Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

HP TopShot Review: Part 1

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HP TopShot LaserJet Pro went from its carton to ready for use in about 15 minutes.Have you seen the new HP TopShot LaserJet Pro? HP is giving me a chance to review this new scanner, printer, and copier all-in-one — and then one lucky Craft Gossip reader is going to win one!

The box arrived at my door and within 15 minutes, I had the TopShot unpacked, together and ready to attach to my computer. The software installation files are in the TopShot’s memory so all you have to do is connect the cable and follow the on-screen instructions. That’s easy even if you don’t have much experience with computers, right? I attached the TopShot to my computer and in another 10 minutes, I have everything set up to print wirelessly!

I still haven’t told you the most exciting part about the TopShot. This is no ordinary scanner. The TopShot scans 3-D objects! The arm at the top has a high resolution camera in it that takes six images of your object, which are automatically combined into one high-resolution image. By combining multiple images, the TopShot quickly gives you a clear image on a bright, clean background. And your images can be immediately printed or posted directly to the Web!

Here’s my first scan of some tiny plastic forks. I was able to scan this image within 15 minutes of deciding to connect the this all-in-one printer to my computer! The actual scan took less than a minute.

tiny plastic forks scanned with the HP TopShot's 3-D scanner.

Comments

  3. Haven’t seen or heard about this printer. I’ll watch for part 2 on your blog. Sounds interesting.

  12. I repair printers and copy machines professionally and I have to jump in here and say that HP printers are the best. The best quality prints, the most users friendly, the easiest to repair and the absolute workhorse printer of the entire industry. They last forever. I would love to have one of these!!
    I do NOT work for HP and repair many different bands.

  14. Wow, this is great! The 3D is awesome. I can already think of many uses for this printer. Can’t wait for the contest!!:0)

  15. I really, really want one of these. Going to retire soon and will depend more and more on my own computer and printer to stay in touch with my family and the world!!

  16. wow – what a great tool to use to make 3-d copies of multi-dimensional projects created.

  17. Would love to use one of these to copy old family photos and to help design art work!

  19. ah! this machine looks so cool! i have been looking at upgrading my printer to one that has a scanner too, this one looks awesome!

  21. OMG… this is such an awesome HP All-In-One! I love the 3D aspect of it — so cool. I would love to have one of these.

  22. Wow, this would be really cool for scanning your items and then publishing a 3-D picture on your online storefront so people can get a better idea of what it looks like. Would love to win one of these! Thanks for the opportunity!

  24. How fantastic is this piece of equipment? Can I have as much fun as you did, please?

  31. That looks amazing, I have so many 3d objects I want to scan! Do you know how big the scannner bed/area is?

  34. Holy smokes this is an amazing and nifty device – I would love, love, love to win one!!!

  36. Leave it to HP to come up with a tool from us crafters. This looks like one of those “must have” gadgets but it would be more wonderful to win this new printer with TopShot.

  37. My printer just died. I really need a new one. This one sounds perfect. And it is an HP, which is what I prefer!

  39. My first printer was an HPIII LaserJet that I had for over 20 years, and it was used when I got it. I’ve got anther used HP now, and I think it might last forever, so if I win this giveaway, my current printer will go back on CL for someone else to enjoy.

  41. WOW! This would be awesome to have! I have lots of family info, pictures, and documents I want to pass on to family. I would love to try this machine to preserve them! Crossing my fingers! Pick me! Pick me! 🙂 LOL!

  45. Awesome! Looks and sounds like a great machine. Go figure I really need a new printer! Please pick me!

Have you read?

10 DIY Recycled Christmas Jewelry Ideas

Turn old Christmas cards, broken jewellery, bottle caps, gift wrap, burnt-out Christmas lights, and forgotten beads into festive recycled Christmas jewelry with these clever DIY tutorials.

There is something wonderfully satisfying about making Christmas jewelry from things that might otherwise end up in the bin. Old Christmas cards, broken costume necklaces, bottle caps, leftover wrapping paper, odd beads, single earrings, and even those dead Christmas light bulbs all have a bit of festive life left in them if you look at them with crafty eyes.

I have a soft spot for recycled Christmas crafts because they feel a little more personal. Anyone can buy a pair of novelty earrings from a shop, but turning last year’s Christmas cards into beads, or making angel charms from broken jewellery, gives the finished piece a story. And honestly, at this stage of life, I am far more interested in a good story than another plastic bauble rolling under the couch for Aloo to find in February.

These DIY recycled jewelry ideas include upcycled earrings, bottle cap pendants, Christmas light jewelry, paper bead earrings, recycled gift card necklaces, angel charms, Santa bead ornaments, and altered art pendants. Some are directly festive, and others are clever recycled jewelry techniques that can easily be made Christmas-ready with holiday colours, old cards, wrapping paper, glitter, charms, or beads from your stash.

If you love sustainable crafting, handmade Christmas gifts, or jewellery making that uses what you already have, this roundup is a lovely place to start.

