How to Make a Beaded ID Card Lanyard

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By Peggy Hazelwood
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Beaded ID Card Lanyard.

Making a beaded ID card lanyard is similar to making any beaded piece, like a necklace or bracelet. With just a few modifications, you'll be wearing your ID in style.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

jewelry wire, such as fine to medium Soft Flex
crimp beads or tubes
beads
ring to attach ID card to, can be a round toggle clasp or large split ring (key ring)
jewelry wire cutter
jewelry flat nose pliers

Step 1

Decide how long you want your beaded ID card lanyard necklace to be. Drape a string or tape measure around your neck to simulate how the lanyard will hang.

Measure and cut a piece of jewelry wire, adding 3 inches more than the desired necklace length. Using your jewelry wire cutter, cut the wire. About 32 to 36 inches of jewelry wire is a good length for an ID card lanyard.
Step 2

String two crimp tubes on one end of the wire. String the toggle clasp or split ring on the same end of the wire keeping the tubes above the clasp or ring on the wire.

Move the crimp tubes and the clasp up the wire an inch or two, and loop the same end of the wire over the clasp and up through the crimp tubes. This will hold the clasp onto the wire. Crimp or flatten the crimp tubes securely. BE SURE to leave a small loop with enough slack next to the clasp so the wire can move freely. BE SURE the wire is not tight against the clasp or the necklace will be stiff at that point.
Step 3

Make your bead pattern, laying out the beads in a rough design before you begin stringing. Next, string the beads on the wire. Use beads with a large enough hole to string the "tail" of the jewelry wire back into beads (large enough holes are needed for double wire to fit through).

I used about 10 pink seed beads then a small Swarovski crystal bicone bead. Then more seed beads then a larger Swarovski crystal, about 5 seed beads, a larger still clear round clear quartz bead, about 5 seed beads, and then another Swarovski crystal bead.
Step 4

Matching pattern on beaded ID card lanyard.

Next, I added seed beads for about 3-1/2 inches then another Swarovski crystal bead. Seed beads, seed beads, seed beads until I came to the spot on the other side of the lanyard even with the crystal bead. Then I repeated the pattern on the first side so both sides of the necklace lanyard matched.

Use your imagination. Make a design you like for your one-of-a-kind lanyard.
Step 5

String two more crimp beads on the end of the wire. Move the end of the wire up through both crimp tubes. Make sure at this end, the wire is taunt without much slack. String the "tail" up through the seed beads (or whatever beads you use) before you crimp these crimp tubes. When it feels right, not too loose or tight, crimp the tubes to close off the second end of the lanyard. Trim the wire that extends out one of the beads.
Step 6

You have a completed ID card lanyard! Drape it over your neck and attach your ID card to the ring.