Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

The Naughty Secretary Club Book – Review and Giveaway!

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I’m always on the lookout for craft books that emphasize reusing and recycling unique materials, so when Jennifer Perkins, not only the writer of Craft Artist Life here at Craft Gossip, but also owner of the Naughty Secretary Club shop, told the world that she’d written a book, I couldn’t wait for it to come out. I have to say, I was overwhelmed with how good it is!

From cover to cover, this book has not only great supply lists and directions on jewelry-making, it’s chock-full of ideas for re-purposing great everyday finds. Some of my favorite projects include using vintage neckties for both headbands and pins … I’ve got a huge obsession for vintage ties!

While Jennifer’s jewelry style is much bigger than mine (literally. I tend to wear teenie tiny pieces), the book has quickly taken up a prominent spot on my bookshelf because her jewelry-making instructions are some of the best I’ve read. She clearly and simply explains how to use found items in your baubles, making your accessories completely unique and easy to make!

And because I love it so much, I wanted to give you all a chance to love it to! So from now until September 10th at 5pm (CST), leave a comment here and I’ll randomly pick one person to win a copy of the Naught Secretary Club Book! Be sure to leave your name and e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

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Comments

  4. That looks like a very cool book..I will have to look into that if I don’t win it 😉
    lol
    Natasha

  5. oh, I just reread the entry details….do you need me to put my email in the message, or is it cool it if is just in the form? 😀

  7. OK, leaving my comment. Does being first give me better odds at winning? 😉

    I would really love to get my hands on this book, thank you for running the contest.

  10. This book looks amazing, I’ve been getting really into repurposing vintage jewelry and other items into new jewelry lately and I love the one-of-a-kind look!

  11. I am so excited about this book. I just branched out from my normal paper mache’ kick to try my hand at jewelry. I am also a member of the St. Louis Craft Mafia so I am excited to see a fellow Craft Mafia person succeed and share their knowledge too. Yay for Jennifer!

  15. I love getting your blog through my RSS reader and I love Jennifer Perkins. What a nice surprise to see these two loves combined. Please put me in line for a chance to win the book. Thanks!

  17. …I have seen the book cover and was wondering about it!! Looks like this has to go on my want list…;-))) Or maybe I am lucky and will be picked…???

  18. This sounds like so much fun! With the kids going back to school, I’ll have all kinds of time on my hands to play!

  19. That book looks so fun! I’ve loved making jewelry for years, but repurposed materials are pretty new to me so I’d love to take a look at it!

  23. sounds amazing I make my own jewlerly and love new ideas. My sister and I would love that book. we are always on the lookout for more cool ideas. I love the cover it so retro(my sister and love that style)

  26. I would love to win a copy of this book! Thanks for the op to do so.
    Oh, and love your site! I’m going to go lookie loo around some more. 🙂

  28. This book sounds wonderful! I’m always looking for new ideas on how to reuse things in different ways. Thanks for this giveaway!

  30. I have been so into this kind of craft recently. Especially going green, i love the idea of making jewelry with unordinary materials. I have been getting craft books from the library and buying the ones that i am sad to give back:)
    This book sounds like one of those!!!

  31. The very few times I’ve tried to make jewlery, I’ve gotten overwhelmed with all of the fabulous choices for beads, embellishments, findings, etc. and can’t seem to make them work as well as others. A book with some ideas on how to put it all together would be a great shove in the right direction for my jewlery making efforts!

  32. Id love to be in the draw to win this book – but as I am in Australia I am unsure if I am ok to join.

    Either way thankyou for the offer 🙂
    Heather

  33. The library I work for bought not one, but two copies of this book for our patrons! Crafting is super-popular here, and reusing materials doubly so.

  34. I’d love to get my hands on this book. Now that my boys are getting older, I’d like to get back into jewelry making.

  37. wow, what a great sounding book. I have problems with instructions that are hard to understand and end up giving up on the project. If this book is as good as you say, I will finally finish something, LOL. I love reusing old items, too. Thanks for sharing.

  41. YES PLEASE! I would LOVE to learn to make jewlery. I’ve heard about this book. Count me in on the drawing! THANKS!!!

  44. I’ve always been a fan of big, fun jewelry. Whenever I wear the gold and silver, it looks nice; but always get the most comments on the fun stuff. My favorite is one made from old cracker jack toys. I didn’t make it, but get many great comments on it, and would love to be able to make something like that.
    Thanks for offering this book. Would like to see what gets made from whomever wins it.

  47. What a great book! I have been toying with the idea of learning to make my own jewelry {I am craft challanged} so I am way excited to see this book! If I don’t win, I will have to check it out of the library or even buy it! Thanks for introducing me to it.

  48. I need a lot of help with my new endeavor–jewelry making–and this looks like a super book for it!

Have you read?

Time Flies — And Sometimes It Has Wings Made of Vintage Paper and Buttons

Have you ever been to the cuckoo clock shop at Tamborine Mountain? It’s like stepping into another world — a charming, ticking wonderland filled with thousands (yes, literally thousands) of clocks. Some are grand and ornate, others tiny and tucked away like secrets waiting to be discovered. I remember walking through the shop with my kids, completely enchanted by the whirring gears, dancing figurines, and the joyful chorus of chimes. It was one of those places where time feels like it both stops and flies.

That same feeling came flooding back when I stumbled across this adorable craft project from Teawagon Tales called Time Flies. In true vintage style, it’s a whimsical little DIY that combines scraps of fabric, old paper, buttons, and clock faces into sweet butterfly-like creations — a beautiful mashup of memory, imagination, and just plain cuteness.

It reminded me that crafting is a little like walking through that clock shop. Each piece holds a story, a tick of nostalgia, and the joy of noticing small details. You don’t need much — just some leftover fabric, maybe an old book page or two, and a few bits from your button tin. And suddenly you’re creating something that feels like it fluttered out of a fairytale.

So if you’ve got a stash of pretty paper or vintage bits and bobs you’ve been saving for “something special,” this might be the perfect project to give them new life.

Take a look at the full tutorial and soak up some serious inspiration:
Time Flies – Teawagon Tales

And if you ever find yourself near Tamborine Mountain, do yourself a favour — pop into that cuckoo clock shop. It’s pure magic for anyone who knows that time isn’t just measured in minutes, but in memories.