How can I reuse or recycle … jewellery boxes?

A jewellery box with a ring in itOn a shelf in our bedroom, I have a little collection of jewellery boxes.

My jewellery tends to be on the cheap (and/or home-made) kind but every now and then, I get something in a box – either a proper padded ring or earring box, or just a fancy cardboard one.

Given the cheapness of the items (and my laziness), I rarely use the boxes after I’ve got them (as I’ve got a proper jewellery box and a tray to fling cheap bracelets into) but as always, I’m reluctant to throw the little boxes away.

Any suggestions for reuses that would take advantage of the padding? Or do any charities collect them for reuse?

(Photo by nsoup)

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23 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … jewellery boxes?”


  1. I’ll have them! I use them for displaying coins etc. E-mail me on cdhaptomos@hotmail.com if you have any left.

  2. Lauren says:

    This sounds horrible, but I was trying to come up with an obvious way to recycle these and thought… well, they’re heavy little buggers, what do you do with heavy little things? Put a bunch of them in a sock and make a weapon! : D

  3. Lauren says:

    Oh Lordy, that comment above was meant for the batteries post. Sorry.

    I have recycled ring boxes to keep my boardgame pieces in. Dice and other small pieces fit beautifully.

    • louisa says:

      Hehe, I was amused by the idea of making them into weapons for a theme-obsessed super villian, the Duelling Duke of Jewel perhaps… : )

      -louisa

  4. Raintree writer says:

    Use them to put small presents in when you can’t find a box or it didn’t come with one! I save all my little boxes and then put holiday presents in them!

  5. Aspen says:

    Paint them and maybe decorate them with little things like old postage stamps or photographs and reuse them as gift boxes. Since they’ve been decorated there is no need to wrap the present and waste paper.

  6. Sianee says:

    I have a lot of old jewellary but it is not precious metals but the sort of stuff you get from markets and bourtiques, cheap and colourful. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and fittings etc. Are they of any use to anyone who likes to make their own jewellary before I chuck it out. Sianee.

  7. Delusion says:

    Could they be returned to the store? Surely most of these boxes are in good nick.

  8. Katz says:

    You can offer them to antique shops or second-hand clothes and charity shops. They get jewellery to sell quite often, but very few pieces come in boxes, and people like their items nicely wrapped..

  9. mormonsim says:

    Use them to make suitcases for Barbie dolls. Paint em that gaudy pink color, and there you go.

  10. Gulia says:

    Make it a fairy trunk. Store in them your baby’s first lock of hair, first cut nails, and first fallen teeth.

  11. your mum says:

    your mum is ‘;lkdjfdkslfjdsafjdsfsjlfsljk;’f

  12. jewellery says:

    better to used in keeping item which worth while

  13. Sara says:

    Put your home-made jewellery in them to give as gifts

  14. rochelle says:

    Use ring boxes to make cute little photo frames. Here is one I did: http://homesweethomebodies.blogspot.com/2010/03/recycle-your-jewelery-ring-boxes-into.html

  15. Deborah says:

    I also have some jewellery boxes from shops, ring boxes and the like, and do not know what to do with them.

    Perhaps they could come in handy to someone who makes their own jewellery? I am happy to pay the postage; i just don’t want them to end up in landfill.

    If you can find a use for these boxes then please email me at debbie@brown0707.freeserve.co.uk

  16. antonia says:

    I feel the same – dont want them to be landfill –

    I have heaps also – if anyone wants them email me at antoniakaravias@hotmail.com (Im in Australia)

  17. Jasmine says:

    hi, maybe use them to store gifts or you might use them if your jwellrey box brakes, then you will have a place to store them untill youget a new one! hope this helps!!!!
    thanks- Jasmine

  18. jnqjrq says:

    I color them in with sharpie and different things and use them as decorating items. Like if you have 12 boxes stick them all together in a square shape to make a 4 by 4 photo frame. its actually look really pretty because jewelry boxes are made to look pretty. And if they are white just stick them together in a line and write some sort of inspirational quote on it to jazz up your room. Well it depends if your like the modern type of person or if you like antiques. But I guess you can do anything with it by just changing the colors. I also cut the sides of the case and glue all the cases together to make one big long case for really anything like pens and stuff. And if you wear glasses than just make it a fancy case for your glasses.

    It’s actually pretty fun when you come up with these things and it makes you feel all happy because your being creative at the same time. it’s not really something to stress out about but something to expnad your imagination for. Well….that’s what I do.

    Till you get to that stage….
    stay happy………..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

  19. Claire says:

    Hi I have a collection of jewellery (ring and earring/charm) boxes if someone fancies them and is up for covering the postage drop me a message – they are all pretty much brand new 👌🏻



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