DIY: Geo Necklace

 

Pretty amazing right? I honestly didn't think this would turn out as well as it did, and it was easy! I promise, if you can bake cookies, you can make this necklace.

 

 

You don't need many materials for this project, some basic necklace making supplies that you can find at any craft store, needle nose pliers, wire cutters and bake-able clay such as Fimo or Sculpey. I chose a deep burgundy colour and mixed in some antique gold for a little variation...

 

A few notes before you start: I used a cutting mat that has a grid on it- I found this super helpful to make even shapes and keep lines straight. I covered my mat with parchment paper so I could cut the shapes and transfer the paper right onto a baking sheet and into the oven. You could easily use graph paper with parchment paper on top as well.

 

1. For the whole necklace I used only half a block of the burgundy clay and 1/8th of a block of gold. Start with the main colour and work it in your hands until it starts to soften, then add in your secondary colour (gold). Twist it around and work it into a ball.
2. Once you have a pattern that you like stop working the clay.
3. Flatten out the ball into a rectangle-ish shape.
4. Roll flat with a clean rolling pin until its about 1/8th-1/16th of an inch thick.
5. Using your grid lines, cut your design out with a kitchen knife.
6. The large geo shape is about an inch wide, and 1 1/2" long. The two geo shapes on either side of the center piece are each about 3/4" wide x 1" long.
7. Gentley poke the Eye Pins through the top of your shapes, twisting your shapes around the eye pins to ensure the hole is large enough. Remove the eye pins and lay on a baking tray. (If you need to reshape, do it with a knife while the eye pin is still in place, then remove.) 
8. The larger rectangles are simply cut out of a strip of clay, they don't have to be perfect, just try to make them slightly smaller than the two geo shapes.
9. Lay out all of your shapes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.
10. Remove your shapes, and while they are still warm, poke the eye pins through your shapes so they are ready for necklace making.
11. Cut the excess pin until there is slightly more than 1/4" remaining- you will coil this side into another 'eye' to attach all of your pieces.
12. Continue cutting...
13. Lay out your design until you are happy with it. [I had to make more little triangles, about 1/2" x 1/2" because it wasn't long enough]
14. Start attaching the shapes to each other.
15. To keep your necklace laying flat, you will have to twist the eye pins on every-other shape... vertical eye, horizontal eye, vertical, horizontal... this will make more sense when you are doing it.
16. Hold your necklace up to your neck- when you are happy with the length attach a couple of jump rings on one side and a claw clip on the other. Lay your necklace out flat and twist any eye pins that need to be adjusted to allow your necklace to lay flat. [This is important- otherwise it won't lay flat on you!]

Once you get the hang of it, the whole process goes pretty quickly- and you will have it done in an hour or two.

I am pretty happy with it considering it cost me about 10 bucks to make! WOOT!

 

Try out this DIY and send me pics of your creations- have fun with it! What do you think....!?

 

Have a great Thursday,

C