K. B. VanHorn ( kokoleo.com) lives in North Hollywood, Calif., with her husband, Erik, son, Sage, and baby girl, McKenna. An avid thrift-store junkie and flea marketeer, she’s constantly looking for ways to give new life to old things. Many of these things are chronicled on her blog, A Patchwork World.
I discovered this craft one day when I found a cute little pin at a thrift store. On closer inspection, I realized it was handmade, and using an eyeglass lens! Genius!
As soon as I got home I started working on one of my own, and ever since then I’ve been making them out the wazoo.
Before starting this project, consider sending your eyeglasses to the Lions Club or another charity to distribute to people in developing countries. However, the Lions Club website says it does not want “loose and broken lenses or damaged lenses and frames,” so don’t send them your crappy broken ones. Instead, make art!
You can also use cheap reading glasses or non-prescription, sample glasses from optometrist shops. Sometimes you can find a stray lens at the bottom of the bin at the thrift store. It’s funny to watch the cashier’s face when you ask how much it is.
Be aware that this project can get messy. If you’re like me, you’ll muck up your ironing board, spill Mod Podge down your skirt, and glue your fingers together. Learn from my mistakes.
MATERIALS
» OLD AND WORN EYEGLASS LENSES TRY EBAY OR YOUR LOCAL OPTOMETRIST FOR UNWANTED SAMPLE GLASSES.
» WELDBOND UNIVERSAL SPACE AGE ADHESIVE
» X-ACTO KNIFE OR SCISSORS USE A CHEAP, UTILITARIAN PAIR, NOT YOUR GOOD SEWING SCISSORS
» MOD PODGE
» GLASS PAINT OR OLD NAIL POLISH
» NOTIONS SUCH AS RICKRACK, BUTTONS, FELT, RIBBONS, AND LACE
» BAIL FOR MAKING A PENDANT
» PIN USE A FLAT-BACKED CRAFT PIN.
» MAGNET SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT ON THE BACK OF AN EYEGLASS LENS
»
BARRETTE
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