DIY Wedding

Make Sparkly Bridesmaids' Necklaces

Jennifer Worick, contributor

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String one or several beads or crystals onto the SoftFlex for a pretty necklace.

Jennifer Worick

Let your SoftFlex beading wire show and use it to complement your bridal and bridesmaids' colors.

Jennifer Worick

These clever clasp components allow you to just crimp them onto the end of your beading wire.

Jennifer Worick

String one or several beads or crystals onto the SoftFlex for a pretty necklace.

Photo: Jennifer Worick

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While I like my share of girly sparkle, I like to see a simple necklace on a bridesmaid. One, the dress is usually plenty attention-getting on its own; two, bridesmaids shouldn’t outshine the bride; and three, it’s nice for a bride to give a necklace that her friends might remotely want to wear again (unlike the canary yellow strapless bridesmaid's dress that didn’t hold anyone’s tatas in place).

So when I picked up some of the SoftFlex Trios, I found the perfect solution to making quick, inexpensive, and playful bridesmaids’ gifts. With a crystal or bead and SoftFlex to match your dress, you can make all of these in an afternoon and cross them off your “to do” list.

You’ll need:

• 18 inches 0.019 SoftFlex in the color of your choice
• End cap clasp (there will be two components, one for each end)
• Chain-nose pliers
• Bead or crystal of your choice
• Cutters

Let your SoftFlex beading wire show and use it to complement your bridal and bridesmaids' colors.

These clever clasp components allow you to just crimp them onto the end of your beading wire.

Step 1: Slip one end of your beading wire into a end cap clasp component and gently but firmly squeeze the middle section until the wire is secure.

Use chain-nose pliers, not crimpers, to smash the center section of the end component.

The crimped end component.

Step 2: Slip your bead or beads onto the wire and position in the center. Hold it up to your neck to determine the length. Clip off any excess SoftFlex, and slip the end of the wire into the other clasp component. Firmly squeeze the middle section.

String one or several beads onto the SoftFlex. I used a periwinkle vintage bead for one necklace, and a large crystal and a few 4mm bicone crystals for the other. Be sure not to weigh down your necklace with heavy beads, as it will hang awkwardly.

Note: If you don’t have access to end cap clasps (you can find them at Fusion Beads) or you want a fancier clasp, you can slip a crimp on the end of your SoftFlex, loop your wire around a split ring and back through the crimp, and then crimp it. Clip off the excess wire and join a clasp to the split ring.

You can also find me at my website or blogs, Things I Want to Punch in the Face and Prairie Tales. My new book, Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style, is hitting the stores now.

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Comments (1)

Softflexgirl writes: These turned out great. So simple and so easy, which is any bride's dream come true when the big day is approaching.

Great idea!

Best wishes,
Sara
Posted: 12:44 pm on May 11th

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