DEMO!
Recycled Bicycle Inner Tube Earrings
First Listed: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
MATERIALS
You will need: bicycle inner tube, sharp scissors, masking tape, StazOn Opaque ink, rubber stamps, two kidney earring wires, two small beads, Bead Fix glue (optional), 1/8" hole punch or sharp craft knife, small pliers.
I gather my raw tubular materials from local bike repair shops (usually happy to see good use made of their discards - the folks over at City Bikes Coop were kind enough to donate this batch!). Sometimes, you can also find them at SCRAP.
I also make good use of StazOn Opaque stamping ink in Cotton White. Locally, I get them at collage, but it looks like you can get them on-line here (disclaimer: I've never ordered from these folks!). No matter which project you do, you'll want a pair of sharp scissors.
For the earrings, I'm using kidney wires and small beads, both available on-line from Rings & Things. You'll also need a small pair of pliers. Bead Fix glue (also available from Rings & Things) is optional.
GENERAL PREPARATION
Start
by cutting the tubing into manageable chunks. I find that 6" to 12"
pieces make a manageable start. For earrings, you won't need anything longer than 6" and you may find that 4" or 5" is easier to work with. 
I
cut my tubes open along the outer edge, though you can also cut along
the inner edge. The pieces will lay differently each way, and I just
find that they lay a little flatter if I cut along the outer edge.
When
you open it up, there will probably be a whitish powder inside. Wash
this off with dish soap and a scrubby sponge. Let the pieces dry flat
on a towel, or wipe them dry, and you're ready to go!
This is just one of the many techniques I cover in my Junk Drawer Jewels class, and is the project I demonstrated recently on AM Northwest - click here to see the video.
Start by picking out a couple of rubber stamps - for this earring design, I chose two text patterns - one sort of big and loose (below) and another one that was much smaller and more dense.
Take a clean piece of rubber - one that's about 4" wide and 5" long will work well, though you can use almost any size. Tape it down to your stamping surface using masking tape. Stretch it a bit to get it to lay flat. For my stamping surface, I use a piece of friendly foam stapled to cardboard - fancy! Ink up your stamp with StazOn Opaque ink, and stamp away! Tip: The interior of the inner tube will provide a smoother stamping surface, but the exterior is generally a darker black, leading to higher contrast. You can also stamp both sides for a reversible bracelet!
Next, I made some leaf-shaped templates from paper. You can also cut one free-hand, and then use it as a pattern for your second one.
Either way, you need to end up with two leaf shapes of about the same size and shape. These are about 1 1/2 " long.
Next, cut some diamond/fountain pen-tip shaped pieces from the contrasting stamped rubber. This piece features a stamp of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Again, you can use a template or cut them free-hand. I made these shapes about 1" long.
Now, you should have two larger leaf shapes and two smaller contrasting shapes. Hopefully, yours aren't as blurry!
Next, stack the shapes so that the small shape is on top and the shapes are aligned in a pleasing way.
Using a 1/8" hole punch, punch tiny holes in the top of the rubber shapes. If you do not have a tiny hole punch, you can use a sharp craft knife to cut a tiny hole in the rubber.
Next, trim the tops around the hole. I like to round the edges, and leave only a narrow border around the hole.
Now slide the pieces onto the kidney wire.
And slip the pieces to rest in the notch loop at the base of the kidney wire. If it doesn't fit, trim the edges a bit more.
Using small pliers, crimp the notch loop closed.
Now, slip a bead on the kidney wire, ending so that it rests on top of the rubber pieces and the notch loop.
You can put a drop of Bead Fix glue inside the bead to hold it in position, or you can just let it float.
And you're done!
Option: Why not add the rubber bands from your produce into the mix? It's a whole new reason to buy fresh broccoli!