DIY necklaces

Do you get antsy when you have down time? I do. 

Don't get me wrong, I love a cozy day of reading on the couch or snuggling up with a movie and a bowl of ice cream. But, I can't do that for multiple days in a row. I get lethargic, irritated, and just plain blah! It's like the productive muscle in my body really needs a work out - hence, the necklaces.

With some friends' birthdays around the corner, spare time on my hands, and an itching to get out of the house, I made my way to the craft store to pick up supplies for my new little project. I made two different kinds of necklaces - one was a bit more whimsical and the other a bit more bold and chunky.

Sadly, {I hate to admit this} I'm in the process of developing my creative side which means I'm not shy about borrowing the creative juices of others. I picked up the ideas for my two necklaces from the two blogs, Sarah Ortega and Frugal Upstate {check them out for the tutorial}.

The first necklace I made was the bird nest necklace.

 

To make this necklace you'll need:

- Jewelry wire (I used 24 gage)

- Beads, pearls, etc

- Necklace chain

- Jump ring and clasp

::thrifty note:: if you don't already have the materials for this, I suggest grabbing a friend or two to split the price for materials. you won't use all the beads and if you get a bigger assortment, you can mix and match.

Check out my bird nest necklaces:

 

The next necklace I made required a trip the hardware store because all you need for this necklace are washers and ribbon. Easy, right? I used a smaller washer size than the one mentioned on the Frugal Upstate blog but the size is really up to you and depends on what type of look you're desiring. Here's how mine turned out:

I really liked both styles of necklaces and I even had fun crafting a few of my own designs. Both necklaces can be made with chains or ribbon at various lengths depending on how you want it.

And here's another happy birthday shout out to my friends, the lucky recipients of my first handmade jewelry attempt!