DIY: Protect Your Jewels

Acrylic Clear Gloss Spray: Krylon.  Bracelets: Forever 21 (here & here).

You know that really cute faux gold bracelet that you love to wear?  Sure, it's shiny and pretty now that it's fresh out of the package.  But once you give it a little too much love, it might start to turn green on you.  Before long, it starts to tarnish... the gold chips away, and there's no turning back.  Since it's not real gold, it can't be polished.  With all of the cute & inexpensive costume jewelry options out there, what's a girl to do?  Just because it didn't cost a lot shouldn't mean that it's disposable.

Low and behold, we came across a solution to the costume jewelry dilemma... clear gloss spray!  We had heard of this trick before, and so we decided to give it a try.  Local craft stores (such as Michael's) carry clear gloss acrylic sprays, usually in the spray paint section.  If you want the results to be shiny, make sure to get the bottle marked "Gloss"- otherwise, the ones marked "Matte" or "Satin" will leave a matte finish on your items.  This will work for all metal costume jewelry; not suggested for real precious metals or plated items, or for use with items that have shiny stones.  Since the spray is clear, it doesn't matter what color the metal is.

To start, take the jewelry out that you wish to protect.  Clean it off with a slightly damp paper towel, and dry off completely with a dry paper towel.  Any dirt or fingerprint marks left on the item will literally get "sealed" inside the clear coat, so try to make everything look nice and clean.  Take your items outdoors, along with something to protect the ground (a flat piece of cardboard or a paper grocery bag, for example).  Lay your items flat on the cover, give the can a few good shakes, and begin to lightly mist away.  Start with even and light strokes about 1-1.5 feet away from the ground, gently covering the jewelry with each mist.  Be careful to not let the gloss spray get too thick or drippy; the coat should be light.  Once evenly coated, do not touch the wet jewelry.  Leave it outside for 1-2 hours to dry, flip the pieces over to the opposite side, and repeat coating the back side with the gloss spray.  After the back side dries for another 1-2 hours, your jewelry is ready to go!  Wait until the jewelry no longer feels tacky or sticky before taking inside to wear.

We hope you love our trick for your costume jewelry... TSS tested & approved!  We know we're excited to give some of our favorite pieces an extra long, wearable life!