by Alanna Rose

Created on: December 02, 2010

Junior Girl Scouts will earn many different badges while learning new things and having fun.  One of these badges is called the “Jeweler” badge.  To earn this patch, each Junior must complete at least six of the following ten activities involving jewelry.

Homemade Jewelry

Not all jewelry must be made from precious stones; some can be made from everyday items.  Your Juniors should make any piece of jewelry like a hair barrette, brooch, or necklace using materials that they find or make.  They may choose to make their own beads out of materials like clay, wrapping paper, aluminum foil, etc.  Another idea is to make jewelry out of metal objects like nuts, screws, chains, or any other available material.  Your Juniors may even choose to make their jewelry out of paper. 

It is a good idea to coat the jewelry with a clear nail polish or varnish when they are finished.  These items can be turned into hair accessories by gluing them onto something like a barrette.  If the item is to be made into a necklace, a hole can be punched into each item to string on a cord.  Lastly, if the finished project is to be a brooch, then the project may be glued onto a safety pin.

Knotting

Another activity that your Juniors may complete is to do a macramé project.  The chapter “Create and Invent” found in the “Junior Girl Scout Handbook” will help in this endeavor.  Your Juniors should knot cords or strings into different patterns to make a unique design.  Small objects like beads, shells, or pieces of wood may be interwoven into the project.

International or Historical Jewelry

To complete this requirement, your Juniors should research jewelry that is from any other culture, country, or different historical period of time.  They will need to learn the traditions and customs for wearing this jewelry and also the styles and materials used.   Lastly, the girls should try to find pictures of examples of their chosen type of jewelry.

Techniques

There are many different techniques that may be used when making jewelry such as casting, soldering, molding, and hammering.  Your Juniors should research each of these techniques.  Next, they will either find a picture of each of the skills being performed or they should indicate a time when each of the methods would be used.  Lastly, your Juniors should talk with someone who practices at least one of these techniques,

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