How to Make Sand Dollar Jewelry

You can use sand dollars to make jewelry, or substitute other shells - let your imagination be your guide.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Jewelry Clasps
• Jewelry Findings
• Glues
• Silver Or Gold Chains
• Tackle Boxes
• Drill Bits
• Jewelry Wire
• Pliers For Jewelry Making
• Safety Glasses
• Variable-speed Drills

Earrings

1. Clean and harden your sand dollars before making them into jewelry. See "How to Find Sand Dollars at the Beach," under Related eHows, to learn how to clean and preserve sand dollars.

2. Decide what type of earrings you wish to make: wire or post.

3. Use a 1/16-inch drill bit to drill a small hole in the top of two small sand dollars. Each hole needs to be about 1/4 inch from the edge.

4. Place jump rings into the drilled holes.

5. Attach French wires, shepherd wires or any type of wire earring to the jump rings. Make sure the sand dollars are facing out or toward the front of the earring wires.

6. Glue sand dollars to post earring blanks with strong glue that will be clear when dry.

Necklace

1. Make a necklace by measuring the length of chain you need and attaching a clasp. You can also purchase a premade necklace. This is a chain with the clasp already attached.

2. Attach a clasp by using jump rings, or gently pull the last chain on your length of chain apart, slip the end of the clasp into the loop, and close with jewelry pliers.

3. Drill a hole in a sand dollar with a 1/16-inch drill bit about 1/4 inch from the edge of the shell.

4. Insert a jump ring into the drilled hole.

5. Attach a bail to the jump ring. You may need to add a second jump ring, depending on the type of bail you use to allow the sand dollar to lay flat against your chest.

6. Slide the bail onto the chain for your necklace.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also incorporate beads or nautical charms with your sand dollar earrings. Just use the smallest sand dollars when making earrings with several items so that they won't be too heavy.

• Wear safety glasses when drilling into the sand dollars.