Thursday, March 17, 2011

Another Anthro-Inspired Necklace - Unbreakable Bonding

I find myself browsing Anthropologie's site more often lately. They have a lot of nice things but it just amazes me sometimes how they price things.

Take this one for example:
Anthropologie - Unbreakable Bonding Necklace, $148
It caught my eye because I have beads like that... in different colors. One pack/string cost only around... hmmm... $2? I made them into necklaces for me back in summer of 2008.

Anyway, here's one of my bead necklaces:
You can wear it with the ribbon tied in front or at the back. I made this design in different colors. Here's the white one:

I also have this in deep green and pink... same design. So to shake things up a bit, I decided to make the yellow one into my version of Anthropologie's Unbreakable Bonding Necklace:

Ta-dah! Janelle's Seriously Unbreakable Bonding ;) See bottom of this post to see why I say 'Seriously'
I only had enough beads for half of the necklace so I added a chunky chain for the other half. Total length of the necklace is 22 inches.

Want to make one? I prepared a tutorial :)

You will need:
  • Resin beads... these are about 0.75 inches in diameter each.
  • Glue (I used Mighty Bond, the kind that dries fast)
  • Thin chain that can go through your beads.
  • Jump rings
  • Clasp (I used oyster clasp)
  • Hmmm... I don't know what these are called... caps? See the picture below to see what I mean:
Silver metal cap thingeys and the chain I used
Step 1: Cut your chain into 3 pieces. If you want your necklace to be 22 inches, your chains need to be around 30 inches each (if you have enough beads to make the entire necklace). Since I only had enough beads for half of the necklace, my chains were only around 20 inches each.

Step 2: Put a small amount of glue inside one of those silver cap thingeys and insert one end of your 3 chains.
Wait for the glue to dry before proceeding to Step 3.

Step 3. Start braiding. I made a couple of braids without the beads first before I added the beads. Quick braiding how to:
- you have 3 chains: the leftmost, the center, and the rightmost;
- insert your bead on the leftmost chain, and then cross the leftmost chain over the center chain;
- insert one bead on the rightmost chain, and then cross the rightmost chain over the chain to it's left;
- repeat the last 2 instructions over and over again... making sure that the chains cross below the beads. See picture below:

See? The chains cross below the beads.
Step 4. When all your beads are braided, make a couple of braids with the chain without beads. Make sure that there isn't too much slack in the chains. The braided chains with beads twists and turns and the braid can become undone or messed up if there is slack in the chains. After you are sure that there is no slack on the chains, cut off the excess chain and hold this end with your fingers. Don't let go!

It took several tries for me to get this right because the braids kept getting undone.

Step 5: With your other remaining free hand, put a small amount of glue on that other silver cap thingey. Then insert the chains you are holding in your other hand to the cap and wait for the glue to dry.

And... No, you are not done yet :)

See I read the reviews on this necklace on the Anthropologie site and one customer said:

After braiding and securing both ends of my chains... I can totally see how that can happen, even if there is no slack to your chains... the beads will still move. I thought about it and tried to glue the first 2 beads on each end to each other.
Then do the same for the other side. I also made sure that the chain between them is also glued between the 2 beads.
After that... I closed my eyes and shook the entire thing. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the beads stayed in place! I tried to drop it and shook it some more. The beads still stayed in place! I did say this was 'Seriously Unbreakable' :)

Step 7. Add your jump rings, extra chain (for me since I only had half the necklace), and clasp.

And this time... you are done!

I really love this color :)
And this morning, we had to take our pretty princess to the doctor for a check up for her cough and colds.
I'm wearing my necklace, and we are using our matching bags! :)
I linked up at the following parties!
Sugar & Spice at Seven Thirty Three | Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple | Crazy Cute at Between You and Me | Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes | Weekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots and JelloKeep It Simple Sunday at The Tattered TagSundae Scoop at I heart Naptime | Strut Your Stuff at Saturday MorningsFree for All at Young and Crafty | Sew Crafty Saturdays at Wildflowers and Whimsy | CraftOManiac Monday at CraftOManiac | Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T. | Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple | Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Inspire Me Monday at Singing Three Little Birds | Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do | Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings | Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog | Made by You Monday at Skip to my Lou | Take-a-Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee CraftsShow Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife | Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios | Craft Couture Monday at Craft Couture | Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design | Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts | Wednesday Link Party at Tea Rose HomeWe Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado |

47 comments:

Melissa said...

Hey! I love this! Its amazing how many awesome pieces are simply braided. Im going to try this over the weekend. Got to get my 40 percent off coupons ready!

www.melissa-thatgirl.com

Unknown said...

This is so cute! I'm partial to anything yellow, but I love this - looks so fun and complicated, but maybe I can actually make it! : )

iyos said...

i love your blog! good thing i found this. i even had this bookmarked so i can browse thru your posts easily. thank you so much! pls keep on posting. GOD bless!

Kara @ Mine for the Making said...

Your necklaces are totally anthro worthy :) LOVE the yellow beads and I love that you looked up reviews so that you could make your necklace even better than antro's :)

visiting from flamingo toes!

Kara
www.mineforthemaking.com

Julianna said...

This is awesome! Love the yellow beads.
I'd love for you to link up at Inspire Me Mondays!
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2011/03/inspire-me-monday_21.html

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Great job with this!

Lisa said...

