Getting Cheap or Free Supplies for Making Jewelry

by Rena Klingenberg
(Home Jewelry Business Success Tips)

Here are several ways to get cheap or free supplies for making jewelry.

As with most free things, you'll need to invest a bit of your time and cleverness instead of money to acquire a stash of free jewelry components and tools.

Here are my top suggestions for getting free / cheap supplies for making jewelry:

Repurposing Trash into Treasure

Use found objects, discarded items, and other odds and ends to create jewelry.

That's what Karen Kelsky did when she created her 100% Recycled Paper Art Pendant:



Photo 1: Karen sourced her metal from this discarded cable bundle.

Photo 2: Her colorful paper came from this bread bag filled with paper scraps.

Photo 3: She shaped and hammered some of the wire into this lovely spiral pendant shape. Then she attached some of the paper scraps to it and applied gel medium.

Photo 4: Voila! A gorgeous pendant with the look of stained glass, created from discarded scraps and hung on a recycled cord. No one would ever guess its humble origins.

Take Apart Your Jewelry Creations
that Aren't Selling

If you have some jewelry items in your inventory that haven't sold after several showings, you may want to consider taking them apart (if they can be taken apart), and re-using the components in fresh designs.

Use Up All of Your Scraps

After every jewelry making project, there are almost always bits and pieces of things left over. . . a couple of beads, an inch of chain, short pieces of wire, and so on.

Why not turn these scraps and oddments into supplies for making jewelry?

As an example, here's a quick photo of small pieces of leftover wire I've turned into things like connectors, hooks, clasps, dangles, pendants, coils, split rings, etc.:



Nearly any spare parts can be used in some way in making jewelry - especially if you think past how these leftover components were originally intended to be used.

Often you can find a totally new way to use a small scrap, so that it contributes a wonderfully unique, creative touch to your handmade jewelry.

Let People Know
What You're Looking for

Your friends, family, co-workers, local businesses, etc. probably discard items every day that you could use in making jewelry.

Let everyone know about your "green" approach to jewelry design, and what kind of items you're seeking that could be used as tools and supplies for making jewelry.

Most people (and businesses) would much rather have you repurpose their discarded stuff than add it to a landfill.

Once you get the word out, prepare to receive all kinds of interesting objects that have potential as free jewelry supplies!

Keep an Eye Out for
"Grab Bags" and Bulk Clearance Lots

Keeping Prices Affordable
Tracy details how she made two gemstone-and-wire pendants for a total of less than a dollar.

Her components came from a "grab bag" deal, plus frugal shopping at Home Depot and the 99Cent store - enabling her to keep her finished jewelry prices low while still earning a fair profit.

Free Jewelry Tools

What Unofficial Jewelry Tools Do You Use?
Can't afford jewelry tools? In this fun discussion, jewelry artists reveal their "unofficial" tools - ordinary household items that work quite well for making jewelry. (Be sure to read through all the comments at the bottom of the post.)

More Ideas for Cheap / Free
Supplies for Making Jewelry

Jewelry Trend Spotlight: "Re-Purposed Vintage"
I love vintage odds and ends incorporated into contemporary jewelry designs. Try these ideas for finding great supplies for making jewelry of this type - for free or super-cheap.

Make Friends with Your Electrician
Nancy shares her unexpectedly great source of free copper wire that's perfect for making jewelry.

Buy Jewelry Supplies in Bulk - and Sell the Excess at a Profit
When you receive your bulk jewelry supply orders, you can take out what you need for your own jewelry making, and divide the rest into auction lots. If you purchase cheaply enough, you can do a brisk business by auctioning off the remaining supplies at prices that are just under retail. Meanwhile, the supplies you keep for yourself are essentially free. Here's how.

Jewelry Supplies from Hardware Stores
Jewelry artists share great tips for jewelry supplies that can bought far more cheaply at hardware stores.

Turn Broken Jewelry into Cash
Allison Dow discusses places to find scrap jewelry and how to profit from it.

Put a Crafty New Surface on Jewelry Components and Displays
A cheap, inspiring way to make your ordinary old supplies and jewelry displays look new and artistic.

16 Ideas for Designing Jewelry When Metal Prices Are High
Ideas for cheaper supplies for making jewelry when metal prices are high.

Have Your Customers Supply
Some of Your Jewelry Components

Custom Jewelry Design Niche Idea
Here's a great way to make a leftover dangle earring wearable, and offer a custom jewelry service that makes your customers very happy.

Get More Wire-Wrapping Orders
People love to have you wire-wrap their special treasures to create pendants for them - and all you have to provide is the wire (and your skill).

A Jewelry "Trade-in" Promotion Idea
Try this solution for getting jewelry supplies from your customers!


Rena Klingenberg
Home Jewelry Business Success Tips