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By now you have probably seen pictures of all the lovely Disneyland 60th anniversary merchandise (and if you haven’t, click here). Over the weekend I went to Disneyland to check it all out and, yes, I bought just a *few* things. However, this is the honest truth: my favorite Disneyland 60th anniversary merchandise was under $10. In a world of $200 Minnie ears and $80 bedazzled tank tops, you can find wonderful souvenirs at a phenomenal price. And with a little elbow grease and craft supplies, you can even turn those souvenirs into something extra special and unique!
Personalized leather bracelets
Image Source: Couponing to Disney
One of the BEST and most reasonably priced souveniers at Disneyland are the leather bracelets in Frontierland. This outdoor shop window called the Pioneer Mercantile, located right near the entrance to Frontierland across from the shooting gallery, is a hidden treasure right out there in the open. There are two different 60th anniversary designs. One shows the castle in silver with a dark blue background, and the other shows Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed up in their anniversary finiest. The bracelets are $9.95 and you can have your name or the date in embossed on the bracelet for free!
Pressed pennies and quarters
In general one of my favorite Disney park souvenirs are the pressed pennies. For 51 cents you can get a pressed penny in one of several designs, located in machines all over the parks and even the hotels. For the 60th anniversary there are a ton of new pressed penny machines. You can go to City Hall and get a pamphlet that will tell you the locations of all of the regular and the special 60th anniversary pressed penny and quarter machines. Some of my favorite designs are on the quarters, which cost me an even dollar.
Jewelry charms
One of my other favorite souvenirs that I found are these blue rhinestone jewelry charms. They’re meant to be it connected to a charm bracelet, but I decided to make my own jewelry out of the pressed quarters and these charms. I totally love the way they turned out! And they are super easy to make if you follow this tutorial.
Supplies
- Pressed quarters
- Jewelry chain in silver
- Jewelry jump rings and clasps (I prefer magnetic clasps for bracelets, they are pricier but SO much easier to put on and take off!) to match your chain – I bought all these jewelry supplies at Michaels
- Needle-nose pliers
- Metal punch pliers
Steps
Step 1 – Decide what type of jewelry you want to make and punch holes in your quarters accordingly. If you want to make a horizontal quarter necklace or bracelet, make punches at both ends of the quarter. If you want to make a vertical quarter necklace (or maybe earrings), punch a hole at the top of the quarter.
Step 2 – Secure a jump ring to each hole.
Step 3 – Decide on the length of your chain by measuring around your neck or wrist. (Tip – It may be easier to use a string or thread to measure the correct length, then use that as a guide to cut your chain.) Use the pliers (or clamp pliers if you have them) to break apart one of the links so you have a chain piece in your desired length. Remember you can always take away chain but it’s tough to add chain.
Step 4 –
Necklace: Attach one end of the chain to the jump ring on one side of the quarter, and the other side of the chain to the jump ring on the other side of the quarter, making a circle. Use your pliers to separate the chain in the middle (the part that will go against the back of your neck) and apply jump rings and the clasp.
Bracelet: Like the necklace, attach one end of the chain to the jump ring on one side of the quarter, and the other side of the chain to the jump ring on the other side of the quarter, making a circle. Use your pliers to separate the chain in the middle and apply jump rings and the clasp.
Step 5 – Attach the Disneyland 60 charm to one of the jump rings attached to the quarter. The charm has a lobster clasp so you can easily take it on and off, depending on your mood!
I must warn you … making pressed penny and quarter jewelry is completely addicting! I can’t even count how many I have in my collection now, and I just brought back some new pressed pennies from Walt Disney World that I’m itching to transform into cute necklaces. But I must say, my #Disneyland60 quarter jewelry and charms are my new favorites.
Are you planning on visiting Disneyland this year for the 60th anniversary diamond celebration? Do you have your eye on any of the special merchandise?
