DIY pearl cluster necklace

Woo hoo! Thanks, Hexicon for sharing your DIY necklace tutorial:

"I have to give credit for this to Shannon of Wardrobe Review, who got me started on home jewelry making. Shannon has a pearl cluster necklace for about $150 at her website, Dressing Room Jewelry .

I've attached a photo of my version. I don't pretend to have a lot of expertise, but that just goes to show that it is easy to do an acceptable version as a novice jewelry maker even if it is difficult to do a great job. I did it all on my own without any instructions other than the video tutorials that Shannon suggested (links posted below).

Supplies:
A. Chain - gold tone, gold plated, gold filled, etc. available by the foot at bead and craft stores. You will probably need 18-24 inches depending on how long you want the necklace.
B. Clasp - plus jump rings to attach clasp to chain. Or, if you want to use a ribbon, secure a ribbon to the chain with a ribbon clamp or by attaching a jump ring to the end of the chain and then knotting the ribbon through the jump ring.
C. Pearl beads in a variety of sizes. I used 6 mm to 16 mm. At my local bead store, you can buy a big bag of mixed Czech glass pearls for about $14. These are nicer than the resin pearls JC uses. This bag includes enough beads to make at least 4 or 5 necklaces.
D. Optional: crystal beads, fireballs, gold beads.
http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/search/rhinestone+round/searchType/and/orderBy/finish/itemsPerPage/20/page/1/item/8RS212
E. Gold-tone or gold-plated 21 gauge headpins (available at bead or craft stores). For simple loops, you want something fairly sturdy (low gauge). For wrapped loops, you would use a more flexible gauge such as 24.
F. Equipment: one pair round nose pliers, side cutting pliers, two pair chain nose pliers.

How To
1. Push the headpins through the pearls and use the pliers to finish the ends with a simple loop as per the instructions here. A nicer and more secure technique is to use a wrapped loop on the beads and then use jump rings to attach the looped beads to the chain. But, this is harder and takes a lot longer! Click here the wrapped loop tutorial.
2. Unbend the loops slightly to attach the pearl to the chain and then re-close the loops.
3. Repeat and cluster pearls. If desired, use loop technique to add crystal beads, fireballs, etc.
4. Attach clasp to end of the chain with jump rings. Jump ring technique.


Voila: a pearl cluster necklace for less than $20."


Hexicon, thanks again so very much for sharing this with us and you did it so quickly. (No wonder why you're runnin' it at work. )

♥
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