DIY Recycled Christmas Jewelry Ideas To Make From Your Stash

1. DIY Christmas Angels From Upcycled Jewellery

This is exactly the sort of recycled Christmas jewelry project I love because it turns broken necklaces, odd beads, and old costume jewellery into sweet little angel charms. The finished angels can become earrings, pendants, keychains, decorations, or bracelet charms, which makes them handy for gift-making. These would be especially meaningful if you used beads from a sentimental piece of jewellery that is no longer wearable.

2. Vintage Bead Santa

This CraftBits tutorial uses vintage jewellery that is no longer wearable to create cute little bead people, including Santa-style Christmas characters. You could turn them into pendants, brooches, bag charms, keychains, or Christmas necklace charms depending on how you finish them. It is a lovely way to keep old beads in circulation instead of letting them sit forgotten in a tin.

3. Sustainable Sparkle: Eco-Friendly Christmas Earrings

This tutorial repurposes old Christmas decorations into festive earrings, which is such a clever idea if you have little plastic picks, glittery berries, tiny ornaments, or trims that are too nice to throw away. The project shows how simple findings and glue can transform unwanted holiday decor into wearable Christmas accessories. I like this one for anyone who has a “maybe useful one day” box of Christmas bits under the craft table.

4. How To Make Recycled Christmas Light Jewelry

If you have a strand of Christmas lights that no longer works, don’t toss the whole thing straight away. This tutorial shows how to turn the little bulbs into holiday jewellery using jump rings, earring hooks, necklace chain, jewellery glue, and basic tools. It is quirky, nostalgic, and perfect for anyone who likes Christmas jewellery with a little retro sparkle.

5. Santa Bottle Cap Necklace

Bottle caps are brilliant for recycled Christmas jewelry because they already have that perfect little pendant shape. This Santa bottle cap necklace tutorial uses a printable image, bottle caps, epoxy stickers, and glue to create a festive necklace that would also work as a party favour or gift topper. You could make a whole batch using Santa, snowmen, gingerbread, vintage Christmas cards, or tiny family photos.

6. Resin Bottle Cap Bracelet

This CraftBits resin bottle cap bracelet is not Christmas-only, but it is a wonderful recycled jewelry technique to adapt for the holidays. Use old bottle caps, tiny Christmas images, scraps of wrapping paper, glitter, sequins, or miniature charms to create festive bracelet links. It would be a fun handmade gift for someone who likes chunky, playful jewellery.

7. Paper Bead Christmas Tree Earrings

These Christmas tree earrings are made from paper beads, and that makes them perfect for using up old Christmas wrapping paper, holiday scrapbook scraps, or even nice sections from old cards. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and look surprisingly polished once sealed. I especially like these for teacher gifts or craft stall makes because they are festive without needing expensive supplies.

8. Recycled Paper Beads

This CraftBits tutorial teaches the basic technique for making beads from recycled paper, junk mail, flyers, or any paper you already have. For Christmas jewelry, try using old wrapping paper, Christmas cards, sheet music from carols, catalogues, or red and green magazine pages. Once you have the beads made, you can string them into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or charm dangles.

9. Altered Art Glass Slide Jewelry

Glass slide jewellery is a beautiful way to preserve tiny paper images, and it works so well with recycled Christmas cards. Cut out a small angel, snowflake, holly sprig, vintage Santa, or nativity detail from an old card and sandwich it inside the slide to create a pendant. This is a lovely grown-up recycled Christmas jewellery project if you want something more arty and keepsake-style.

10. How To Make A Necklace With Recycled Gift Cards

Old plastic gift cards are easy to forget about once the balance is gone, but this tutorial turns them into a modern recycled necklace. For a Christmas version, use red, green, silver, gold, or patterned gift cards, or cut shapes from old holiday-themed cards. This is a smart idea for anyone who likes bold, graphic jewellery and wants a recycled project that does not look too obviously “Christmas craft.”

Tips For Making Recycled Christmas Jewelry Look Gift-Worthy

The trick with recycled Christmas jewelry is to make the finish feel intentional. File sharp edges, seal paper beads, add a little polish with jump rings and proper findings, and choose a simple colour palette so the pieces look designed rather than thrown together after too much fruitcake.

Red, green, gold, silver, pearl white, icy blue, and clear crystal are all easy Christmas colour choices. If you prefer a softer vintage look, try old book pages, sheet music, muted gold, cream pearls, and tiny brass charms. For something more playful, use bright wrapping paper, glitter, jingle bells, recycled plastic, or novelty Christmas card images.

It is also worth saving broken jewellery throughout the year. A lone earring can become a pendant. A broken bracelet can be turned into charms. A pearl necklace with a snapped string can become angel beads. Even a Christmas decoration that has lost its hanger might have one last life as a brooch, necklace, or pair of earrings.

More Recycled Jewelry Inspiration

For more recycled jewellery ideas, you may also like CraftBits’ Computer Keyboard Earrings or Guitar Pick Necklace, both of which could be adapted into fun stocking stuffers for teenagers, music lovers, or the tech person in your family.

Recycled Christmas jewelry is such a lovely reminder that handmade gifts do not need to begin with a shopping trip. Sometimes the best materials are already sitting in a drawer, tangled in the bottom of a jewellery box, or tucked inside last year’s Christmas card pile waiting for a second chance.