just don't know what to do with them!

Nikell said...

Such wonderful ideas!! I'm so inspired by this. Thank you for sharing ^_^

projectdowhatyoulove said...

I LOVED THIS POST! Such cute little ideas and everything just looked so fun and lovely! Thanx for sharing!

Natalie
www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com

CraftCrave said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [31 Aug 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Joy N. said...

SO cute!!! As always. :-) Such great ideas! I think it's time I made peace with glue guns. I have such a terror of them! :-)

Van said...

Oh I fell in love with that vintage earrings!!

I enjoy reading your blog ;)
xx
www.followfashiontree.blogspot.com

Chapstick Fanatic said...

i have also seen them used as place card holders. great for a small wedding or fancy dinner party.

http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com

Samantha said...

Hello lovely, I've just popped you on my versatile blogger award list, I think you're fab but I only found you last week! http://handmadebymrsh.blogspot.com/2011/08/versatile-blogger-award.html

p.s. while you're accepting your award I'm going earring hunting! Great ideas, thanks x

Alison said...

I love what you do with vintage earrings! I've got to keep my eyes out for them.

ConstantlyAlice said...

Fantastic suggestions! I typically use them as shoe clips, but it's nice to have so many new options :)

Michele said...

This is the cutest post!!!!
I can't wait to use practically ALL of these ideas!

I just bought 2 pairs of clip ons to give to my sister (i just cant stand them on my ears for more than a few moments) but i may have to hold on to them now.

Steph Lambe and Evan McDonald said...

I was thinking you should start a "challenge" for this and post the results...

Jenna @ Sequined Sunsets said...

Very cute ideas! Thank you for sharing!

Jenna

Linds said...

I'm in LOVE with clip on earings! And glueing them on as a bling RING is my fav :) Love your glam lady.

Maria said...

Lovely post! My mom has a lot of clip-on earrings and I asked her pretty please not to through them out because I thought that I could do something with them. So far I only came up with shoe clips and brooches. Your ideas are great!
Thanks for sharing!

Erick and Megan said...

Darling ideas! Mom mom used all her clip on finds to make a whole sparkly Christmas tree in a black velvet frame. It is beautiful!

I Love Crafty said...

Your a genius!

Rebecca said...

Stop saying and showing things involving Fitzwilliam Darcy! You're making us all swoon! JK, do it every time you get the chance. I love the ideas!

DivaMomCarol said...

So FRESH! - Love everyone idea! Thanks for the "Inspo" ~ CAROL in CHINA

Ashlee said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE these ideas! you are such an inspiration to me, so much that I have just created my own blog!

http://shabbypink-ashlee.blogspot.com/

come visit me, and if you have time leave a comment with some tips!

Mrs.G said...

Hello! I'm one of your newest followers - although I've been reading your blog for a while! You are incredible and have so much talent!
I love your posts - keep 'em coming!
xoxo Mrs. G
http://beneaththebeams.blogspot.com/

DHardt said...

Thank you for this idea! I inherited a bunch from my great grandmother that I didn't know what to do with! Now I'm going to make some of the flower bunches to hang around my house!

deanna said...

SO clever!
oxoxox

Hailey said...

How did you know?? I inherited a pair of earrings from my great grandmother and was recently mourning the fact that I cannot wear them without wanting to cry from the pain they cause. You're a genius!

Lynda @ Uber Savvy Buzzword said...

Who would have known they could be so useful and beautiful. Fabulous ideas- thanks

Niki said...

I collect vintage clip-ons and love, loved this post!
I generally wear mine in my hair; here's an example post about them.
Niki

http://thenikiverse.blogspot.com/2011/09/jewelry-roundup-2.html

InMyOwnStyle said...

Hi Disney-

I love what your did with the drawer pulls and linked it on My DIY page on my blog. I ADORE vintage clip on earrings and have collected quite a lot as I used to make jewelry from them. I no longer make or sell the jewelry, but use them where ever I can. I like clipping them on to my gift tags - although it is hard to part with them. :)

Tracey Lynne said...

Totally just shared this on the BLOG!
Thanks!

carla said...

My favorite way to use them is as lapel pins. I bought a rhinestone/pearl clip earring at the antique mall that had a brooch fastener affixed to its back. Looks really nice on the collar of my black velvet jacket.