DIY Network

Keyboard Jewelry There's more than one way to express yourself with a computer keyboard. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-206

A dead keyboard can live forever as funky computer jewelry.

Michele Beschen always uses the computer for her lettering projects. So, when a keyboard gives up the ghost—or just gets replaced with a newer model—the B. Original host pops off those keys and does a few projects with the keyboard letters themselves.

You'd be surprised at how many unused keyboards are out there: Some are casualties to spilled drinks, others simply got stored or thrown away with the rest of an outdated computer system. Keep your eyes open, and you can find enough keyboard letters to make an entire jewelry wardrobe.

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Keyboard Necklace

Computer keys pop right off with a little help from a screwdriver. Or, you can unscrew the few screws that hold the keyboard together and get at the guts directly.

Once you get all the keys off the keyboard, you can use them to crate fun jewelry:

	Figure A
	Figure B

• Choose the letters you want to use and make sure the bottoms of the keys are flat. If there are tabs underneath, snip them off with a pair of pliers (figure A).

• Drill two holes on opposite sides of the keys using a hand drill or drill press and a small drill bit (figure B).

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and use caution when drilling or using any power tool. If you use a handheld drill to make the holes in the computer keys, secure each key in a vise before you drill. Michele Beschen was able to hold her keys with her fingers because she was using a drill press, which cannot slip to the side during use.

• You can connect the keys using jump rings and small, silver swivels; look for swivels in the sporting goods or fishing tackle department of your favorite discount store. Slip the jump rings through the holes in the keys to link them together (figure C); make a chain by stringing swivels together with jump rings.
  

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Add a clasp, and you have a nice necklace (figure D).

	Figure E
	Figure F

Keyboard Bracelet

• To turn computer keys into a fun, stretchy bracelet, drill four holes in each key—two holes each in opposite sides. This works best with larger keys like Backspace or Enter.

• Thread a small elastic cord on a long beading needle.

• Thread the elastic through the keys (figure E). You can add beads or other decorative touches to spice things up.

• Pull the elastic tight and tie the ends together to complete the bracelet (figure F).