Thursday, February 16, 2012

Lightning In A Bottle Tutorial

Remember that time (a few days back) I showed you this Guess The Mystery Thing necklace, featuring a little captive Cupid?


Then I revealed the secret ingredient...


Binky!!!  That's right.  A dollar store baby pacifier plus a little imagination equals lightning in a bottle.  Here are two more versions - aren't they cute?




Want to DIY?  It's pretty simple and lots of fun!


Start by cutting off your nipple with a sharp pair of scissors.  (Note: I will never write those words again, and you shouldn't either.)



Find a small embellishment that will fit inside.  Shove it in there.  Then use a pushpin to poke holes through both lips of the opening.


To finish off the top, you need a headpin, a flat spacer bead and a somewhat skinny filigree jewelry finding:


Suggestions on where to find the filigree: try part of an old chandelier earring, or peruse the 'earring findings' section at a craft or bead store.

Now thread the headpin through the filigree, the nipple and the spacer bead, like so:


Fold the headpin up so it holds everything together.  Trim the headpin short (about 1/2 inch) and make a little bitty loop.  Turn it nice and tight against the flat spacer.



Now you have the basic pendant!


Optional: try curving the filigree a bit, if it's pliable.


Then add a jump ring and a chain, and huzzah!  Necklace done!


Here's the back view:


It's very fun to experiment with different embellishments.  I made this ladybug one for a seven-year-old:


In this more grown-up version, I used little nature charms and mixed metals:




One comment about these.  As any mom or baby knows, a pacifier will pick up a bit of fluff when not firmly planted in someone's mouth.  Your necklace will definitely attract the occasional fiber or sprinkling of dust.  Just wipe with a damp cloth to de-fluff.  (Resist the urge to pop it in your mouth.  Not a good look!  Trust me on this one.)

So do tell - what would you put inside your binky?

Okay, my crafty fiends, that's today's upcycled jewelry project.  Hope you come back for more.

37 comments:

  1. OOOhhh my goodnes....I LOVE IT!!!!
    This one is comming on my to do list!!!!
    Love Cinderell@

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  2. Oh thanks so much for the tutorial! I will definitely make this one.

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    1. I finally found something to use at the top in some old craft supplies that my mom gave me a while back. Now to go to Hobby Lobby and get a charm for inside. I think that I am going to put an owl in mine.

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  3. hiya mich x thanks so much for a fun and gorgeous tutorial x tfs
    xmaggiex

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  4. This is one of your best projects. The list of supplies are easy to buy and your explanation in the tutorial is wonderful. I'm thinking of putting a little sand in the bottom and a small shell or two on the sand. The problem of buying a pacifier at CVS is that someone I know may see me and think.....

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    1. Also buy a baby shower card. If anyone looks at your belly, hold up the card.

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    2. You also have to find a way to contain the sand totally so it doesn't tip out as you handle the necklace putting it on and taking it off etc.

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    3. If you put sand in the bottom, you could try and melt the top together.. by using a soldering iron perhaps?
      Aitch

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    4. or a flat iron, curling iron you don't use OR hot glue gun?

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  5. Putting objects inside a display case - is such a natural thing to do - and you've definitely come up with a fabulous - 'display' case.

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  6. Great tutorial Mich! These are fabulous! - I do think that it would be an easy thing to do to suck them clean without thinking though!!

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  7. A great tutorial Michelle. I'm always fascinated at how these jewelry projects are knitted together. Thanks for the lesson Teach!

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  8. como siempre te pasas!!!!! que idea fantastica, i los pendientes quedan divinos y no se rompen:-D
    eres un genio!!!!

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  9. What a NICE tutorial..very detailed & good images..super!
    Thanks for sharing with us arty smarty lady :)

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  10. Thank you for taking the time to show us how you did it just so amazes me and look so forward to seeing what you creativity comes up with next I pinned it so the world can see just how talented you are!!!!

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  11. Absolutely brilliant. I'll never look at a binky the same way again. I'm off to look for stuffing.

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  12. you are weird in a wonderful way! thanks for the constant inspiration M!

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  13. love it! Sorry I missed the guess it post :(

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  14. Love the concept, now all I have to do is find a baby needs supply store :)

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  15. would be great for babies first hair cut

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  16. How creative and the pics in the tutorial were excellent. My daughter collects lady bug stuff and the one you made for the little girl would be right up her alley. I may have to make her one. I have some small ladybug buttons I didn't use in a project for her as it needed larger ones and I found them right after I bought the pack of small ones. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  17. excellent !!!! many many thanks for sharing the secret ;)

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  18. simply amazing.....thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday, and great to have you back!

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  19. Awesome! I would never have guessed a dollar store binky could be turned into something so cool.

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  20. Absolutely adore this! I make jewellery and other crafts from recycled items and with a stack of old binkys that my boys never used, that's another thing added to my 'to do' list.

    Fantastic tutorial as well. Thanks
    Aitch

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  21. Great and fabulous art creations.Absolutely wonderful idea to make some different artificial jewelery.

    micro scooter

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  22. THIS IS SO CLEVER :O

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  23. I love it when someone is extra creative!!!! Love the piece:)

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  24. WOW! What a great idea! I love it.

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  25. Um... you rock. Soooo cool girl. Sharing this with my readers today.
    Printable Decor
    Saved By Love Creations

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    Replies
    1. Ummm, who would have thought to use a paci as jewelry? Brilliant idea! I would put sea glass into mine! :)

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  26. super cute and imaginative! I love it, great job!

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  27. Love it! Now I know what to do with my stash of found pacifiers... :)
    Thanx for sharing

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  28. this would be an awesome project for our "girls craft nite" Thanks! Just wondering if a coat of clear nail polish would help with the de-fuzzing?

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  29. Those instructions are hysterical

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