How to Make a Conversation Heart Necklace
A handmade "conversation heart" necklace is a crafty way to memorialize a time-honored, classic Valentine's Day confection, which is really more of an "eye" candy than an edible one. Conversation heart candies have endured through generations due to their random, fortune cookie-like messages engraved on their hard, chalky, pastel, heart-shaped surface.
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Things You'll Need
- Conversation heart candy
- Superglue gel
- Needle-nose pliers
- 8-mm by 8-mm heart shape wire dangle or basket pendant mount
- 1/4-inch nylon ribbon, fabric, or strip of leather, or small chain
- 1/4-inch paintbrush
- Mod Podge with glitter
- Wax paper
- Latex gloves
Instructions
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Select one piece of conversation heart candy with your desired message as the pendant for your necklace. Select an 8-millimeter by 8-millimeter heart-shaped wire dangle or basket pendant mount.
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Use a small, 1/4-inch paintbrush and apply one even, thin coat of Mod Podge with glitter over the surface candy pendant to preserve it indefinitely. Keep the pendant on the wax paper while applying the Mod Podge to prevent the pendant from sticking to your worktable. Wait one hour and repeat the process, applying a second coat of Mod Podge to create a three-dimensional effect.
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Put on a pair of tight-fitting latex gloves and trace a small bead of superglue gel around the edge of the back of the candy pendant. Hold the heart-shaped dangle or basket pendant mount in one hand, and center the candy in the mount immediately, before the superglue gel sets. Firmly press the candy pendant into the pendant mount for one minute to set. Using a pair of clean, needle-nose pliers, crimp down the prongs of the dangle or basket mount firmly around the outer rim of the heart.
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Select a chain, nylon or polyester ribbon, material or leather strip in a complementary color to string your heart pendant on. Be sure that the circumference of the material that you select is large enough to fit over your head without a clasp. Thread the material through the hook attached to the back pendant mount and slide the pendant so that it hangs at the center of the chain, ribbon, material or leather strip. If using ribbon, material or leather, tie both ends together in a knot the same way that you tie the strings of your shoes.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear disposable gloves when using superglue because if you get it on your skin or glue something to your skin with it, it may have to be surgically removed.
Ensure adequate ventilation when using superglue and Mod Podge, which give off strong vapors that can be dangerous to breathe.
Be sure that the recipients of your conversation heart candy necklaces understand that they're not edible.
References
- North by Northwestern: Be a Sweetheart With DIY Heart Necklaces
- Sunday Afternoon Housewife: Handmade Monday: How to Make a Valentine Candy Resin Pendent
- Favecrafts: Conversation Hearts Shirt and Necklace
- Cockeyed.com: Conversation Hearts
- AskNumbers.com: Length Conversion
- Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: Pendant Setting, Sure Set, 14Kt Gold, 8x8mm heart basket, 6 prong
- LG Jewelers Supply: Heart Shape Cast Wire Dangle Pendant 14 Kt White Gold Setting
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
