Making Paper Jewelry

Gold prices are sky rocketing every day and passing out of bounds for most. Platinum jewelry looks divine and costs an astronomical amount as well. Since platinum is more expensive than gold, we can only hope to admire platinum designs in shop windows and heave sighs of envy.

Sterling silver jewelry is elegant but quite pricey as well. So what is your option? Giving up wearing jewelry or adding to your jewelry collection altogether? No way. I will provide you with a better solution that will bail you out of your jewelry woes.

Fashion jewelry or costume jewelry made out of innovative materials like wood, paper, buttons, beads, cubic zirconium and costing a pittance compared to precious metal jewelry is the answer to your prayer.

Paper Jewelry

Paper jewelry looks quaint, belongs to the genre of junk jewelry and is an ideal accessory for the boho-chic look. Besides it is dirt cheap. But it can lift the look of your bohemian gypsy skirt in a jiffy. Paper fashion jewelry should be protected from getting wet at all costs and you should put it away carefully and wipe it dry after taking it off.

See to it that you don’t sweat a lot or the sweat doesn’t stick to the paper jewelry. Paper jewelry can cost as little as $1 and yet make you the centre of attraction because of its exotic and different appeal.

Quaint but eye catching rings, pendants, necklaces, brooch, bracelets, earrings in pretty floral/planetary/animal designs can be created out of recycled newspaper, old recycled colorful magazines, recycled paper grocery bag, vintage Victorian and antique postcards, silk screened Japanese Chiyogami paper, Katazome shi Japanese paper etc.

Your paper jewelry can be encrusted with jasper beads in different colors, obsidian beads, sterling silver beads, sapphire swarovski crystals, and other such nick nacks. The main thing is to be creative and let your imagination run wild.

If you are treasure hunting for artistic patterned painted paper for creating innovative offbeat costume jewelry, I will suggest the gorgeously patterned papers from Nepal and Japan.

Japanese Paper Jewelry

The incredible patterns found on Chiyogami have drawn their inspiration from kimono textile motifs and feature breathtakingly beautiful lush floral motifs, scarlet cherry blossom motifs, vines and bamboos and shimmering waves patterns, birds and insects prints, geometric patterns and abstract motifs etc.

Many of the Japanese papers feature patterns of plum blossoms, lotus, lilies, hibiscus, birds like cranes – aviary embodiment and metaphor of good fortune, bountiful long life and elegant grace. Thus Japanese paper jewelry is worth investing in because of their symbolic values.

Creating paper jewelry according to the instructions given in various free websites and e-books will be like child’s play for you.