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Decoupaged Bracelets with Postage Stamps

Decoupaged Bracelets with Stamps

It’s so easy to transform something that’s pretty ordinary into something fabulous, like these fun DIY decoupaged bracelets.

I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but I do love to wear bracelets during the warmer months when they can be seen.

So when I saw a couple of $1 bracelets at a thrift store recently I grabbed them.

Sponsored: Decoupage product provided by DecoArt. This project idea, choice of product used, and all opinions are 100% my own. See full Disclosure Policy here.

decoupaged bracelets with stamps

Both these bracelets are metal and pretty good quality.

The link bracelet has an extender chain on the end, and the cuff bracelet just fits over my hand.

This is my first attempt at bracelet makeovers and these two are perfect for my trial run.

With all the fun I’ve been having creating with used stamps lately, with my decoupaged vintage magazine table and decoupaged vintage sifter, I thought…. why not?

Let’s go for it?

NOTE: I am not a stamp collector. I purchased these stamps specifically for crafting purposes.

 

supplies for decoupaged bracelet makeovers

For these decoupaged bracelet makeovers I used DecoArt Paper Decoupage Medium, and a foam brush. 

You’ll also need a fine grit sanding block, and a xacto knife. Pics of those in use can be seen later in this post.

 

How to Decoupage a Link Bracelet

applying decoupage medium onto bracelet section

I started with the link bracelet by filling the center area of one section with the decoupage medium.

That center area is textured, so it’s important to get enough medium on it so the stamps adhere well.

Be careful not to get the medium all over where you don’t want it.

 

 

pressing down on stamp with fingers to secure to bracelet section

I have a few floral stamps in my crafting stamp collection so I put the first one down in place, pressing firmly all over.

 

  applying decoupage medium top coat onto stamp on bracelet

Once the stamp was in place I trimmed it with an xacto knife and applied  a top coat of the medium.

 

creating a paper template for bracelet section

After doing the one link I thought it would be easier to create a paper template of the link area.

I measured the inside of the link and cut a piece of regular paper to fit.

 

  cutting out stamp using paper template

Then I simply put the template over the stamps and cut around them.

Easy peasy.

 

  several sections of bracelet makeover done with decoupaged stamps

I added the next stamp and used my xacto knife just to tuck in whatever edges weren’t a perfect fit.

Especially at the corners.

 

  top coat of decoupage medium on bracelet makeover with decoupaged stamps

Once this decoupaged bracelet makeover was finished I I went over all the links with my fingers, making sure the stamps were well adhered.

Then I applied a couple of top coats of the decoupage medium, letting it dry well in between.

I didn’t have to sand the stamps because they were down nice and smooth.

But if you need to you can use a fine grit sanding block like I do in the next bracelet makeover.

 

How to Decoupage a Cuff Bracelet

  applying decoupage medium onto metal cuff bracelet

This rather plain cuff bracelet was perfect for a decoupage makeover.

 

      metal cuff bracelet makeover with decoupaged stamps

On this bracelet I quickly discovered that the stamps went on nicer at angles, rather than straight up and down.

I think that’s because of the rounded shape of the bracelet.

Letting the stamps extend over the sides of the bracelet will make for nice edges.

 

  applying stamps onto metal cuff bracelet using decoupage medium

There’s really no pattern to this…. you just keep adding stamps, deciding what ones to use as you go along.

I decided not to use stamps with faces, opting for mostly buildings/scenes.

But that’s just a personal choice.

 

letting cuff bracelet dry after applying decoupage medium on top of stamps

Once the cuff bracelet was covered all over with stamps I hung it on a teapot spout to dry.

 

Decoupaged Cuff Bracelet Finishing Touches

trimming decoupaged stamps from edges of cuff bracelet

Then I trimmed the pieces hanging over with an xacto knife to make a nice edges.

Make sure your knife blade is very sharp. It should take no pressure at all to trim the pieces off.

 

sanding edges of decoupage cuff bracelet

At this point it’s important to give the bracelet a nice sanding with a fine grit sanding block.

This is to remove and paper edges that are not quite smooth.

