This tutorial shows you how to take recycled pottery and sea glass to create recycled angels.

Get more details about this project

What you need

Broken China / Pottery

E6000 glue

Sea glass

Oval wood blanks

String for hanging

Flat Gems

 

Instructions

Recycled China Junk Angels – Handmade Keepsakes from Broken Pottery

A broken plate doesn’t always have to be the end of a favourite china pattern. Sometimes a little floral fragment is just the right shape to become something entirely different—and these recycled china angels are a lovely example.

Each angel combines a patterned pottery dress, sea-glass wings and a sparkling gem head. Mounted on a small wooden plaque, those individual pieces become a charming decoration with plenty of personality.

I love the contrast between the delicate china patterns and the simple wooden backing. You can leave the wood natural, paint it a cheerful colour or try a soft whitewashed finish. There’s no need for the angels to match; choosing the pieces is part of the enjoyment.

Thank you to Linda B R. for sharing the original photograph of these beautiful angels.

Instructions

1. Prepare the Wooden Background

Choose an oval wooden blank large enough for your angel arrangement. Leave it natural or paint it, allowing the finish to dry before attaching anything.

If your blank has a hanging hole, keep that area clear.

2. Choose the Angel’s Dress

Select a roughly triangular piece of patterned china, with the narrower end forming the shoulders.

Use pieces with smooth, rounded edges, such as prepared mosaic china. Set aside fragments with sharp or chipped edges.

3. Arrange the Wings and Head

Place two sea-glass pieces beside the upper part of the dress to form wings. Position a flat-backed gem above the dress for the head.

Try several combinations before gluing. The pieces can be slightly uneven while still creating a recognisable angel.

4. Glue the Pieces

Photograph your arrangement so you can refer to it as you work.

Attach each piece using adhesive suitable for ceramic, glass and your wooden surface. The original project recommends E6000; follow its application and ventilation directions.

5. Allow to Cure

Keep the plaque flat and undisturbed for the adhesive’s full curing time. Check that every piece is secure before adding ribbon or string for hanging.

Make Your Angel Personal

Choose a background that picks up a colour from the china. Turquoise looks lovely with pink roses, while a pale background lets blue-and-white patterns stand out.

If you’re using a fragment from a meaningful plate, add a small note to the back explaining where it came from. It’s a thoughtful detail that keeps the story with the finished piece.

For another way to reuse treasured fragments, explore CraftGossip’s broken china jewellery tutorial feature.

 

For this recycled project, you will need some broken pottery. You can also purchase printed plates from a thrift store and break them into pieces.

You can use a Dremel drill with a sanding bit on it to smooth out any sharp edges. Alternatively, you can use a fine grade sanding paper and do it manually.

The wings are made using shards of sea glass.  You can purchase the glass or find it on the beach if you look hard enough. These Angels would look lovely with spoon wings too, if you wanted to create it all with recycled items.

Once you are happy with your layout you can glue them into place. I suggest using the E6000 glue as it has a great bond when working with different textures and surfaces.

This photo was contributed by Linda B R. Thanks for sharing your beautiful Angels Linda.