Directions on How to Make Holiday Beaded Necklaces

String holiday necklaces in a variety of colors. Give them away as gifts or show them off yourself.

Holiday-themed necklaces can be created using simple jewelry-making techniques. Silver or gold findings can be used depending on preference since both correspond with most holidays. Metal or sparkly beads are particularly festive, and bead colors can be customized to fit any holiday from Halloween to St. Patrick's Day. Dazzle your friends with elaborate or whimsical holiday beaded necklaces at a fraction of the retail cost. Making holiday jewelry can be just as fun and festive as decorating your home or cooking holiday goodies.

Things You'll Need

• Beads
• Bead palette
• Jewelry wire
• Wire cutters
• Crimp beads
• Clasp
• Crimping pliers

Instructions

1. Lay your beads on your bead palette in the order you wish to string them. Try to find bead colors that match the holiday inspiration for your necklace. Green and red are excellent for Christmas, especially when mixed with snowy white. Choose red, white and blue beads to create a festive fourth of July necklace, and make your own Mardi Gras accessories with multicolored beads.

2. Cut a piece of jewelry wire about five inches longer than the desired length of your necklace. Typical lengths for necklaces are about 15 to 18 inches, but can be customized to fit your neck and preferences regarding dangle length.

3. Thread a crimp bead, then one end of the clasp onto the wire. Loop the wire around the clasp enclosure and back through the crimp bead. There should be about an inch of excess wire on the other side of the crimp.

4. Tighten the crimp, pushing it up toward the clasp. Leave a little space so the clasp end can dangle slightly.

5. Close the crimp, flattening it first with the rounded end of the pliers and then with the pointed section. Turn the pliers around and use the rounded section again to flatten the crimp in on itself like a fortune cookie. Make sure the crimp is secure -- it needs to hold both sections of wire without slipping.

6. Add the beads in the order they are laid out on the palette. Cover both the long wire and the section of excess wire with the first few beads. If both pieces will not fit, trim the excess piece of wire close to the crimp bead. Use dangling holiday bells, tiny figurines or coordinating blown glass or lamp work beads.

7. Close the final end of the necklace by adding a second crimp bead and the other end of the clasp. Close and secure the clasp as you did in Step 5.

8. Trim the excess wire and fasten the clasp.

References

• Art Beads: Santa Claws Necklace