DIY Multi-Color Metal Necklace

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I've been all about the instant gratification jewelry projects lately.

Sometimes I love planning out a super in-depth project that has lots of different components and is very intricate and I know will take a lot of time in front of the TV to make (this DIY anthropologie knock-off necklace,  statement necklace, and DIY cluster web necklace were all super time consuming!) I feel like I appreciate some of those pieces so much because I knew how much time I put into making them.

Lately though I just feel like life has been too busy to get wrapped up in another complicated project so I'm all about quick and easy projects that still turn out a beautiful piece of jewelry.  Between working full time, moving recently and having a longer commute, working out every day and still trying to maintain a social life, jewelry making often gets put on the back burner.  It gives me such joy whenever I finally get to have a little down time to create something though, so I've been trying to find enough time to sneak in some short but efficient crafting sessions.

The secret to a quick and easy jewelry project? Use jewelry components that are already full of design themselves so you don't have to do quite so much design work! I LOVED these multi-color metal link components from  Cousin DIY the first time I saw them and knew they would be perfect for a project.  I played around with a few different design ideas until I realized that the components had so much design in them already, I really just needed to keep the rest of the project simple! Best thing about simple? It's often quick and easy too :)  In just one quick crafting session I was able to whip up this funky necklace.

It only requires very basic jewelry making skills as well - so don't be afraid to give it a try! Here's how you can make your own version.

Supplies

You will need needle nose pliers, round nose pliers, wire cutters, 6mm crystals,  Gold Multi-Color Teardrop Connectors, gold eye pins, 4mm gold jump rings, and a lobster claw clasp.

Steps

String a crystal onto an eye pin

Using needle nose pliers, bend the eye pin back 90 degrees directly above the bead

Use wire cutters to trim all but about a half inch tail from the eye pin

Using round nose pliers, grab the end of the tail and bend back around the pliers to form a loop

Use needle nose pliers to attach a jump ring to one side of a multi-colored connector, then to the beaded link, then to another jump ring, then to another metal connector.

Repeat this process until you have the length of necklace you desire

Attach a clasp to the last two beaded links.  On one end attach a 4mm jump ring to a 6mm jump ring, and on the other attach a 4mm jump ring to a lobster claw clasp

After your clasp is connected, the necklace is done!

Truth be told, I think I've spent longer on the stair master in one session than the amount of time it took me to make this necklace.  Now, I do have a freakishly good ability to stay on that cardio machine way longer than most people think possible ;) but all in all this project comes together pretty quickly and easily and is WAY more relaxing and less painful than climbing stairs for an hour and a half. 

I just love all the different colors and playfulness of this necklace.  I never would have picked these three colors to match up together on my own so using these components forced me to be a little more colorful and a little less matchy matchy than I normally would be.  I think it gives the perfect pop of color and style to dress up a basic tank for summer. 

Perfect crafting session and a perfect necklace, I just might keep up this instant gratification jewelry project trend. More simple project ideas coming your way soon!!!