Tips for Crafting Your Own Fashionable Jewelry

Tips for Crafting Your Own Fashionable Jewelry

After spending a year in Costa Rica, I fell in love with the local jewelry. Artisans would crouch on the side of the highway, diligently threading together stunning jewelry made from dyed fish scales, pressed and dried seeds and pretty much anything else they could find for free. I came back to the US with a box full of earrings, jewelry and bracelets. However, it wasn’t until I found myself in a high-end boutique that I saw their real worth.

Jewelery is sold for under $5 on Costa Rican streets, and often close to $1. Splitting my time between the US and Central America, I began bringing jewelry back to sell. The boutiques put a sticker of around $60 on each piece. However, you don’t need to spend that kind of money for one of a kind pieces; you can make them yourself.

Fish Hook Jewelry

Go Green

Swarovski crystals are lovely, but you don’t actually need to spend anything at all to make custom jewelery. Start looking in your own backyard. Research plants and animals that are native to your region and start seeing them from a jewelry perspective. Feathers are a great way to start. Just make sure they’re well disinfected first.

Making Feather Jewelry

Another popular trend in Costa Rica is collecting butterfly wings and pressing the wings in between laminate. Then all you need is a simple hole punch and fish hook to make truly one of a kind earrings. The same can be done with flower petals.

Butterfly Wing

Experiment with Drying Techniques

It’s paramount that whatever resource you use is fully dried, and there are a few ways to do this. The easiest, and most traditional, is simply to press it dry for a few days between two solid objects. A simple blow dryer might be all it takes, or you may want to investigate dehydration systems for certain items.
For You or for Resale?

Crafting Feather Earings

Once you have your technique down, decide if you actually want to sell your creations. You can open a shop on Etsy or check out local boutiques in town. Just like solid wood bedroom furniture, you have a unique and high-quality item on hand. Chances are it’s good enough to earn you a little side income.
It’s not a get rich quick scheme, but it’s certainly an enjoyable way to earn a little extra cash from something you love. Whether it’s just for you or for sale, it doesn’t matter as long as your creative juices can flow.

Beautiful Earings

For You or for Resale?

Once you have your technique down, decide if you actually want to sell your creations. You can open a shop on Etsy or check out local boutiques in town. Just like solid wood bedroom furniture, you have a unique and high-quality item on hand. Chances are it’s good enough to earn you a little side income.
It’s not a get rich quick scheme, but it’s certainly an enjoyable way to earn a little extra cash from something you love. Whether it’s just for you or for sale, it doesn’t matter as long as your creative juices can flow.