Super Easy Bohemian Jewelry DIY

A while back ago I bought tons of beads, wire, and beading tools at a bead show. But the thing is I didn’t actually start using it for some time. You see, I was incredibly intimidated. And everyone kept telling me how simple it is which just made me feel like an idiot. If it’s so easy, what in the world do I do with this extra wire sticking out? Did I miss something here?

Here I am today, having made a lot of jewelry and there are still a whole bunch of things I don’t understand or don’t do by the book. And I know, firsthand, how getting everything to start out in beading is expensive. So I figured why not try to put together a tutorial that won’t cost you any more than the supplies to make it. No tools because you’re going to raid the toolbox, no beading wire, none of that (though you will have some extra jump rings, I’m afraid). And if you dig this, you can very easily start building a collection of beading supplies.

For this project you will need:

• a pair of pliers (you can use a pair from the toolbox)
• chain with a clasp already attached
• long string of beads – I used Poetic Spirit at Hobby Lobby
• pendant – also Poetic Spirit at Hobby Lobby (optional)
• 6mm jump rings

Here is my chain already prepared with a clasp and ready to go. Now see the links? There is a circle and an oval repeating pattern. In between those are two rings that have a little slit in them so that you can easily open them. These are fancy jump rings.

Now find the center of the necklace and open it up by twisting the jump rings open with your fingers and a pair of pliers (or two pairs of pliers if needed).

If you don’t have these jump rings in between links, raid the tool chest again for a pair of wire nippers and cut the link in the center of your chain.

See how our chain is now open and the clasp is right in the middle?

Take your string of beads and a jump ring from your package. Open the jump ring by holding it with your fingers and twisting the pliers. Don’t open it very much, just enough to slip onto the string inside of the beads. In the pic above you can’t even really tell that the ring is open.

Also, let’s take the time for a little side note… notice how my strand of beads has little amber-colored spacers in between? I chose these beads even though there was a strand with only faux turquoise on it because I liked the difference and felt like it looked less like a strand of beads ready for a project and more finished.

Attach the jump ring to the end of your chain, or in my case to the two jump rings at the end of the chain. Turn the jump ring shut with your fingers and the pair of pliers. For the first few you might not get the ring to close and be nice and flush, but you’ve got quite a few extras so feel free to practice. And note that if your rings are a tiny bit open, that’s an invitation for your jewelry to fall apart on you.

Add a jump ring to the other end of your string of beads and attach it to the other end of your chain with a jump ring.

At this point, you can either wear it as a bracelet by wrapping it around your wrist and closing up or as a simple, long necklace.

I’m one of those who likes to wear a bazillion bracelets types of gals so I love wrapping this sucker around a few times and calling it a day.

But adding a pendant is a simple way to make it a fancier necklace. I purchased this pendant and in the store, the bead in the center looked turquoise. I got it home and in natural light, it looks bright blue and that just wouldn’t do. So I quickly hit it with a bronze metallic sharpie.

Use a jump ring to attach the pendant to the necklace, making sure that the jump ring goes over both of the strands.

And now you have a boutique-worthy bohemian necklace that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, I shopped at a Hobby Lobby sale and was able to get the faux turquoise beads for $4 the Pendant for $2.50 and the chain for $2 and the jump rings for $1. That’s less than ten dollars. Plus, if I want to wear it as a bracelet or a necklace, I can easily add or remove the pendant!

That’s all for this week. Check back next week for a fun vacation bag project!

Allison

A crafter since her earliest years, Allison spends a little time every day making something. She crafts, sews, paints, glues things onto other things, and is a firm believer that a life spent creating is a life worth living. Visit Allison’s blog, Dream {a Little} BIGGER.