15 Eco-Chic Jewelry Projects for Earth Day (and Every Day!)

We’ve all heard the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra, right? Well we’re giving that old incantation a bit of an update… Get ready to “revamp, repurpose, and revitalize” with these eco-chic DIY jewelry projects! In honor of Earth Day, we at AllFreeJewelryMaking are pulling together some of our all-time favorite jewelry tutorials using recycled materials. “Go green” and get gorgeous with these Earth-friendly and fashion-forward DIY jewelry ideas. Not only will you save some trash from the landfill, but you’ll save yourself a bit of money by upcycling materials you already have at home into fresh and fabulous DIY jewelry.

Instead of going to the craft store the next time you need jewelry supplies, you’ll be heading to your favorite fast food restaurant after you see this DIY idea. Would you have guessed this Golden Neon Pyramid Necklace was made from drinking straws, paper, and paint? Bet you’ll think twice before tossing that fountain drink in the trash. Give yourself an excuse to swing by the drive-thru of your favorite burger joint by putting this knockout statement necklace on your “to-do” list.

Make a bracelet that really pops with this cool recycled bracelet project. Different versions of this DIY Pop Tab Bracelet have been popping up all over the blogosphere, but this one from Taking Off At Nine is really top notch. The pink satin ribbon gives it an ultra feminine touch and adds some softness to the silvery tabs. So cheap and easy to make!

Doing some redecorating? You might as well redecorate your wardrobe while you’re at it with this Paint Chip Petal Necklace project. Save those leftover paint chips the next time you’re giving your home a fresh coat and turn those colorful scrap cards into your next necklace creation. You can add a splash of color to your walls and your outfit all at once.

Got the itch to make some earrings? We prescribe this tutorial for Jewelry Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles to relieve your jewelry making urges. Poppy from Poppy’s Money Tree House is clearly doing her part to save our planet with these clever recycled jewelry designs. Use a prescription bottle to get the amber effect shown here, or use any empty plastic bottle you have lying around to create your own version of this project.

Not all repurposed jewelry projects have to come from the recycling bin. This 6-Minute Upcycled Necklace revamps an old piece of jewelry into something fresh and fun. Give new life to those old forgotten bead bracelets lying listlessly at the bottom of your jewelry box, or revitalize some retro accessories picked up from a second-hand shop. All you need is a few beads to make simple and sweet necklaces like the one shown here.

These jewelry projects prove that you can be elegant and environmentally conscious all at once. If you’re looking for even more ways to save the Earth and some cash while crafting, check out Chic Recycled Crafts: 10 Recycled Jewelry Tutorials to find a roundup of our top 10 most popular recycled jewelry projects on AllFreeJewelryMaking.com, as chosen by our readers. Go glam and go green at the same time with these Earth-friendly ideas.

Have you ever used recycled or upcycled items in a craft or jewelry project? Tell us about it!