Upcycled Jewelry Set #2

Necklace & earrings from resin leftovers and old buttons

The final result - a playful necklace made with a resin donut and vintage buttons — *The final result – a playful necklace made with a resin donut and vintage buttons*

From leftovers to jewelry

Do you also hate throwing away resin leftovers? Same here. For this second upcycled jewelry set, I poured the last epoxy resin leftovers into a round silicone mold and combined the result with a box of old buttons and some white cord. The result? A complete jewelry set – necklace and earrings – that looks far more expensive than it was.

Below I walk you through the full process step by step, from casting the resin donuts to attaching the final ear hook.

Step 1: Casting the resin donuts

A few days before assembly, I started by casting the donuts. I used a round silicone mold with one hole in the center – perfect for the button look I had in mind. A few drops of resin dye in turquoise, purple and cobalt blue created bright colors, while white sinker gave that petri effect. In addition, I mixed in glow powder for a glow-in-the-dark effect.

My workspace after casting hair clips and pendants, using leftover resin for three donut molds — *My workspace: after casting hair clips and pendants, I still had resin left, so I used it to fill the last 3 empty donut molds.*

Every donut is unique. The alcohol ink moves through the liquid resin in a way you can never fully control – and that is exactly what makes it beautiful. So feel free to cast a few extra: you can choose the best ones afterward.

Three finished blue resin donuts, each with a unique pattern — *The three finished blue resin donuts – each with its own unique pattern*

Tip: Let the resin cure for at least 24 hours before continuing. The more patience you have, the better the surface.

Step 2: Sketching the design

Before I start threading, I always make a quick sketch. That way I know which buttons I need, in what order they go, and how the full piece should look.

Design sketch with donut buttons for the necklace and small buttons for the earrings — *The sketch: donut buttons for the necklace and small buttons for the earrings*

The plan: one large resin donut as the centerpiece, a large button above it as an anchor point, followed by smaller buttons toward the neck. Under the donut come two separate dangling strands as a playful finish. Finally, the closure is a sliding knot so the necklace is size-adjustable.

My design includes pearls, but I did not have any with a large enough hole to thread wax cord through.

Step 3: Gathering materials

Everything prepared with buttons in different sizes, white cord, scissors and the resin donut — *Everything prepared: buttons in different sizes, white cord, scissors and the resin donut*

For the necklace:

– 1 large resin donut

– 1 large 4-hole button as anchor point above the donut

– Smaller 2-hole or 4-hole buttons along the cord

– White waxed cord

– Scissors

For the earrings:

– 2 small white 2-hole buttons

– 2 large and 2 small jump rings

– 2 silver ear hooks

– 2 pliers

Step 4: Assembling the necklace

4.1 Threading cord through the donut

Cut a piece of cord of about 100 cm. Fold it in half and thread the folded loop through the hole of the resin donut. Pull the two loose ends through the loop and tighten firmly. The cord is now fixed to the donut with two strands going upward.

Cord looped through the resin donut with two strands going upward — *The cord is looped through the resin donut – two strands run upward*

4.2 Threading the first large button

Thread the doubled cord through a large 4-hole button. Use two opposite holes so the cord stays centered. This is the anchor button right above the donut – it instantly gives character to the jewelry piece.

Technique using tape to thread cord through one hole of a button — *Technique: thread the cord through one button hole using tape*

First large 4-hole button secured above the donut — *The first large 4-hole button is fixed above the donut*

4.3 Adding small knots

After the large anchor button, make small knots. This is decorative, but it also keeps the next buttons from sliding down.

*Small button pieces prepared next to the secured large button*

4.4 Buttons toward the neck

From here, the cord splits into two separate strands that go toward the neck. Prepare the two small buttons you will attach at the top – right and left of the large button.

Two small buttons ready to be threaded toward the neck — *Two small buttons are ready to be threaded toward the neck*

Two small buttons threaded and secured toward the neck — *The two small buttons are threaded and secured toward the neck*

Thread a small button on each strand and secure it with a small knot in the cord. Work symmetrically: both sides should be identical.

4.5 Sliding knot – adjustable closure

Now finish the necklace with a sliding knot. Cross the two cord ends over each other and tie a sliding knot on both sides. This lets the wearer adjust the necklace size – no clasp or hook needed.

Sliding knot adjustable closure with the neck section fully finished — *The sliding knot: adjustable closure – the neck section is fully finished*

Tip: Open and close the sliding knot a few times to check that it glides smoothly. If it feels stiff, loosen the knots slightly.

Step 5: The dangling strands under the donut

The necklace also gets a decorative element at the bottom: two playful dangling strands coming out of the donut. For this, use a new separate piece of cord.

New cord looped through the donut for two dangling strands — *A new piece of cord is looped through the donut for the two dangling strands*

Buttons attached and secured at the ends of the dangling strands — *The buttons are attached and secured at the ends of the dangling strands*

Thread the new cord through the donut hole and loop it so you get two different-length ends hanging downward. Thread one or two small buttons on each end and finish each side with an end knot so the buttons cannot slide off.

Step 6: The finished necklace

The necklace is finished! Hang it on a bust or try it on to check whether the proportions are right and the sliding knot works smoothly.

Side view showing the necklace hanging lightly and playfully — *Side view – the necklace hangs lightly and playfully*

Close-up of the resin donut with cord crossing elegantly — *Close-up of the resin donut – the cord crosses elegantly over the donut*

Step 7: Matching earrings

A beautiful necklace deserves matching earrings. For this, use the same small white buttons as in the necklace. The technique is simple and very quick.

Components for earrings with two small buttons jump rings and silver ear hooks — *The components: 2 small white 2-hole buttons, large and small jump rings, and silver ear hooks*

7.1 Attach the large jump rings

Open a large jump ring with two pliers – twist, never pull. Thread the ring through one hole of the white button and close it firmly. Repeat for the second button.

Large jump rings attached through the buttons using two pliers — *Large jump rings attached through the buttons with two pliers*

7.2 Add small jump rings and ear hooks

Connect a small jump ring to the large ring on the button. Open the ear hook, connect it to the small ring, and close everything securely. Repeat for the second earring.

Finished earrings next to pliers ready to wear — *The finished earrings next to the pliers – ready!*

The final result: a complete jewelry set

Necklace and earrings – fully handmade from materials that would otherwise end up in the trash. The white buttons in the earrings echo the buttons in the necklace, the silver findings add a fresh finishing touch, and the resin donut delivers that unmistakable eye-catcher effect.

*Front view of the complete set on the bust*

Materialen die ik gebruikte:

Materiaal	DE	BE
Oorhaakjes	DE	BE
Jumprings	DE	BE
Gewaxt koord	DE	BE