How to Make Buckeye Necklaces

Buckeye necklaces are easy to create with children or with a group of friends before the big game. Buckeye trees grow in Ohio and surrounding states, and you can collect them easily. Buckeyes can also be purchased from craft stores, college supply stores or online for a nominal cost.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Buckeyes
• Power drill
• Jewelry string or craft wire
• Clear protective spray
• Jewelry clasps, beads, adornments (optional)

1. Collect or purchase the buckeyes prior to the construction of the necklace. Approximately a dozen Buckeyes will be needed for each necklace. Less Buckeyes can be used if the natural trinkets will only need to fill the front of the necklace.

2. Drill holes through the Buckeyes with a power drill. A small drill bit, just large enough for jewelry string or wire to fit through, should be made in the center of the sides of the nuts. Carefully press the drill through the Buckeye at a slow speed. Using too large of a drill bit or too much force will crack the Buckeye. Even when extreme care is used, the nuts may still crack. Crafters should have more Buckeyes on hand than needed, since at least a few nuts are sure to splinter during the drilling process.

3. Decorate the Buckeyes. Adorning the nuts is optional, and it needs to be completed before the nuts are sprayed with a polyurethane clear coat. The clear coat gives the nuts a glossy and finished look, and prevents the Buckeyes from looking weathered. Painting the Buckeyes or adding team stickers must be completed and allowed to dry before the clear coat is applied.

4. Measure the craft string, yarn or craft wire needed to make the necklace before stringing it through the Buckeyes. Fishing line may also be used, and it is more durable than craft string. Craft wire is easier to push through the Buckeyes than string or yarn. If using a soft type of string, thread it through a needle, and push the soft material through the Buckeye.

5. Add spacer beads to necklace. Colored plastic beads can be used as placeholders for the Buckeyes.

6. Attach jewelry claps to the ends of the necklace, or knot ends together. Most Buckeye necklaces are designed to be long enough to slip over the wearer's head. If choosing to attach jewelry clasps to the ends of the necklace, select the heaviest gauge available, due to the weight of the Buckeyes.

Resources

• Buckeye Planet Fan Forum and Advice
• Touring Ohio Website Activities Page