OFF THE CLOCK: NURSE JULISSA NURSE TRANSFORMS VIAL CAPS INTO WEARABLE ART By Maggie Aime, RN EVER WONDERED what happens to those colorful little medicine vial caps once you pop them off? Meet a nurse with a knack for seeing potential where others see waste. She skillfully repurposes those caps into something extraordinary: Custom-made badge holders! This nurse — Julissa Arauz — finds inspiration in the most unexpected places and gives the term “nurse entrepreneur” a fun, creative, and colorful meaning.
A PEEK INTO JULISSA’S CREATIVE SPACE Step into Julissa’s creative haven, and you’ll likely catch her meticulously assembling her one-of-a-
kind badge holders. Her creative journey begins with her fascinating imagination. “I think it’s how my brain works,” she shared with a spark in her eyes. “It’s easy for me to find inspiration in anything — it’s my creative mind at play. I see colors and shapes of different elements, and it’s always been a part of me to activate that creativity, to design or create something from anything.” Her canvas of choice? The often-overlooked medicine vial flip-off caps. “They come in different sizes and so many different colors,” she noted. “To me, it’s satisfying to combine them, put a little embellishment, and see what comes up. Each one is unique in my brain.”
THINKING OUTSIDE THE VIALS
V I A L C A P S FIND NE W LIFE
Her creative process is one of spontaneity. Julissa explained, “I never have anything in mind when I create except the center — the little embellishment that’s going to bring the flower together.”
"I started making them for people who work with powerful magnetic technology, so they need to be metal-free."
This usually includes stumbling upon a charming find at a store — a Disney character or a seasonal decoration. With that starting point, Julissa intuitively combines colors and caps, seeing what flows well together.
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PHOTOS BY JULISSA AR AUZ
In her creative haven, Julissa showcases one of her masterpieces.
