Sunday 8 September 2013

UKS Blog Hop - Washi tape jewellery


Hello and welcome to everyone who's hopped over from Sarah's blog on the UKScrappers End of Summer Blog Hop - and hello to everyone else too. I hope you are having a great time looking at lots of inspiring posts (with the chance of winning a prize too!).

As I was thinking about which project I would like to do for the blog hop my eyes glanced around my desk and spotted some washi tape - it wasn't difficult as I have quite a collection now. I wondered if I could do something a little different with it. I did a bit of research (oh, how I love Pinterest) and came across jewellery made with paperclips and electrical tape. I had a go at making some using using washi tape and I was so pleased with the results. 

(By the way, if you like this style of jewellery, but don't fancy making it, maybe you could find the paperclip necklace they were selling on Anthropologie a while ago for $168 !!!)

So, I started out with a simple bracelet. Wrap some tape around a paperclip, then clip another paperclip on and wrap some more tape around. Continue until it is long enough - I liked the look of it going around my wrist three times. I love how the pink tape and yellow paperclips really pop with colour.


I used my needle nosed pliers to bend one end of the last paperclip to look like this (before adding the tape). It makes a great closure which is quite secure.


I wound it three times around my wrist, but found it went four times around my daughter's wrist. She really liked it, so now I'm wondering about making these with the Brownies too.


I also tried a multi strand necklace using the same technique, where each strand has one extra paperclip on than the last.


This time I used two jump rings and a proper jewellery clasp to finish it. 


This was lovely to wear as it is so light which makes it really comfortable.


I tried to get a bit more sculptural with the paperclips this time and tried to link them together in triangles. I did find it more tricky and there were quite a few occasions of peeling tape off and clipping and unclipping.


I think the design looks a little clearer when I'm wearing it.


I hope you like my washi tape jewellery.  If you want to carry on hopping then the next blog is Furrypig's blog. Hop over to see what she has in store for you. To be in with a chance of winning the prizes you need to leave a comment on every blog AND on the UKScrappers Blog Hop thread.You have until 6am 10th September 2013 to complete the hop. Good luck!

A little bit about me... I am a freelance crafter and I write for 3 UK craft magazines; Scrap365, Sewing World and Beads & Beyond. I love scrapbooking, Fimo polymer clay, patchwork and quilting, knitting, stained glass and mosaic.  I am mum to three young children and I'm also a Brownie leader and so I frequently blog about kids crafts too. My youngest child is just starting school and so I am about to embark on relaunching my career. Things have changed a lot since I started out being freelance (15 years ago), for example, for the first three years I didn't even own a computer! Please do join me on my journey of discovery over the next year as I am taking time to work out how to turn making lovely things back into a full time job. Hope you can come along for the ride.


53 comments:

  1. Fun necklace, thanks for sharing . ukscrappers name lemonblossom

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  2. Beautiful Emy, a great idea :)

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  3. Fab project - love this! - Thanks for sharing - Hugs Butterbee (UKS Blog hop)

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  4. Thats a great idea! Paperclips now on my shopping list :) Gemmasteele on uks

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  5. Wow, these look like fun - love the black/white/red set.

    Toni xx (misteejay on UKS)

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  6. Very unique and fun, who'd have thought a paper clip could have other uses !! Kitty Crafts UKS

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  7. What a fab idea! Off to f9ind some paperclip0s and my washi tape! Thank you for showing

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  8. Thanks for sharing this fun idea....you could start a new trend in jewelry. Scarymary555 on UKS

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  9. This is so simple .. and so pretty. With the abundance of Washi tapes available you could have a piece for every mood or outfit!! Thanks for sharing.

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  10. What a brilliant idea, and a great use of washi tape too.

    Lyn M. UKS Lyn55

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  11. What a fab idea, I went a bit mad buying washi tape so am always grateful for new ways to use it.

    scoobiesue - UKS

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  12. Great tutorial and great idea for using my ever growing collection of washi tape - thank you for sharing.
    PaulineD UKS

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  13. Definitely a fun way to use washi! UKS Wonky

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  14. I think is one of the most unusual uses for washi tape I've seen. So pretty and easy to make something to co-ordinate with your outfits :o)

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  15. These are so cute and clever. Thanks for sharing.

    UKs susibee

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  16. I would have never of thought of that! Thanks for sharing :)

    UKS chrisrydal

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  17. Oooh - interesting concept - TFS! UKS-Weaselwise

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  18. Amazing what you can do with..... UKS mrst

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  19. might try to decorate page elements with washi. interesting. UKS akilli_melek

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  20. You are so creative - thanks for sharing your project.

    UKS AliTS

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  21. No more just the humble paperclip - how clever is that idea!

    UKS Mole

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  22. Fab and unique idea, I'd have never guessed that was washi tape just to look at! Thanks for sharing.

    UKS Violaceous

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  23. So clever, love up cycling :) JoPink

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  24. Something I never would have thought of, but I may give it a try.

    Thanks for sharing.

    UKS Aurora

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  25. Very clever idea and great use of washi tape. I can see me using this idea as an embellishment
    Thanks for sharing
    UKs lelly

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  26. ooh that is different and clever! thanks for sharing your ideas (Furrypig on UKS too!)

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  27. Very creative and with my mounting stash of washi I might just have a go :)
    cheekymole

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  28. What fun (and a great way to use up washi) - I'm sure the Brownies will love it!
    Jemma (aka Jimjams)

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  29. Great fun idea, thanks for sharing

    Beanpie 11

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  30. Wow these are great! You wouldn't know they were paper clips when you've got them on!

    Jessbaby

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  31. I'd never have thought of using paper clips or washi tape for jewellery but what a great look, thank you
    Chris55

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  32. What fun! My daughter would love this!

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  33. Your jewellery is really fun and shows that washi tape, and other supplies, can be used in other ways than intended. We love this as it opens up a whole new world of crafting.

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  34. What a fun use of washi tape.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Alimad (UKS)

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  35. What a fabulous idea..
    Efemera

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  36. Really unusual idea - lovely post
    Scrapdolly

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  37. Oooo, what a fab way to shop off some gorgeous washi tape.

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  38. Perfect solution for overstocks of Washi tape and paper clips, look lovely! Thank you.

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  39. Who'd have thought some paper clips and tape could look so good!? Thank you for sharing.
    Sue x (MiniOwner)

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  40. Very cool! Thanks very much xx UKS: ScrapHappyNiki

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  41. A deceptively simple project! Looks great :)

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  42. That is sooooo cool! I love unusual jewellery

    uks darm

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  43. Very cool & unusual. I bet the Brownies would love it.

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  44. very different! We did something similar with seed beads, safety pins and elastic at school. Might have to pinch this idea! Happy hopping, jenx

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  45. Forgot to say I'm lindschick!

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  46. Gosh these are really funky and a great way to use some Washi. Kjjc

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  47. Clever idea these look fab. Thanks for sharing (Jacqui200284 on uks) :)

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  48. Now thats a different way to use washi tape. thanks for sharing. UKS Hedgie

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  49. Great idea- and live the triangle links, Leanie x

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  50. At last a use for washi tape that might make me buy some!

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