Adorable jewelry made from recycled books like Cinderella, Dr. Seuss, Where's Waldo, and more {Giveaway}

I received THE most adorable gift in the mail today from a fellow So Cal girl who is super talented and creative. 
easy teaching tools, 2nd grade, giveaway, books, 1st grade
How stinkin' cute is the packaging.  I loved that the gift was wrapped up in a map and tied with a precious ribbon.
easy teaching tools, 2nd grade, giveaway, books, 1st grade
The thoughtful packaging let me know that there was something inside that was good…like really good!   Kim and her momma make amazing bracelets from recycled books, maps, and sheet music.  They hand roll the book pages into beautiful beads.  How cool is that?
easy teaching tools, 2nd grade, giveaway, books, 1st grade
I absolutely love the packaging.  Can you believe it, the bracelets were made from the pages of Cinderella.  That explains all the fun pinks and blues.

easy teaching tools, 2nd grade, giveaway, books, 1st grade
I seriously love how adorable these bracelets are.  They're easy to put on and are comfortable.  They remind me a lot of the shell jewelry I bought when I lived in Hawaii.  Super sturdy and simple.

I tried out my jewelry during a beach day.  I didn't want to take it off but it's not waterproof people…so I left it in my beach bag while I frolicked in the waves.
I can't get over how cute they are {notice that they match my logo, they're so me}!
easy teaching tools, 2nd grade, giveaway, books, 1st grade, cinderella

This close up seriously melts my heart.  Look how gorgeous these little beads are.  I can't get over the fact that they're paper.  I love that these bracelets tell a story…literally.

According to Kim, "Everyone has stories, and connects with them so well, the reason we continue to create recycled book beads, map beads and sheet music beads is that when people purchase a set at a local craft show or online they have a story behind what they wear…. Perhaps they went on a road trip across the country, and that map bead bracelet they wear reminds them of the fun they had, or they had a band teacher that taught them to play an instrument, so they give them a sheet music bracelet as a token of appreciation… or even a gift for a mom or teacher that read you a book as a child that connected with you and stayed in your memory to this day.  As humans we all connect universally with stories, and it’s a beautiful thing to throw away, so my Mom and I plan on fighting the good fight and continuing to turn old books into beautiful, wearable works of art."



"My Mom Helen and I gather the books from a lot of different places, sometimes we find them in cardboard boxes outside of library’s, in thrift stores on the clearance shelf or in the bins, and even get books, maps or sheet music donated from folks that love and support our mission. 

Once we gather all of the books we measure and hand cut the book pages into long narrow triangle strips and roll them one at a time onto lollipop sticks.  Once they are on there we coat each bead 3-5 times depending on the thickness of the paper.  Once that is done we spray them with a matte finish and then we start to make them into the finished jewelry.  We purchase damaged necklaces and bracelets from the local thrift store and strip them apart to repurpose the beads.  We create the jewelry with a mixture of the paper book page beads we made along with the repurposed beads. Once that is finished, we hand cut recycled cardboard bracelet holders and place the book labeling on to each set so folks know what book their bracelets were made from." 


I'm seriously in love with these and can't wait to buy the Map bracelet for all of my travels and the Dr. Seuss bracelet when we celebrate Read Across America Day.  I'm not the awesome teacher who dresses up like Cat in the Hat; this bracelet is much more my style!
Look at the other books they've saved…the reader in me just loves this!
Oh my, they make earings too!
If you're in love with this adorable collection, head on over to Trashy Crafter to fall in love with some jewelry for you!

You can also win 2 bracelets of your own by entering our giveaway.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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42 comments:

  1. These are so adorable!!
    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=309382642572086&id=135727109937641

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  2. I'm in love with this jewelry - what an amazing idea and way to recycle/reuse old books!

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  3. These are amazing!! Wonder if I can order specific books for my daughters?

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    1. Hi There, Kim from Trashy Crafter here, you can have a custom order made for your bracelet set, we LOVE doing custom orders just go to my website and send me an email :) www.Trashycrafter.com

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  4. I love your items. They are so cute.

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    1. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/168322104797939531/

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  5. The bracelets are beautiful! I can se why you love them! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/73816881367707209/

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  6. What a fabulous giveaway!! :)

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/227783693628188583/

    Breanne

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  7. Love, love, love! <3 What a beautiful way to recycle treasured books and create new treasures!
    Tamara Simons
    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/377669118724962579/

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  8. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142074563220207640/

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  9. These are beautiful. I love the special meanings behind them too.
    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/56928382764717137/

    Charlene/Diamond Mom

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  10. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/42784265185458598/

    I LOVE this!
    I want to give these as gifts to my new teacher team! :)

    --Amber
    PeppyZestyTeacherista

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  11. Here's the link to my blog post about these bracelets:
    http://pinkwatermelons.blogspot.com/2014/07/findingwinningthinking.html

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  12. I love these bracelets! Shared the giveaway on my Facebook page (The Fabulous Life of an Elementary Teacher) - I'm mobile so can't post the link ;)
    ~Lacey

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    1. Here's Lacey's link: https://www.facebook.com/TheFabulousLifeOfAnElementaryTeacher/posts/750601018330666

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  13. I pinned this giveaway! I love it! I will post it on my blog, too. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/254805291392487725/
    Melanie
    Posh Primary

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  14. I shared on my FB page... here's a link
    https://www.facebook.com/enicewonger/posts/10203059388740442

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  15. This jewelry is beautiful. What a great use for all those lovingly read books.

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  16. I shared on pinterest! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/339458890636812991/

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  17. Here is the pin! :) http://www.pinterest.com/pin/477522366713228230/
    Melissa

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  18. Your jewelry is beautiful. How special to make it using beloved books! dbednarsk@yahoo.com

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  19. Here is the pin:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/191051209167566936/

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  20. These are beyond adorable!!!! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/47639708533538129/

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  21. Love them. What a great way to reuse damaged books.
    Mrs. Brown Loves Bookworms

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  22. I had a necklace like these bracelets. I think I made it from magazines in summer camp when I was a kid. https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.agolino/posts/10152547188784114

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  23. I adore these! Perfect for so many people who have had a favorite picture book for their whole lives!
    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/18858892164938328

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  24. I love the idea!! This would be amazing to win!! Here is my pin:

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  25. What a wonderful idea!! What a great way to save our books, earth, and look awesome all at once! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/10414642863201960/

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  26. I love these bracelets!!! My oldest daughter is expecting her first child, and I definitely will be needing to special order her a bracelet! (In the tall, tall grass by Denise Fleming) The other two daughters will need bracelets too. (Kate will need Bam! Bam! Bam! -- I may have to help you find that one! and Libby will need Where the Wild Things Are.) klanderwa@gmail.com

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  27. http://instagram.com/splishsplashkim?ref=badge I instagramed!!

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  28. this is so adorable what a clever, lovely idea- love it!

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  29. #EasyTeachingTools is an awesome blog for teachers! I tweeted this. :)

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  30. Really cute idea. I've seen paper beads from Africa, but I'm glad someone is doing it here as well. The bracelets look fabulous!

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  31. Absolutely love the idea of these bracelets!

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  32. I love the idea of taking well loved words and putting them on the wrist to carry with you everywhere!

    Anisa @ Creative Undertakings

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  33. Pinned it! Love these! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/324892560591804544/

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  34. This is such a wonderful idea to do with old books! I love that you are rescuing them and giving them new life.

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  35. Love this idea... so very cute.

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    1. pin...http://www.pinterest.com/pin/271271577530116374/

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  36. These are so adorable! I'm going to go buy some now!

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