Simple, illustrated and step-by-step techniques for creating jewellery from recycled materials.

This handbook considers the importance of using recycled and reused materials to minimise the environmental impact of your craft and increase its sustainability potential. Through treatment and presentation, and whilst balancing creativity and necessity versus choice, you can find ideas for making common objects valuable and precious.

The variety of projects included teach you how to make a necklace from tin, pendants from keys, use fabric for a cuff, and to use plastic, cardboard, cork and foam to make bangles, necklaces, earrings and brooches. There is also a handy and extensive list of scrapstores and suppliers of recycled materials as well as guidance to find free or cheap materials from other sustainable sources.

Jaimie MacDonald is Artist-in-Residence in the Jewellery and Silversmithing Department at Edinburgh College of Art, and works with Bits and Bobs in Edinburgh liaising with businesses and individuals to collect their safe scrap materials, which are then sold on for use in Arts and Crafts activities. Jaimie is currently a workshop leader in the Edinburgh Council's 'Waste Not, Want Not' initiative. Her work can be viewed on her website: www.jaimgem.com.