I’m pretty basic when it comes to what I wear, even though I do love clothes and fashion. A typical outfit will just be a t-shirt, some jeans, converse, and I’m out the door. For events that are just a touch dressier or if I feel like being fancy that day, I’ll wear the same thing with a statement necklace. It instantly dresses the outfit up and makes you look much more put-together. I also love statement necklaces with party dresses and with anything really.
Today I’ll be showing you how I made this crystal bauble statement necklace. They’re really easy and cheap to make, so it’s perfect for gifts or one of those DIYs where you just can’t make enough of. I made mine with some pretty sapphire and clear glass beads but with chains that have a semi-rusty feel. I think it’s the perfect combination of modern and old-school. Ready to make one for yourself?
DISCLAIMER: This post isn’t sponsored. Also, this idea has been floating around the internet for a while now, and I don’t claim to have thought of the original idea. Thanks for reading! ♡
Here’s what you’ll need:
Couple of pointers before we start:
– These beads are made out of glass and are from Jo-ann’s in the pre-strung beads section under the brand “Blue Moon Beads”. Regularly priced, they’re pretty expensive but they were on sale for 50% so they weren’t too bad. I used 3 strands, two in clear and one in sapphire. Because they are glass, if you pick at them with the pliers or accidentally drop them on a hard surface (any table!), they will start to chip off and pieces of glass will fly everywhere. So be careful!
– The holes on the beads are fairly large so the headpins just slid through instead of acting as a stopper. I didn’t find out until I tried the necklace on and beads starting to fall off. I solved this problem by just putting two headpins through the bead and creating two loops and threaded both through the jump ring. For a visual demonstration, look carefully at the pictures at the end. If you have any larger beads, try this method.
– The headpins I got were a pain to work with and required a lot of pinching and my fingers were scraped raw by the time I was finished with the necklace. The wire is extremely stiff, un-bendable, un-cuttable, and requires a lot of manipulating by hand. With the pliers making the loop, the base (where the hole is) of the beads kept on getting chipped and again, glass went flying. Probably why it took me so long. They’re from “Blue Moon Beads” if you’re wondering.
– Make sure the chain you use is sturdy and can hold the finish bauble, which can get pretty heavy. Toggle clasps are easier to find in larger sizes for projects like these, unlike lobster claws which come in smaller sizes.
1. Making the Charms
Thread a headpin through the hole of a bead. Using your pliers, make a loop on the end of the headpin without the stopper. Repeat to all of the beads until each has a loop.
2. Making the Clusters
Open a jump ring and thread 3 “charms” on. Close the jump ring to create the first cluster of 3.
Open another jump ring and thread on 2 charms. Then add the cluster of 3 you just made, creating a cluster of 5. Close the jump ring. Repeat this step until all of the charms are in clusters of 5.
3. Joining the Clusters
To join the clusters together, open a jump ring and thread a cluster of 5 on. Add another cluster of 5, adding up to be a cluster of 10. Close the jump ring and make sure it’s secure. It should look like a little ball at this point.
Continue this process: opening a jump ring, adding the large cluster (the one with 10 charms or the one with a bunch already attached together), adding a separate cluster (of 5), and closing the jump ring until the desired length.
4. Finishing Touches
Cut two pieces of chain. Mine were about 7″ long. Open a large jump ring, attach it to one end of the chain and one end of the bauble. I suggest using a couple jump rings for extra strength and security.
Attach the toggle clasps the same way, using a couple jump rings as well.
And that’s all there’s to it! They’re really easy to customize just by changing the beads and findings. If you do try this out, be sure to send me pictures! Also leave a comment below telling me what DIY you’d like to see next!
Happy Wednesday!
XX,
