How to Make a Purple Three-Strand Necklace

 I seem to be on a purple kick lately. Now let me set the record straight: I'm a big girly girl (as my blog implies) and in true girly girl fashion my favorite color is pink and always will be. Although, maybe it's the winter season, but right now I'm not wearing a ton of pink. Light pink is a little to pale against my pale white skin that hasn't seen sun since my cruise back in August (ack how tan I was back then!) So pale pink is out...and I don't always feel super professional wearing hot pink to work.

But purple? Purple still has the perfect amount of girlyness and just has this good strong and powerful vibe to it. Do I sounds crazy? Maybe I'm just trying to rationalize for the fact that I went to target recently and bought like, four shirts in one trip and they were ALL purple. So, uh. Yeah. Let's keep talking about how strong and powerful of a color it is to qualm any shoppers remorse I might be having... Who am I kidding. I'm not remorseful at all, my shirts are CUTE! :)

 

 So of course, after a shopping spree it's always time for a beading spree to make some pretty accessory to complement my new goodies! This week I'm sharing with you this three strand purple necklace!

This necklace is about 95% made up with Cousin Corporation beads and findings. You can find most of these supplies at your local craft store like Michaels. (grab a coupon for 40% off here).

What really started the vision for this necklace were these lovely crystal links and matching round crystal beads from the Crystazzi line - I knew a little extra sparkle would really jazz up my new outfits!!

Here are the links to the beads I used: Round Crystals, Crystal Links, Glass Pearls

First things first: to make this necklace you need to know how to make a basic link. Start with an eye pin. Add on a pearl. Use needle nose pliers to bend the wire 90 degrees. Use round nose pliers to bend into a circle. 

After you have made a pearl link, attach it onto the pre-made crystal link and use needle nose pliers to squeeze the loop shut.

Create a link with the round crystal bead, attach it to another crystal link, and then attach this new group with the pearl/crystal link like so:

Repeat this process over and over again and make three separate strands in different lengths

At this point I decided my necklace needed a little something else to jazz it up.  I played around and decided it would look nice to connect my strands towards the end of the necklace and add in a few more crystals.

To do so, I took a silver pin and curled a small loop around the end with pliers (you could just use a regular eye pin but I wanted my loop to be a little more discrete!) Then I strung on a crystal and strung it though a loop on my outer most strand. Then I strung on another crystal, through the loop of my middle strand, another crystal, last strand, one last crystal.

Next I create another mini loop with the end of the pin by bending it 90 degrees with pliers, trimming all but about a half of an inch off with wire cutters, and bending into another circle. 

Here's what it should look like when done:

Repeat for the other side of the necklace as well.  Lastly, attach a clasp using jumps rings and a three strand clasp.

Use two more jump rings to attach a lobster claw claps and an extension chain to the end of the three-strand clasp.

After the clasp is on, your necklace is done!

Here I am sporting the creeper eye one of my new tops and necklace. (But seriously. I am giving a littttle creepy look here)

Isn't it pretty? My favorite part is the crystal links, I think they give the necklace a little more professional look that I'm really digging.

Well, that was fun. I think next I need to have a falling out with black so I can rationalize going out and buying a bunch of gray shirts (and then making lots of matching necklaces of course :)

I'm linking up with these parties:

Monday: CraftOManiac Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Made By You Mondays, Making the World Cuter

Tuesdays: Take-a-Look Tuesday, Show Me What Ya Got, Homework

Wednesdays: Your Whims Wednesday, Creative Share Wednesday, We did it Wednesday, Sugar and Spice, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Show & Share

Thursdays: Catch a Glimpse

Friday: Link Party Palooza, Frugal Friday,

Saturdays: Saturday Night Special, Show and Tell Saturdays, Positively Splendid

Sundays: Sunday Showcase, Think Pink Sundays