Your necklaces are gorgeous! I can't believe you made them! And so much cheaper than buying them!

-Kelsey Coghill said...

so cute! I love Anthropologie too, but it's way way over priced. awesome job creating a look-a-like! i like the yellow better :)

Unknown said...

Ummm, I want HE HE! so darn cute, yours is way cuter too. Love it. winks-jen

I Love Crafts said...

HI! Can I borrow this idea for our Mother's day craft class?

Lisa {grey luster girl} said...

Great job! I love the yellow color!

Janelle said...

Thank you for all the nice comments! I'm glad you like this :)

Hi Karen, sure, you're welcome to use this for your class :)

Katie @ EyeSpyDIY said...

Your necklace looks great and a lot like the original. Thanks for showing how you did it!

Unknown said...

What a fun color! This looks darling.

Katie P said...

This is so cute! And thanks for the tutorial!

Jennifer said...

I love this!! When you first look at the necklace it looks hard to make but you have made it so simple! Thanks!
Jennifer
http://craftyhair.blogspot.com

Ruth Yoder said...

this is really cool. nice job!

Erica said...

This is adorable!! I am definitely going to be making one of these. I love the idea! Thanks for the great ideas.

http://the-polka-dot-umbrella.blogspot.com/

Megan @ {VintageHydrangeas} said...

Adorable! Thanks so much for the great tutorial!

By the Bluegrass said...

What a great job you did! I love the pretty yellow. It's so cute.
xo,
Sena

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Love the necklaces! I am totally addicted to jewelry, & especially love unique items. You've given me some great ideas. Snooped around your blog a bit & found the jeans turned into a skirt post. So cute. I'm a new follower & hope you might check out my blog & follow back.
CAS

Brandy J. said...

I just found your blog and am your newest follower. This necklace is insanely fabulous and the tutorial is perfect. Thanks for the great tips and inspiration.

my noodle caboodle said...

What a fantastic necklace! I love your version more than the original because of the chain you added. I think the open loops are a nice way to balance and soften the stark color of the beads. And yellow...what a punch it gives! So bold! So fabulous! I hope to recreate such a fashionable accessory for myself; I'm thinking in green. I know this is a few weeks late, but I also thank you for your kind comment about my green ruffle shirt a la TRH. (I just noticed my affinity for the color green.) Anyway, thanks for sharing your kind thoughts and amazing skills!

Andrea said...

So lovely!

Crystal said...

How crafty! I love this yellow necklace and thanks for the great tutorial!

Rachel said...

That is so pretty, thanks for sharing!

Chiara said...

I LOVE this! Yellow is one of my favorite colors right now--so fresh and happy!
I shared this post on my Friday Favorites today. Feel free to grab a featured button if you would like. Have a great weekend!

Divya said...

I had a braided necklace as a kid and I loved it but the beads soon got tangled and I have not worn it since that day..many years ago.
When I saw this necklace on Anthro I really wanted it(not buy it ofcourse but make it ;)but didnt know how to fix the tangling problem...SO thank you for saving the day...great tute :)

Divya said...

BTW great tie up necklaces too :)

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

great necklace & tutorial. Thanks for linking up to Craft Couture Monday.

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

Wanted to let you know that I featured this today :)
http://dominiquescraftcouture.blogspot.com/2011/03/feature-friday-on-tuesday-giveaway.html

Crystal said...

love this & your blog!! Where did you get your beads?

Noelle said...

So cute!! I love the color and the whole style of the necklace. Thanks for sharing!

Janelle said...

@Crystal: I'm blogging from the Philippines and I get my materials here so my shopping tips might not be so helpful to you guys :) But just in case (just in case any of you guys are in Manila sometime), I get all my beads from a store called Wellmanson located in Quiapo, Manila.

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Janelle, I stopped by through the earrings link but fell in love with this piece on your sidebar - so lovely! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase - I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this today. Hope you are enjoying your week ~ Stephanie Lynn
www.bystephanielynn.com

c.w.frosting said...

Beautiful! I love both necklaces!! Thanks for sharing the tutorial. Visiting from Under the Table & Dreaming =)

-caroline @ c.w.frosting

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Yellow is my favorite color so I actually like your version BETTER! What a crafty Momma you are!

 Delighted Momma

Evelin said...

That is the loveliest necklace! And I absolutely love the colour. Great job :)

I'm an Anthropologie addict myself, hah, but yours definitely look better

kim west said...

featured this on my blog today

www.kimboscrafts.blogspot.com

Isreview said...

Super cool and thanks for the tutorial I look forward to trying my hand at it.

Anonymous said...

Oh the brown one reminds me of those candy Whoppers :)
Looooooooooove this necklace

Alisa said...

Gorgeous! I want to buy it :-)

avisiontoremember said...

I love this necklace. I am going to feature in on the 4th on my blog! Thanks for sharing such fun tutorials!
http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com

Ashley J @ MommyByDayCrafterByNight said...

I am totally loving this anthro knock off necklace!!! So cute!

xoxo, Ashley J @ mommybydaycrafterbynight.blogspot.com

Kelli Ward said...

This is really awesome. I am totally going to make this.

MishieElliott said...

I love what you did especially the color of the beads! :) May I know where did you buy your materials? :)

Anonymous said...

This was the worst disingenuously Sisyphian craft I’ve ever done. I had to rebraid the thing 7 times. It now resembles a business casual hair ball. Never again.