DIY Chunky Necklace

I think I'm now starting to suffer from what I've heard people refer to as the 'post-wedding blues.' I feel like I was crafting various wedding-related items for so long, that now there seems to be a void in my life. I guess this is a good thing for all you blog readers out there, because since the wedding, I have returned to my regular blogging schedule.

Anyway, I decided that it was time I shared a few of the crafty things I did for my wedding with you. I knew Jake and I's wedding colors were going to be gold and some shade of pink. I ultimately went with a mauve color for my bridesmaid dresses - the pink wasn't 'in your face pink,' nor was it a pastel Easter egg color. I liked that it was subtle and thought it would be easy to match jewelry with. Man, was I wrong. You know when you have a vision of the way something should look, but you cannot find the perfect accessory to complete your vision? This was my case in finding perfect jewelry for my beautiful maids. 

So, I decided to make their jewelry. Their simplistic dresses warranted a statement necklace, so I searched for a necklace idea that would really pop against and complement their dresses. Below are my instructions for making your own Chunky Necklaces!

Materials:

• 8 mm glass pearls (75)
• 4 mm glass pearls (38)
• headpins (95)
• 5 mm closed jump rings (19)
• 70 cm of ribbon (2)
• 25 cm 22 gauge silver wire

How to:

• Using the headpins, make wrapped loops of 8 mm pearls (57) and all of the 4 mm pearls (38).
• Begin assembling your clusters; place an 8 mm pearl on a jump ring, followed by a 4 mm pearl, another 8 mm pearl, a 4 mm pearl, and another 8 mm pearl. Do this 18 more times so you have a total of 19 clusters.

• Make a wire wrapped loop on one end of the silver wire, and thread a single pearl onto the end of it. Then, add a cluster. 
• Alternate stringing a pearl and a cluster, until you've added all but two clusters to the wire. End with a pearl.

• Push all of the clusters together on the wire so they bunch up and appear full, then secure the other end of the wire with another wrapped loop.
• Thread the ribbon through the loops on either end until it is halfway through, and fold it on itself.
• Thread one of the remaining clusters through the ribbon, and slide it down until it is close to the other pearls. Repeat on the other side.
• Trim off any frayed ribbon, and secure the necklace around your neck by tying a bow!

Here's a picture of my gorgeous matron of honor wearing her necklace at my wedding. While this tutorial recommends tying the necklace to secure it, I actually attached a clasp to the ribbon on the bridesmaid necklaces. I was concerned that the girls would constantly be worried about their necklaces coming untied throughout the day, so I figured a clasp was an easy fix. I was so pleased with the outcome of this project, that I'm considering selling them!

Please let me know what you think! I will say, this project certainly takes time - it took me about 4 hours to complete each necklace (including adding a clasp). If you are interested in purchasing a custom-made necklace, please email me!

I worked from the tutorial found here.