Kids Chunky Necklace DIY - Part One!

Okay guys.  I've made a LOT of these chunky necklaces over the past year, and I also sell bead kits for DIY projects.  So, I painted my nails and thought I would try to write some instructions.  Kids chunky bead necklaces are so darn cute!  Making them takes some finesse, and an eye for color and texture.  BUT - it's not hard!  There are several ways you can put them together... and the way you do it affects the strength and durability of the necklace.  That's super important when you know your kids will be rough on them!

Let's pretend that you already have your necklace supplies ready.

• You have all your pretty beads laid out in order.  Always remember to add Color, Texture, Pattern, and Shine... it works for jewelry too, not just on What Not to Wear.
• Spacer beads. Note:  spacers aren't necessary.  I like the look of a necklace that doesn't have spacers.  BUT - spacer beads offer flexibility to a necklace.  Without spacers, there will be more stress at the connection points.  Meaning, there is a higher likelihood that the necklace will come apart at the clasp.
• Crimps - the heavier duty the better.
• Crimp pliers
• Bead wire, or nylon ribbon/needle, or stretch string.

Today, we're going to talk about using bead wire and crimps to make necklaces.

Add your beads to the wire

At the end of the necklace, add a crimp bead, and then the clasp. 

Then pass the wire back through the crimp bead.  DON'T pull the wire tight around the clasp... Leave a little loop so the clasp swings freely inside the loop of wire.  If you pull it tight, there will be a lot of friction and the wire will fray.

SQUEEZE the crimp with the inside portion of the crimp pliers.  It turns the crimp into a 'V' shaper.



 Then, use the outer portion of the crimp pliers to kind of fold the crimp in half, folding at the point of the 'V' and bringing the two sides together.

Don't trim it close to the crimp.  IF the wire slips a little inside the crimp, you don't want the necklace to fall off.

Feed the tail of wire down inside a couple of beads, and trim the extra. 

Repeat for the other end of the necklace

 

The finished product is really cute, and my daughter and her friends at school love these.  Stop back by next week to learn how to do these using 1/16" nylon ribbon... and no crimp beads or pliers are required!

And because no post is complete without a picture of my girls...

 

Please note:  Necklaces can be a choking hazard to small children.  Always supervise your kids while they wear them, and remove all jewelry before naptime.