Welcome to the first of many Make It Mondays! Mondays will showcase items I have made be it crafts, art, home decor items, clothing or even food (if it can’t wait until Friday!) Sometimes, handmade items and ideas from other fabulous makers will be featured. Today, I’m sharing a quick 5 Minute Ring.

Tonight, I wanted something simple. After a hectic day full of work, appointments, MAJOR thrifting and a late dinner, I didn’t want to think too hard. I managed to knock out this spunky little number in about five minutes. It took longer to pull the materials together than to actually make the ring! I have been dying to transform these old clip ons into something more wearable for my tastes.

The Project: 5 Minute Ring

The Materials:

- Any clip on earrings you adore, but don’t want to hang from your lobes
- Button Shank Remover, jewelry making pliers
- 2 headpins

The How-To:

1. Remove the “clip on” portion of the earring. Mine was quite simple. The button shank remover easily cut through three tiny metal tabs which held the “clip on” portion to the beading.
2. Slide one headpin through one hole on the right outer edge. Slide a second headpin directly across from the first on the left outer edge.
3. Now begin to twist the headpins together creating the ring shape, but remember to measure your finger early on so it doesn’t end up too small. Be sure to tuck the ends away from the inside so they don’t scratch or dig.
4. Now you’re done! See how easy that was?

You could certainly use a real ring base. I did not have one on hand, but this was a perfect solution. I can always go back and replace it later if necessary.

The possibilities are endless. Get started!

***Check back tomorrow for Trashy Tuesday!

Today, we woke up at 4am to volunteer at Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair in DC. This is one of our awesome gift bags! We worked the 5am – 10am shift, but ended up working until 11am. No problem though, because we were lucky enough to hook up with Art Whino around 7am and stuck it out with them setting up their MASSIVE collection of art. Did I mention I wanted to buy every SINGLE piece!? Susanna, Annie and Darrell were all really awesome people to work with too. I’m so happy we met them! We did end up buying the piece below for Dustin. It’s so fun, very different than anything else we have on our walls! 
 

“Danosaur” by Daniel Fleres.
 

After we finished up with the Art Whino Crew, of course we did some SHOPPING! I have such a hard time deciding what to buy. Everyone is so talented, with SO many wonderful items. Take a look at my new wares!
 

Recycled Skateboard Earrings by Claire Mcdermott.

Cute little yellow earrings by Jenny Wren.

Snazzy new bag by Barry’s Farm.
 

Detail shot of snazzy new bag by Barry’s Farm.

New clutch purse by Barry’s Farm.

Little felt button by Miss Chief Productions.

Did I mention that by volunteering Dustin and I were BOTH entered in a drawing for a FREE, UNJURIED BOOTH for next year’s Crafty Bastards! I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much, but man that would be flippin’ sweet! Especially considering they get like 400 applicants but only accept 100. *fingers crossed*

Oh, and stupid us… we were so tired this morning we totally forgot our camera! No pictures of the actual event… AGAIN! Maybe next year!

**Check out all the VENDORS here**