Stocking Fillers - Seashore Necklaces Part 1

Equipment

Drill and small drill bit - I use a hand drill and 1.5mm drill bit.
Leather thong / cord - approx 55cm in length. Shorten or lengthen as desired.
2 x 7mm split ring
1 x lobster clasp
2 x 5mm jump rings
1 x head pin
1 x small pearl effect bead
clear nail varnish
2 pairs small / jewellery making pliers - round nosed are better - these can often be picked up for £1 a pair in tool shops.
1 pair small wire cutters.
1 mussel shell - cleaned


Step 1

Place the mussel shell upside down on a piece of wood or work bench surface that it won't matter if it gets drill marks in it. Place the drill bit in the top corner point of the shell, and drill a hole about 5mm in from the edge of the shell. Be careful not to drill too close to the shell edge or it will become too fragile when worn. It may take a bit of trial and error to work out how much pressure to apply when drilling the hole so not to break the shell.

Step 2
Once the hole is drilled, paint both the outside and inside of the shell with a couple of coats of clear nail varnish. This both strengthens the nail and gives it a shiny, fresh from the sea look.

Step 3
Once dried, work one of the split ring through the hole in the shell and check that the shell is able to swing freely from the split ring. If it doesn't, it's time to drill another shell I'm afraid. Working the split ring can be a bit fiddly, just like trying to get a key onto a new keyring, and I find using either a pair of small pliers or my thumb nail best.

Step4
To make the pearl embellishment, thread the head pin through the bead and cut the end of the pin about 1cm from the bead. Use the round nodes pliers to bend this end into a hoop that sits snugly against the bead. Attach a chain of two jump rings to this hoop, and attach the jump ring furthest away from the bead to the split ring on the mussel shell. The bead should now dangle in the hollow curve of the shell.

Step 5
In one end of the leather thong / cord, tie an overhand knot to form a loop about 1cm long. Fasten the second split ring into this loop and then fasten the lobster clasp to this split ring. This forms the fastener of the necklace. In the other of the leather thong, tie another overhand knot, also about 1cm long. This forms the loop you will clip the lobster clasp into to fasten the necklace.

Your necklace should now be ready to wear or give as a ideal stocking filler for Christmas.

Enjoy making!

K