How to Make a Necklace Out of Tiny Seashells
Whether you've collected your own seashells or bought them from a bead shop, creating jewelry with seashells is a fun way to get into the spirit of summer and thriftily get jewelry that is always overpriced at beach resorts and tropical holiday destinations. Luckily, making a necklace with small seashells is a simple and entertaining activity.
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Things You'll Need
- Seashells
- Waxed hemp cord of a smaller width than holes in shells
- Small beads
- Handheld rotary drilling tool
- Compatible diamond-wheel point bit - 4.4 mm recommended
- Shallow container
Instructions
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Drilling Holes Into Seashells
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1
Submerge the shells in water to make them softer and easier to drill without shattering.
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2
Using a diamond wheel point bit, turn the drill on to the lowest setting before the tip touches the shell.
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3
Hold the shell under water and apply the drill without much force -- too much force can shatter the shell.
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4
Apply the drill just until it's broken through to the other side. Let the drill come to a complete stop before carefully removing it from the hole.
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5
Flip the shell and widen the hole from the opposite side using the same technique outlined above, to ensure a neat hole on both sides.
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6
Replace water when it becomes too murky to see.
Making the Necklace
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7
Arrange the beads and seashells in patterns until you find one that you like. You can choose to use a larger shell at the center of the necklace. This provides a pleasing design, but this is optional.
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8
Cut a 30-inch piece of cord. You can make it shorter or longer depending on how long you want the necklace to be.
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9
String shells and beads onto the cord. If using a center shell, fix it in place by folding the cord in half, inserting the folded end through the hole, pushing the cut ends through the loop that's formed, and pulling it tight. Then string seashells and beads onto either side of the center shell.
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10
Tie a slip knot at the end of the cord to finish the necklace. Ensure that it is long enough to fit over your head.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Use a diamond wheel point bit where the sphere on the end is larger than the shaft. If you accidentally drill too far, the shaft won't shatter the hole as it passes through.
Seashell dust is a respiratory irritant. Always drill under water, and consider wearing a dust mask.
Seashells are fragile. A few broken ones at the beginning of the drilling process is normal. Practice with a few flawed or unimportant shells first to get accustomed to drilling before trying to drill holes in your favorite shells.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
