Store bought jewelry can come with a hefty environmental impact. From the new materials to produce them to the carbon footprint that goes with shipping them all over the world, that snazzy pair of earrings from the big box store are a little bit on the heavy side. Luckily, you don’t have to buy mass-produced jewelry! Instead, you can divert some waste from the landfill and whip up cute, DIY jewelry of your very own. Here are some projects to get you going:

What I’ve noticed in a lot of recycled jewelry projects is that they often call for metal findings, which can be one of the highest impact parts of jewelry-making. Here are some resources for finding ethical metal, so your upcycled DIY jewelry can be bright green.

Have you guys made any fun, upcycled jewelry? I’d love to hear what you’re working on in the comments!