So last October I got married.
Boom! Game over. I win. Heh…
As most of you know, it was like 87% DIY. I often get asked “How did you do that?” or “How did you go about doing this?” So I figured I would share with you, on Wednesdays (cuz Wedding Wednesday sounds cute and everyone loves a hook). So I present DIY Cabochon Bridesmaid Necklaces!
So this is my first Wedding Wednesday, and I thought since it was the very first one, I would do the project I loved the most… OK maybe not the most! It’s hard to pick from my babies, but it was definitely up there in the ranks of favorites.
These were my bridesmaid necklaces. I wanted something pretty, but also something functional that my sister and best friend could use again and again. Plus I love cabochons and couldn’t pass up adding a beautiful element of vintage chic.
Anyone familiar with jewelry making, probably doesn’t need to read on… but maybe you’ll just humor me a bit.
I found those cabochons (the resin flowers) and everything else I used at Micheal’s Craft Stores. They were part of the, now defunct, Martha Stewart Jewelry Collection.
I used a very simple silver chain, and attached a lobster claw clasp to one end and a large jump ring to the other. Make sure to make it smaller than you want it, as the flowers and pearls add quite a bit of length. I then folded the chain in half and cut it, so I now had 2 pieces, one with a clasp, one with a ring.
Using 7 large glass pearlized beads, I linked them together with wire, looping each piece on wither side to create connections and created a chain.
I used flat filigree findings to glue my cabochons to using E-6000 and letting them dry over night. I then attached them together using jump rings, and attached them to the pearl strand and chain. The entire project cost me around $10 a necklace, with extra beads and pieces leftover.
In fact, finding the cabochons with the correct colors took me the most time. I’m glad Martha had a collection (and sad it’s gone), but now I find my cabochons in the scrap-booking area of craft stores, or make my own with resin or clay and a silicone mold (I’ll be doing a tutorial very soon, so stay tuned!)
Have you ever worked with cabochons? I absolutely love them and forsee them making a HUGE statement this year.
Gorgeous! And those colors! I love them together.
~Cheryl
http://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much! It was a fun color palette to work with!
The necklaces are beautiful! I’m sure the bridesmaids will wear them a lot.
Thank you! They loved them and to my knowledge still wear them!
This is EXACTLY wht I am making for my Bridesmaids as well…I am doing Blue an Purple tho 🙂 I am using a mold and clay for the flowers, but not sure if there is another step after baking the clay? My wedding is in 2 mos…May 17 🙂
If you want a matte finish, after baking the clay you should be fine. If you want shine, you can paint a glaze over them. Good luck! It’s a fun project!
Where did you find the flat filigrees @?
I found them in the jewelry section at Michael’s with the findings and such. One was flat, one was rounded and I used a small hammer to pound it flat 🙂
Great Thank you. I will have to look again. I found small ones, but not the ones that would fit the 30 mm flower. Thanks 🙂
Check online too!
I adore the necklaces! Super, super pretty!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday, I featured this on my blog tonight! Come stop by and grab a featured button! http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2014/04/your-whims-wednesday-156-and-features.html
Thank you so much!