DIY PROJECT # 14: THE NEON NECKLACE - VERSION 2

What can I say - I'm obsessed with neon jewelry. So here's another neon necklace I made using different textures of chain, and neon glass beads.  

To do this project, you'll need:

• Two different types of textured gold chain (I used a box chain, and a hyacinth-like chain)
• clasp
• jump rings
• neon glass beads
• connectors
• pliers
• wire cutters
• wire
• gold seed beads

Step 1: Attach your chains together with a connector. 

Step 2: Cut off half a foot of wire with your cutters, and attach the end to your chain. String on neon and seed beads, one after another. Attach the other end to your chain. 

Step 3: Close off your necklace with jump rings and clasp by using your pliers. 

DIY PROJECT # 13: THE STRUCTURAL NECKLACE 

I love shapes. In jewelry, geometric shapes have always looked (in my opinion) pretty darn awesome. So this necklace was a no-brainer when I saw the gray textured pendants at my local bead store. 


To make this necklace, you should have:

• gold chain, about 3/4 of a yard
• rectangular pendants
• wire
• wire cutters

Step 1: Take your chain, and cut it in half with your wire cutters. String three pendants onto your wire, and attach the wire to the end of one half of your chain. 

Step 2: Take another three pendants, and do the same. Repeat for a third time.

Step 3: Attach the end of your wire to the other half of your chain, and you're done. 

DIY PROJECT # 12: THE CHAIN-DRAPED EARRINGS

This project, in the same spirit of those 5-minute button earrings - takes no time at all. Honestly, I saw these rhinestone circular pendants at the store, thought "oh, these would be cute earrings", took them home, added some earring backs to them, added some chain draped through the holes, and done diddly done. 


As simple as that. 


But here are the materials and steps, just in case that didn't make sense. 


You'll need:

• rhinestone pendants
• thin gold chain
• earring backs
• E6000 glue

Step 1: Glue some earring backs onto the back of the pendants. Let dry. 

Step 2: Drape your chain through the holes, attach the ends together. 

Really? Two steps? Yes. Yes indeed. 

DIY PROJECT # 11: THE TUBE BRACELET LAYERED WITH THE SPARKLY BRACELET

Now these are fun bracelets. Good for a day look with casual wear, or jazz up a night look with some added colour and sparkle. Easy to wear as well, since there's no need to fumble with clasps - these babies are stretchy!

To make the tube bracelet, you'll need:

• tube beads 
• crystal beads (any two colours, but I used neon yellow and gray)
• stretchy cord

Step 1: Take a length of stretchy cord - about an arms length. String on a tube bead and slide it to the middle of the cord. String one neon bead on either side of the tube. 

Step 2: Take another tube bead, and string it on one side of the cord. Take the other end of the cord and string it through that same bead, but this time on the other side. 

Step 3: Repeat Step 1 and 2 until desired length. To close, simply tie the cord through the finishing beads. 

It should look like this: 

Step 4: Take your gray beads and string them through your yellow beads on either side. That's it!

To make the sparkly bracelet, here's what you should get:

• rhinestone dumbbell shaped beads
• stretchy cord 
• wax cotton cord

Step 1: String the rhinestone beads through your cord until you have your desired length. 

Step 2: Close off your bracelet by tying a macrame knot over your cord. It's as simple as that!

I think they look pretty darn tooting good together. 

DIY PROJECT # 10: THE 3-6-9 NECKLACE

This necklace is so delicate and is great for layering. I've been making a lot of chunky statement necklaces lately that I wanted a change of pace. Delicate chain necklaces are especially versatile because it goes with everyday looks and work very well layered with other necklaces without looking too over the top. 

I found these awesome bright orange glass beads at Arton beads on Queen street. I love them for two reasons: 1) They were textured around the edges in this lovely gray pattern. 2) Each one was oddly shaped - almost heart-shaped (but not exactly).  

To make this, here's what you need:

• glass beads (I used orange, but any colour will do!)
• thin gold chain (three strands 14", 20", and 21")
• lobster clasp
• jump rings
• pliers
• wire

Step 1: Start with the smallest length of chain. Cut it in half so you have two halves. Take some wire and thread it through the end of one half of your chain. String three glass beads on it, then secure it to the end of the other end of the second chain. 

Step 2: Take your 20" and do the same thing as step 1, except this time use 6 glass beads instead of 3. 

Step 3: Repeat, but this time with 9 glass beads. (Hence the name - "3-6-9"). 

Step 4: Take your jump rings, open them, then string your chains through the jump rings. Attach a clasp, and then you're done!

Step 5: Wear it on its own, or layer with other necklaces!

DIY PROJECT # 9: THE TURQUOISE STATEMENT NECKLACE

I absolutely adore turquoise. So much so that I can't say this is the first time I've made a turquoise necklace - I made a similar one last year that I wear really often. For those of you just starting off making jewelry, I wouldn't recommend purchasing turquoise stones right off the bat as they can be quite pricey. I waited until I was more comfortable and confident about making necklaces before I started buying these gorgeous stones. The stones I used for this project cost me $15 a strand (which can make two of these necklaces). But that is a steal - I've been going to the bead store where I purchased them at for awhile, so the owner gave me 50% discount. Originally they cost about 30 dollars. I'm sure if I really tried looking online (i.e. Ebay or Etsy) I wouldn't need to break my bank, but I haven't been really proactive about searching. 


This design is really simple but makes quite the statement! To do this project, you'll need to set aside half an hour and gather the following materials:

• turquoise stones (elongated shape - they come in many shapes but I thought this shape created a nice tribal feel).  
• rose gold chain 
• clasp
• gold seed beads
• fishing line

Step 1: Start by measuring out the length of your chain. You'll need two strands (about half a foot each). 

Step 2: Take your fishing line, string it through the end of one chain. Take your first turquoise stone, and string it through the line. Make sure your line is doubled through the stone, as this creates greater strength. 

Step 3: String a gold bead next to your stone. Repeat this until you have 11 stones, and 10 beads. 

Step 4: To attach your line to the chain, double back your line through the last stone and secure it with a knot there. When you double back through the last stone, it guarantees that your knot won't come undone. If you want, you can add greater security by dabbing some E6000 glue on it. 

Step 5: Attach your clasp. You can use any clasp really, but mine was a fancy one that couldn't be attached with a jump ring so I used fishing line instead. Works just the same!

And voila! You got yourself an expensive looking turquoise statement necklace. Wear it with t-shirt and jeans, or use it to complete a formal look.