Summer Fun Necklace

by Judy Larson

Category: Beading
Technique(s): Making Loops, Beading
Skill Level: Beginner

When Judy Larson's daughter and six-year-old granddaughter joined her for a rainy day of jewelry making, inspiration struck in the most unexpected way. What started as a playful mix of odds and ends turned into a bright, beachy necklace that radiates summer fun. In this cheerful project, Judy shares how a spontaneous creative moment became the perfect reminder to design with joy and imagination.

Materials

Beading Wire - Variety of strands and gauge

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Beads - Wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials

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Variety of seed beads

Lesson Quantity: 50.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Mother of Pearl chip beads 15 inch to 16 inch

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Wire 20 Gauge - Variety of metals in 20 Gauge

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Two 22mm x 8mm silver cones with a 6.5mm interior diameter

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

Sterling Silver Beads Bright 4mm - Pack of 20

K9-142

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.42
Gold Club Price: $7.07

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Sterling Silver Crimp Bead Twisted 2x2mm - Pack of 25

K10-19

Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.85
Gold Club Price: $3.63

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Clasps and Closures - Wide variety to choose from

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extender chain

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

4-1/2 Inch Magical Crimping Pliers for Bead forming - Pack of 1

G16-36

G16-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Toothpick

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

20 X 15 Inch Padded Work Mat

MAT-620.00

MAT-620.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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10 Compartment Clear Plastic Organizer Case

G20-22

G20-22
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

Out of Stock

12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Optional Tools

Bead Board

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Instructions

Step 1:

Before You Get Started

Find the tutorial for Traditional Southwest Style Hook Closures used on the Southwest Style fetish bead charm necklace as well as the Summer Fun Necklace here: Traditional Southwest Style Hook Closures

Step 2

Find the tutorial for the Seed Bead And Nugget Necklace here: Seed Bead And Nugget Necklace

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, seed bead and nugget necklace

Step 3:

Starting The Project

Depending on the length of the necklace you're making, you'll need one or two 16-inch strands of Mother of Pearl chip beads. Some beads may not be usable because they're drilled wonky (that's the technical term!).

Gather 3mm to 4mm beads that you can't use elsewhere - even lower-quality ones will work, like those shown in the top box of the first photo.

Have all your supplies ready before stringing to make the process faster. I only planned the layout of the MOP chips, arranging them so one area of the finished necklace wouldn't have too much of one color. The seed and gemstone beads were strung randomly.

If you prefer a more deliberate look, use a bead board to plan your placement.

A friend gifted me two divided trays, and I now use them for nearly every beading project. Instead of juggling multiple boxes or trays of beads, it's easier to move one or two small trays around - or set them aside when you need space for another task.

Step 4

Use .018", .019", or .024" beading wire with the Magical Crimping Pliers. Thinner wires won't crimp securely, so avoid anything smaller than .018".

Cut five strands of beading wire, each 33 inches long. My finished necklace measures 28½ inches. If you want a different length, simply add or subtract from each wire.

For example, to make a 20-inch necklace, subtract 8½ inches from the wire length - leaving about 24½ inches, which you can round up to 25 inches.

Attach a bead stop to the end of each wire. If you're using tape instead, secure one end of each wire with tape.

Step 5

Start by creating the center Mother of Pearl (MOP) and beaded focal section on each wire. If you want a different necklace length, subtract 7 inches from your desired total length to find how long the MOP chip section should be.

For example, if you're making a 20-inch necklace, subtract 7 inches - leaving 13 inches for the focal sections on each wire.

Begin and end each focal section with a MOP shell chip bead. The seed and gemstone bead groupings should be about ½ inch long, made up of five seed beads and one 3-4mm gemstone bead.

Continue this pattern until the focal section measures between 18½ and 19 inches long. Use a bead stop or tape at the end of the wire to prevent beads from sliding off.

Repeat this process for all five beading wires.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Start by creating the center Mother of Pearl

Step 6

Remove the bead stop or tape from one end of the wire. Add a random mix of seed beads until you have 3½ inches of seed beads on that end.

Make sure the last four beads you add have slightly larger holes.

Pro Tip: As you string each wire, set aside any beads with larger holes. This will make it easier to find what you need for each of the ten wire ends later.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Add a random mix of seed beads

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Set those to the side when stringing each wire end

Step 7

Slide a 2x2mm crimp tube onto the beading wire.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Slide a 2x2mm crimp tube onto the wire

Step 8

Thread the wire end back through the crimp tube and the first three large-hole beads.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, thread the wire end back through

Step 9

Pull the wire snugly around a round toothpick to create a small loop.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, pull the wire tightly around the toothpick

Step 10

Place the crimp tube into the well of the Magical Crimping Pliers. Close the jaws tightly to secure the crimp.

You should see four small corners on the crimp tube when finished - they'll look like the corners of a square pillow.

Be very careful to avoid touching the glass seed beads with the plier jaws, as they can break very easily!

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Firmly close the plier jaws to crimp the tube

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Be careful not to let the plier jaws touch the glass

Step 11

Rotate the crimped tube 90 degrees and crimp it again.

Remove the toothpick, then continue crimping around the tube until it forms a small, round bead.

These rounded crimped beads will help keep the five beaded strands evenly spaced inside the cone ends.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Rotate the crimped tube 90 degrees

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Remove the toothpick

Step 12

Trim the excess beading wire just below the third large-hole seed bead.

Any remaining wire that can't be trimmed will slide neatly into the fourth large-hole seed bead.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Trim the excess

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Any remaining wire that can't be trimmed

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, slide neatly into the fourth

Step 13

Repeat Steps 7 through 12 on the other end of the wire.

Avoid pulling the beading wire too tight; the necklace sections should have a nice, natural drape rather than being stiff.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Avoid pulling the beading wire too tight

Step 14

The beaded strands will vary in length, and that's a good thing.

Arrange the strands so the chip colors are placed in a pleasing, balanced way.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, arrange the strands, they will vary in length

Step 15

Cut two pieces of 20-gauge wire, each 5" long.

Measure 1¾" from one end and bend the wire at a 90-degree angle.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Cut two pieces of 20-gauge wire

Step 16

Use the smallest step on 6-step barrel pliers to make a loop at the bend.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a loop at the bend

Step 17

Slide all the beading wire loops from one end of the strands (laid out in Step 10) onto the 20-gauge wire loop.

Secure the loop with one or two wraps of wire.

Trim any excess wire.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Slide all the beading wire loops

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, trim any excess wire

Step 18

Slide the 20-gauge wire through the cone and pull it tight.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Slide the 20-gauge wire

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, pull it tight

Step 19

All the bead strands should fit snugly inside.

Step 20

If the hole at the top of the cone is too large, add a 4mm bead to the wire.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, add a 4mm bead to the wire

Step 21

Make a 90-degree bend in the wire about 1/16" above the bead.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, Make a 90-degree bend

Step 22

Make a loop on each wire end using the larger step on the 6-step barrel pliers.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a loop

Step 23

If desired, add a 2½" to 3" extender chain to the loop on one side.

A 2" headpin with a 6mm MOP bead can be used to create a dangle for the end of the extender chain.

Finish by wrapping the wire loop.

As you wrap, the beads will be pulled tightly inside the cone.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, bead can be used to create a dangle

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, finish by wrapping the wire loop.

Step 24

Add the hook using the same method described in Step 16.

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, add the hook

Step 25

And your Summer Fun Necklace is complete!

Judy Larson's Summer Fun Necklace - , Beading, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, finished product

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!