By General Crafts Contributor Michelle
Create a fun statement necklace for summer in your favorite color scheme.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:
- Lara’s Wood Round Bead Value Pack 1 in. 18 pc.
- Acrylic Craft Paint.
- Scotch Tape Painter’s Masking .70″x 60.1yd .
- Krylon Artist Sprays Crystal Clear Acrylic Spray Satin 11oz.
- Plaid Paint Brush Super Value Pack All Purpose 25pc.
- Necklace Chain.
- Lobster Clasp.
- Cousin Tool Needle Nose Pliers With Cutter.
To begin, choose a color scheme for your necklace, and count out two beads for each color you use. I chose 5 colors, so I picked out 10 beads–you’re making pairs of the same color. Use your painter’s tape to mask off half of each bead, sticking the tape firmly around the middle of each bead, so the holes are on either end.
Arrange your colors on your palette.
Paint two beads with each of your chosen colors. Try to stroke the paint the same direction as the painter’s tape, rather than brushing directly toward the edge, to help avoid paint seeping underneath. Let dry, then peel off the tape.
Give your beads a light coat of acrylic sealer to seal the unfinished side of each bead, and add an extra layer of durability to your paint, if desired. I threaded mine onto a wooden skewer for easy spraying.
Make sure the beads aren’t touching each other, and let the spray dry. Rotate the beads and give the other side a spray. Let dry. If you don’t like the idea of using the spray acrylic, you could instead rub the beads with beeswax at this point, to give them a natural protective finish.
Thread your beads onto your necklace chain so the pairs of colors are facing each other, and figure out how long you want your necklace to hang. Cut chain. Add a lobster clasp and corresponding fastener loop to each end of your necklace.
Enjoy your pretty new statement necklace! Perfect to wear with a casual t-shirt to give it a pop of color, or pretty enough to wear with a sundress for a more dressy occasion. Try using metallic paints to make a more fancy version of the necklace. This is a fun project to make yourself, or simple enough to get the kids involved to make as gifts.
Happy crafting!
