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If you want to follow the vintage trend, you could spend hours combing antique shops and flea markets for vintage jewelry pieces, then shell out major cash for your purchases. Or, put a little DIY spin on this trend and make your own antique jewelry. You won't need a time machine--just an afternoon and some simple vintage finds from an online shop or your grandmother's attic. A little glue goes a long way to help you make your own brand-new "antique" jewelry in a day's work.
1.
Find a brass filigree piece to use as the base of your creation. A brass filigree is just a piece of brass with a lace pattern to it; a long, rectangular piece can be bent as a cuff bracelet, while a smaller piece can become the foundation for a brooch or a pendant.
2.
Glue the bauble of your choice onto a brass jewelry connector or charm. You can find gems in several fabulous colors at your local craft store, or repurpose an unusual button, or even a random earring--whatever suits your taste. To attach the stone to the brass, pour a little glue onto a sheet of waxed paper, then dip a toothpick into the glue and use the toothpick to apply a small dot of glue to the pieces. This way you can avoid having too much glue on your finished jewelry, and you won't glue your fingers together, either.
3.
Glue the brass setting or charm onto the piece of filigree you are using for your base piece. Use several small dots of glue to attach the two pieces, rather than one large dose of glue. This keeps your piece from looking like a kid's craft project, and cuts down on drying time, too.
4.
Attach a jump ring to the top of the piece to make a loop for a chain if it will be a pendant or earrings, or glue on a pin back if it will be a brooch. If you want to wear it as a bracelet, bend the brass filigree around your wrist. Pair your new jewelry with a floral blouse and some jeans, and you'll bring vintage into the new century with your own personal flair.
