While this vintage-style necklace is beautiful enough to wear anytime, you might consider it for part of your Halloween costume this year. We’re thinking something from the roaring twenties, like Daisy from The Great Gatsby or even Lady Mary from Downton Abbey!
(This tutorial was previously published in Delight in the Art of Collage by Lisa M. Pace, copyright 2014. It is republished here courtesy of North Light Books and CreateMixedMedia.com.)
Taking bits and pieces of broken jewelry and combining them is such a fun and simple way to create new unique jewelry pieces. You will find all kinds of items mixed and matched in this necklace: pearl bead chain, chandelier beads, a vintage button, even a butter knife. Simply attach the bits and pieces until you achieve the desired length for your necklace. My necklace is approximately 20″ (51 cm) long, as I like to put it on by simply putting it over my head. But you can add a clasp to yours, if you prefer.
What You’ll Need
- Butter knife
- pearl bead chain
- pearl bead chain with crystals
- chandelier bead
- self-adhesive pearls
- two jump rings
- 20-gauge wire
- rhinestone button with shank
- tweezers
- hacksaw
- jewelry pliers
- wire cutters
- drill
1. Using a hacksaw, saw a vintage butter knife in two pieces: the handle and the blade. Using a drill with a drill bit large enough for the wire to fit through, drill a small hole in the top of the handle. Save the blade for another use, such as making a Stamped Metal embellishment (see pages 56-59).
2. Attach a small strand of pearl bead chain to a crystal chandelier bead. Attach 20-gauge wire to one end of the strand of beads and run the wire up inside the knife handle and through the hole.
3. Attach a small strand of beads to the end of the wire, and wrap the wire to secure it in place.
4. Attach two jump rings to the shank of a rhinestone button using a pair of pliers. Attach a small strand of pearl bead chain and chandelier beads to each jump ring using a pair of pliers. Attach a mixture of pearl bead chain and pearl bead chain with crystals to the end of each strand of beads using a pair of pliers. The length of the chain is up to you, as this determines the length of the necklace.
5. Accent the knife front with self-adhesive pearls.
(This tutorial was previously published in Delight in the Art of Collage by Lisa M. Pace, copyright 2014. It is republished here courtesy of North Light Books and CreateMixedMedia.com.)
Click here to find out more or order a copy of Delight in the Art of Collage by Lisa M. Pace.
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