Do you ever start a project and finish with something completely different than what you had planned? We find that’s more likely to happen when you really let creativity take the reigns. Take this Slinky DIY, for instance: we initially bought the nostalgic toy to make, of all things, a wedding escort wall. After scrapping that idea, we considered making ice cream cone holders (difficult and inefficient), and a sort of DIY rolodex (didn’t work) before landing on the most obvious concept — jewelry. Folks, your trusty old Slinky is a pretty dang good base for bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Who knew? Read on to see how we did it!
Wrap Bracelet
Materials + Tools:
— Slinky
— crow beads
— heavy-duty pliers
— E-6000
— paper clip
Instructions:
1. Cut off the bound end of your Slinky with heavy-duty pliers. Then cut again, three or four hoops in.
2. Use the tip of a paperclip to wedge E6000 into a crow bead. Add this crow bead to the very end of your bracelet, and let dry.
3. String on crow beads until the Slinky is fully covered.
4. Apply E-6000 glue to the last crow bead and add to the exposed end of your wrap bracelet. Let dry. You’re done!
Think crow beads are just for kids? Think again.
Cut off the bound end of your Slinky with heavy-duty pliers.
Cut again, three or four hoops in.
Use the tip of a paperclip to wedge E-6000 into a crow bead. Add this crow bead to the very end of your bracelet, and let dry.
String on crow beads until the Slinky is fully covered.
Apply E-6000 glue to the last crow bead, and add to the exposed end of your wrap bracelet. Let dry. You’re done!
Ta-da! Who knew this toy could look so classy?
Statement Necklace
Materials + Tools:
— Slinky
— heavy-duty pliers
— flat-nosed jewelry pliers
— jewelry wire cutters
— thin wire
— raw quartz
— chain
— 2 jump rings
Instructions:
1. Using your heavy-duty pliers, cut one hoop off of the Slinky. Make sure the ends of the hoop are overlapping a little.
2. Wrap the overlapping ends in malleable wire, then use the flat-nosed pliers to press the wire into place.
3. String one piece of raw quartz onto the center of another piece of wire. Wrap both sides of the wire around the Slinky (to the left and right of the quartz, keeping it centered). Make sure it is opposite the wire wrap at the top of the Slinky. String on more quartz, repeating these steps.
4. Wrap the leftover wire tightly around the Slinky, then press into place with the flat-nosed pliers. Repeat on the other side.
5. String the middle of your chain onto one jump ring, then fit the jump ring right around the top of your slinky hoop. Close the jump ring carefully. Then attach the two ends of your chain together with the second jump ring. You’re finished!
We went with a mixed metal look, but feel free to stick with all silver instead.
Using your heavy-duty pliers, cut one hoop off of the Slinky. Make sure the ends of the hoop are overlapping a little.
Wrap the overlapping ends in malleable wire, then use the flat-nosed pliers to press the wire flush against the Slinky.
String one piece of raw quartz onto the center of another piece of wire. Directly across from the wire wrap, wrap the wire to the left of the quartz under and around the Slinky, and the wire to the right side of the quartz above and around. String on more quartz, repeating these steps.
Wrap the leftover wire tightly around the Slinky, then press into place with the flat-nosed pliers. Repeat on the other side.
Hey, good lookin’.
String the middle of your chain onto one jump ring, then fit the jump ring around the top of your slinky hoop. Close the jump ring carefully. Then attach the two ends of your chain together with the second jump ring.
All done!
Hoop Earrings
Materials + Tools:
— Slinky
— heavy-duty pliers
— flat-nosed jewelry pliers
— jewelry wire cutters
— 20-gauge silver wire
— 15-gauge silver wire
— embroidery thread
— earring hooks
— scissors
Instructions:
1. Using your heavy-duty pliers, cut one hoop off of the Slinky. Make sure the ends of the hoop are overlapping a little.
2. Cut a small piece of 20-gauge wire. Wrap it around the bottom fourth of your hoop, ensuring that the overlapping part of the Slinky is beneath it. Shape the wire to the hoop with flat-nosed pliers, and trim the ends as needed.
3. Tie your embroidery thread just above the wire with a double knot. Tuck the end of the thread between your wire and Slinky, and then tightly wrap around both. Once you’ve covered the entire wire, tie another double knot and tuck this end underneath the wrapping.
4. To attach the earring hook, cut a 4-inch piece of 15-gauge wire. Fold it in half over the top of the Slinky, then twist so it is secure. String the earring hoop onto the straight piece of wire, then bring this end around the twisted wire. Wrap tightly 2 to 3 times, then trim the ends. Voila!
Using your heavy-duty pliers, cut one hoop off of the Slinky. Make sure the ends of the hoop are overlapping a little.
Cut a small piece of 20-gauge wire. Wrap it around the bottom fourth of your hoop, ensuring that the overlapping part of the Slinky is beneath it. Shape the wire to the hoop with flat-nosed pliers and trim the ends as needed.
Tie your embroidery thread just above the wire with a double knot. Tuck the end of the thread between your wire and Slinky, and then tightly wrap around both. Once you’ve covered the entire wire, tie another double knot, and tuck this end underneath the wrapping.
To attach the earring hook, cut a four-inch piece of 15-gauge wire. Fold it in half over the top of the Slinky, then twist so it is secure. String the earring hoop onto the straight piece of wire, then bring this end around the twisted wire. Wrap tightly two to three times, then trim the ends.
Voila!
There you have it! You finally have a use for that dusty Slinky you’ve held on to all these years.
Will you be trying this DIY yourself? If so, we want to see the results! Share photos with the hashtags #britstagram and #iamcreative so we can check them out!
