Accessories from Recycled Zippers

In the past year, I have become much more interested in making things from recycled items. I started by making crocheted totebags from plarn - yarn made from strips of plastic grocery bags. More recently, I fused layers of the plastic bags to make some really cute makup bags. I finally got around to felting the large boxes of wool sweaters that I've had for several years in the basement and I had lots of fun making softies, puppets, barrettes and ornaments from them. I took an old bright green raincoat apart and used the fabric to make two reusable grocery bags (using the raincoat belt for straps, saved all the buttons and kept the really long zipper that connected the lining. I've also started using alot more recycled materials in my kids classes, both here and at the Arts Center. Too bad I didn't take pictures of most of these and they have either been sold or given as gifts. One item that has taken off has been my zipper accessories.

You can read about the basics of making them from a 4-H project here. I actually use polymer clay as a base for my items so that I am totally free to do any size or shape that I'd like. You can find these items for sale at my Etsy Store.

Polymer Clay Technique Experiments

As I learn about polymer clay, it's fun to try different techniques. The first two pictures are of items I made using my extruder....

We gave the mirror to friends in Hawaii when we stayed in their home for vacation last year. The color scheme reminded me of the ocean and their home was right on it!! Beautiful!! The whole mirror is made of clay. I even made a little clay hanger on the back for hanging on the wall.

We gave the baby and serving spoon set to Todd and Keegan for Christmas last year- just before Rhys was born. (It amazingly matched in color and design his car seat fabric that was in his birth announcement picture).

I made the polymer clay pendant in a class with Ellen Marshall. I'm not quite sure why, but this necklace is David's favorite thing I've ever made (so he says). I do like it, but I don't think it's even on my top 10.

The watch was made early on in my experiementation and I made this as a present for my dear friend, Stacy. (the other Stacy).

Polymer Clay Projects

I've become more interested in playing with polymer clay over the past few years. I love trying all the different techniques and am amazed by the color combinations, textures and designs that one can create - it really is incredibly versatile.

I am involved with an Empty Bowls event here every year. This past year I made polymer clay brooches for all the people on the committee and I made a polmer clay bowl that was auctioned off at the Swanky Bowls event. Here are pics of those.

Polymer Clay "Bump" Beads

A friend of mine is having a 10th anniversary for something. I am going to make her a fun, bright, polymer clay bead watch for a present. Here are the steps I took to make the beads.

After conditioning the clay, I put it through the pasta machine at 1.








Then I cut out pieces with the same cookie cutter so that all the beads would be the same ize. I came up with this idea and I think it works much better than making a snake and then cutting segments.
Next, I added dots to the beads. Each bead here has 5 dots/bead.
Here's what they looked like before cooking. I raised them off the tray with cardboard prior to baking.















After cooling, I put on two coats of gloss varnish. I didn't like this stuff in the picture and ended up using something else.

Here's the watch after it was completed. I ended up using elastic since it was too large with beading wire and the addition of a toggle clasp. I think I like the continual flow of this way better anyhow. I put Bali spacers between the clay beads and small silver circles next to the watch.















I like the watch, but also think that an elastic bracelet like this would be awesome. Let me know if anyone is interested in making some of these beads and doing a bracelet.