How this PA Wilds Business Upcycles Cereal Boxes to Make Earrings

How this PA Wilds Business Upcycles Cereal Boxes to Make Earrings
April 10, 2025 72 view(s)
How this PA Wilds Business Upcycles Cereal Boxes to Make Earrings

Jabebo is a company owned by Kevin Abbott in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania with a unique medium for creating earrings. Starting back in the 1990’s, Kevin began playing around with the idea of mismatched earrings with colorful images.  It didn’t take long until he landed on the use of cereal box paperboard as the obvious choice since we were creating the earrings with paper. The inspiration for the business is biodiversity and the natural habitat and community that supports it, particularly through public lands where you and your family and friends can experience it.

How are they made?

Jabebo begins by gluing the front and back panels together, and then fixing the original designs to the front.
Following that, they glue on custom-made backs to which they attach the wires at a later stage before they are finished with a coat of resin to protect the cardboard.
All metals are made from surgical steel.

Jabebo Earrings are made with cereal box paperboard, because it is the perfect material for our earrings due to the thickness and surface area size.

Where does the inspiration for the designs come from?

The original designs are fun, sophisticated, and inspired by both science and nature. The mismatched sides allow Jabebo to expand on the theme in a way that often adds interest and educational value.

Where do the cereal boxes come from?

From you! The cereal boxes are sourced locally from people who visit the store and drop them off. See drop off locations below.

What is done with the excess cereal box scraps?

Not all of the material from cereal boxes end up becoming earrings. In hopes of using as much as possible of the remaining paperboard scraps, we process them in a blender with water to create a paper pulp. This pulp is then used to sculpt a variety of things, including fish, coral reefs, cactus and bats.

How can I donate cereal boxes?

Drop off your cereal boxes at any of the following locations: 

 

Jabebo Earrings: 213 E. Bishop St. Bellefonte, PA

Drop off out front, inside, or behind the building in Cherry Lane.


Shaver’s Creek: 3400 Discovery Rd. Petersburg, PA

Drop them off in the gift shop.


Wiscoy for Animals: 424 W. Aaron Dr. State College, PA

Drop them off at the registers.


State College Presbyterian Church: 132 W. Beaver Ave. State College, PA

Drop them in the box located inside the doors off of the parking lot.


Discovery Space: 1224 N. Atherton St. State College, PA

Drop off box is located just inside the door.


University Baptist and Brethren: 411 S. Burrowes St. State College, PA


Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: 780 Waupelani Dr. State College, PA

Drop off box located in the coat room.


Centre County Library: 200 N. Allegheny St. Bellefonte, PA

Drop off box located just inside the door.


Care for People Plus: 121 N. Allegheny St. Bellefonte, PA

Drop off box located just inside the door.


Titan Market: 2042 Axemann Rd. Bellefonte, PA

Drop off at the Jabebo table.


Foxdale Village: 500 E. Marylyn Ave. State College, PA

Drop off in the mailroom.

 

Where can I purchase Jabebo earrings?

Right here! You can find Jabebo earrings right here on the PA Wilds Marketplace alongside other locally made eco-friendly products.