The tutorial includes a step-by-step guide with images.

Please don’t purchase this tutorial if you are looking for an exact pattern.  This tutorial is meant to be a guide to create your own unique necklace.  It will look similar, but there is a great deal of freedom in terms of how long to make each loop and where your buttons will end up.

Most of all, this is about having fun and creating a one of a kind necklace for yourself!

If you have any questions, please contact me here.

To purchase this tutorial for only $5.00, click below:

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1. How to reuse a silk tie and hand sew a ruffled necklace

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Tell me your favorite and why.

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Today I would like to share a quick tutorial with you on creating your very own hand sewn ruffled necklace from an old silk tie.  I think this tutorial is so fun because you can really just be inspired by it and create your own look with a silk tie.  My favorite part about this new necklace of mine is that it sits a bit sideways on your chest.  I think that gives it uniqueness and a bit of character.  I would love to see what you create with your neck ties.  Send images of your creations my way via email (upcycledunlimited [at] gmail [dot] com)  Can’t wait to see them.

On to the tutorial.

How to reuse a silk tie and hand sew a ruffled necklace:

1.  Wrap the neck tie around your neck and measure (including enough to ruffle the fabric) where to cut the tie.  The length is up to you.  I wanted my necklace to sit at the top of my chest.

2.  Cut the tie to the correct length.  Mark where the top of the first ruffle will start.

3.  Place the tie so that it overlaps itself where the first ruffle will start.  Sew a straight line using the bottom layer of the tie as your guide.  I used red button thread so that it would pop against my yellow tie.

4.  Create your first ruffle and sew it in place.

5.  Continue to sew as many ruffles as you would like or until you run out of room on the bottom layer.

6.  You are finished!  Wasn’t that so fun?

7.  Find a place to show off your new creation!

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How to Reuse a Belt to Make a Necklace:

1. Put a tape measure around your neck and measure the spot where you want the buckle to hang.
2. Measure away from the buckle to the number of inches you calculated in Step 1. Cut the belt.

3. Cut the belt 1″ from the last buckle hole.

4. Find some coordinating fabric and cut it so that it will cover the cuts you made and wrap around the belt.

5. Iron down all four sides of the fabric.

6. Sew the belt together. Wrap the ironed fabric around the belt and pin in place.

7. Sew around the fabric.

Find an outfit to wear with your new belt necklace!

My favorite part to this new necklace is the versatility.  I can wear it long, wear it short, and fuss with it and make it fit whatever mood I am in!

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I have been having some fun figuring out different ways to cook, boil, mold, cut and form CDs into jewelry.  I made a pretty funky CD necklace a couple of weeks ago.  First, I boiled the CD in water until it was fairly easy to cut with scissors.  I cut out the shapes I wanted and then placed them on a cookie sheet and in an oven at 400 degrees F.  After about 5 minutes the CD parts started to bubble.  I let them cool and then made a necklace with some vintage fabric and cord.

I love how the CDs look when they bubble.  Looks like glass!  I will have to experiment more and make a series of necklaces.

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I have decided to let materials guide me and be a bit more intuitive when it comes to making my work.  I have a planner personality and that works well for a great number of areas in one’s life, even sometimes with art.  But, for the time being I feel like letting go and sort of playing and making stuff even if it seems weird or crazy to make.  Even if it is impractical and fragile and unrealistic.  Art is about experimentation and I wouldn’t be doing the field justice if I played it safe all of the time.  So, I let the materials guide me for this brand new necklace of mine.  It is flirty, fun, funky and unlike anything I have ever made.  And I love it!

This necklace is now for sale at my online store, upcycled unlimited.

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I will be experimenting with CDs this month to see what creative reuse ideas I can come up with.  First, here is How to Reuse a CD to Make a Necklace Pendant.

1.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

2.  Place a CD on a baking sheet.

3.  Bake approximately 5 minutes until bubbles start to form.

4.  Take the CD out of the oven and let cool a few minutes.  Cut to your desired shape.

5.  Use an exacto knife to push a hole through the top of your pendant.

6.  Sand down the edges of your new cd pendant.

7.  String a ribbon through the hole and you have yourself a brand new creative reuse necklace.

Now, this is just the fundamentals for making a CD necklace.  You can embellish as much as you would like to.  In fact, if you have a CD necklace you would like to share with me, send it my way (info (at!) howtoreuseitcreatively.com).

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I am a really big fan of both homonogous and dangle earrings.  For this week I thought I would experiment making some dangle earrings.  The main ingredient for this lovely new accessory is an old silk tie.  The best part is that these earrings are super light weight!

How to Reuse a Silk Tie to Make Earrings:

1.  Cut about a 2 inch section from the silk tie.  Take out the insides.

2.  Cut the 2 inch piece at the seams to create 2 rectangles of fabric.

3.  Fold the fabric in half, right side to right side.  Use a hot iron to create a crease.

4.  Sew the two sides of the fabric.

5.  Fold the fabric inside out.  You will have one side that is still open.  Carefully fold the fabric in on itself and sew the sew shut.  For more info on this step check out step two of my tutorial on a silk tie necklace.

6.  Pick a button and center it on your new silk tie square piece.  Starting from the back sew your button to the fabric.  Make sure to leave extra thread at the end so you can attach your earring hook.

7.  Attach your earring to the hook.

YAY!  You now have a new pair of earrings.  I think these work as dressed up or casual earrings.  They are fun, simple and unique!

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Here is how to reuse a necktie and tshirt to make a necktie necklace:

1.  Place the neck tie around your neck and pin it wear your clasp/button will go on the front.  Cut out any excess tie material from the center.  For my tie I cut 14 inches from each end and left the rest for another project.

2.  Sew each open side closed; then sew them together.

3.  To make a tshirt flower:

a.  Cut tshirt fabric into different sized circles.

b.  Use a needle and thread and sew around the edge of the circle.

c.  Pull the thread so the fabric bunches up togehter.

d.  To secure your new flower put the needle and thread through the center a few times.  Then, put your needle underneath the thread that is at the center of your flower.  Don’t pull it all the way through; just enough to create a loop.  Put your needle through that loop 2 times and then pull tight.

4.  Design your tie.  Use a button as your necklace clasp.

5.  Sew your flowers, buttons, button holes and whatever else you want on to your new necktie necklace.

I changed my design at the last minute….

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How to Reuse Playing Cards to Make Petal Shaped Earrings:

1.  Pick the two cards that you would like to use.  I chose the king and queen of spades.

2.  Cut 3 petal shapes from each card.

3.  Lay the petals in a stack and spread them out so that the tops are still stacked but the bottoms are expanding away from each other.

4.  Pick a button to go on the top of your petals.  Get some thread and a sewing needle (tie a double or triple knot at the end).  Push the needle through all three cards and then through one of the button holes.  Keep sewing your thread through each button hole.

5.  When you have gone through each button hole twice cut the thread where it meets the needle (you need extra thread to attach your earring hook).  Now you have two pieces of thread.  Tie them in a knot two times to secure your button and cards in place.

6.  Hold your earring by the top of the thread and let it spin until it settles.  Put the thread through the earring hook so that the front side of your earring will show when the hook is in your ear.  Tie two knots to attach the thread to the earring hook.

7.  Repeat steps 3-6 for the other card.

And there you go, easy as easy!

Have fun wearing your awesome new earrings.

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