 

   sanding surface of decoupaged cuff bracelet

And the body of the bracelet should be sanded as well, because of the layering of the stamps.

 You don’t have to press very hard at all with the sanding block, and you can feel with your fingers when it’s nice and smooth.

 

  applying several top coats of decoupage medium onto cuff bracelet

Then the bracelet should get two or three coats of the decoupage medium, with sanding in between each coat.

 

decoupaged bracelets with stamps

Here’s the before of both bracelets before their decoupage makeovers.

 

    decoupage bracelet makeover with postage stamps 3

And here’s the after.

You could definitely customize bracelets like this by using themed stamps.

Themed by country, subject (like the flowers I used), color, etc…. whatever you love really.

I wanted the cuff bracelet to look different from all sides, and I purposely didn’t do the inside of the cuff bracelet.

The contrast of the aged silver metal with the stamps looks good to me.

Plus nobody will see the inside when I’m wearing it.

 

 

decoupaged bracelet makeover with postage stamps

I didn’t have duplicates of any of the floral stamps, so I picked from what I had.

For me, using all different stamps makes it look more interesting.

 


decoupaged bracelet makeover with postage stamps 4

I just love how both these decoupaged bracelets turn out, and they were so easy to do.

There will be more of these in my future.

 

Save this project for later by pinning!

DIY decoupaged bracelets with postage stamps

 

Thanks so much for reading, and until next time…

keep on keepin’ on!

XOX

 

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28 Comments

  1. Christine says:

    Great idea. I like this. Never even thought of this. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Mother Deer says:

    Those are awesome! What a clever idea and perfect execution 🙂

  3. another decoupaged project that turned out perfect, I really like the floral one. Great job Tuula!

  4. I knew when you put that first stamp on the linked one, that it was going to be beautiful!! I love them both! Great conversation pieces, I’m sure. I have to say, the flowered one takes my heart. Just perfect!

    1. Thanks Dona! I love the flower one too, especially because it’s very wintry here right now.

    1. Elaine Hopper says:

      What a great idea! You are so imaginative. I particularly like the link bracelet with all the floral stamps. It is beautiful. I will now be scouring my hoard of jewelry and thrift shops for supplies to make some lovely bracelets! Thank you for sharing. Just curious where did you get the stamps? I have quite a few stamps myself but many are from the 1930’s and 40’s so it always makes me hesitant to use them because I don’t know if any of them have value!

      1. Thanks Elaine! I found a bunch of used stamps at a thrift store a little while ago and that started me creating with them. I have also bought some on ETSY, always used and in bulk.

  5. Now I must search for bracelets to do this with! Thanks for sharing! ❤️

  6. Amy Davis says:

    So pretty! Love this! Thanks for sharing!

  7. Tuula,

    Love your bracelets! Wish I could have seen more of the teapot too. Appears to be copper and hand made? I am a fan of copper tea kettles. Thank you for sharing your bracelet ideas.

    1. Thanks Nancy! I used to make and sell wind chimes so I have quite a few copper teapots, and others, that haven’t been repurposed yet. I’m keeping them for the day when I get back to making chimes, when I retire from my day job someday. The one in the pic came without a lid so I use it in my craft room to hold scissors, pliers etc.

  8. What a great idea! They are so pretty and I’m especially fond of the bracelet. I’m thinking a few of the bracelets would make a lovely set of napkin rings too. Pinned

  9. Debra Hubbs says:

    So I must admit when I read the headline for this, I was thinking umm, not so sure about this one lol. However I love them, especially the link one with the flowers. What a great and fun accessory. I like the other one too. Both so unique. Blows my mind how you come up with these amazing ideas.

    1. Thanks so much Debra! They were both really fun to create, and pretty easy too.

  10. Naomi Shelton says:

    Excellent idea and work, Tuula! I’m not a stamp collector either but I do love the designs of various stamps and have quite a stash of them. Maybe I’ll try this kind of project if I can find a suitable piece of jewelry. Thanks for the idea and the tutorial!

  11. amy rittenhouse says:

    Love, Love , Love!