Often overlooked, popsicle sticks, tongue depressors and wood craft sticks all make great jewelry with only a few tools and materials. They are not difficult to make and with some imagination and creativity, you too can make beautiful wood jewelry.
They can be painted, stained, decorated and varnished. How you finish them is entirely up to you.
They can be painted, stained, decorated and varnished. How you finish them is entirely up to you.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Materials
Well obviously you need popsicle sticks, tongue depressors or wood craft sticks. The wider style is preferred over the skinny popsicle sticks, but they too can be made into jewelry. New or used is fine, just wash and dry them first if they are used.
For carved pendants, earrings etc., you will need a pencil and some small sharp tools to carve the material.
For cuff bracelets, you will need a pot of water, a stove, tongs (to remove sticks from boiling water), fabric pot holder and a small canning jar. Why the jar? Well its a nearly the perfect size for shaping the cuff bracelets. Canning jars are preferred if you want to speed up the drying process, otherwise, you can use any jam sized glass jar.
For all projects you will need sand paper in varying grits (medium & fine grit), wood varnish to protect finished pieces and a brush to apply varnish.
Optional Materials:
If you want to embellish your wood jewelry pieces you can easily use small stickers, sticker letters, nail art decals, or adhesive gems (normally used to decorate cell phones). All these can be inexpensively purchased from craft stores, or dollar type discount stores.
A drill and a small drill bit will be very helpful in getting the holes made for pendants or earrings, but I was able to make holes using the sharp tool I carved with, so this is optional.
If you prefer, you can easily paint or stain these pieces. Just ensure that the paints and stains you use are compatible with your varnish. Use all water-based or all oil-based products. DO NOT mix water-based and oil-based finishes.
Note: If you use adhesive gemstones, you will need to either apply additional layers of varnish, or consider purchasing a thicker varnish product, available through most home improvement or craft type stores.
For carved pendants, earrings etc., you will need a pencil and some small sharp tools to carve the material.
For cuff bracelets, you will need a pot of water, a stove, tongs (to remove sticks from boiling water), fabric pot holder and a small canning jar. Why the jar? Well its a nearly the perfect size for shaping the cuff bracelets. Canning jars are preferred if you want to speed up the drying process, otherwise, you can use any jam sized glass jar.
For all projects you will need sand paper in varying grits (medium & fine grit), wood varnish to protect finished pieces and a brush to apply varnish.
Optional Materials:
If you want to embellish your wood jewelry pieces you can easily use small stickers, sticker letters, nail art decals, or adhesive gems (normally used to decorate cell phones). All these can be inexpensively purchased from craft stores, or dollar type discount stores.
A drill and a small drill bit will be very helpful in getting the holes made for pendants or earrings, but I was able to make holes using the sharp tool I carved with, so this is optional.
If you prefer, you can easily paint or stain these pieces. Just ensure that the paints and stains you use are compatible with your varnish. Use all water-based or all oil-based products. DO NOT mix water-based and oil-based finishes.
Note: If you use adhesive gemstones, you will need to either apply additional layers of varnish, or consider purchasing a thicker varnish product, available through most home improvement or craft type stores.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Now, I just have to find some popsicle sticks.........
Just treat yourself to some ice cream (on a stick) or a popsicle and your set! ;-)
Will try this with my kids.
Thanks for posting.
A small silver chain with a lobster clasp.
They were really easy and quick to make, I hope you give it a try. ;)
It's really too bad Instructables can't seem to create a better format for voting for the same ible in different contests. Too many projects are getting lost in the shuffle.
My Super Poms Poms are entered into the Toy Challenge, but there isn't a voting header on the page.
I'd call that an extreme disadvantage, too.
What I would suggest that you do (even though the deadline is today), is go to the forum section and post a bug report. I emailed staff last week about the fact there are duplicate entries shown in the list (8 last time I looked); and since you don't even have a voting option on your page makes this whole thing seem rather unfair. Just make sure to include a screenshot of your page, and give a link (to your page and the contest entry page), it might get you some last minute votes. If its any conciliation, I did just vote for you now. ;)
Thanks cg!
So please post your photos here if you give it a try. I'd like to see how it turns out! :)
Steamingm id usually how would is bent.
I would be interested in knowing how long the steaming method takes, so if you're interested in trying this project and use the steam method, post your results here. :)
I'm not sure I'd want used tongue depressors from the doctor unless they were sterilized... eeek!!! but they might be okay for the bracelets since you have to boil the sticks for a while... ;)