DIY Anthropologie Tribal Necklace

Hey friends.

I have a fun little summer project for us all.

I don't know about you, but I love a big statement necklace. They're a fun way to jazz up an outfit. Lately, I've been inspired by large, over-the-top, funky, tribal necklaces. Ones that are bright and colorful that I can just throw on, and go. Check out the necklaces of the men and women of the Massai tribes.

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See what I mean? Simply beautiful.

So imagine my delight when I found the Navala Necklace the other night at Anthropologie.

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Studying the necklace really got my gears turning. I rushed home and whipped up my own, using a lot of the things I had at home. For $15. Booyah.

 The goods:

*Friendship bracelet string (floss, I think its called?).

* Cording or rope of some kind. I used cording from Jo-Ann's. Mine is about around the same thickness of my pinkie. For three necklaces I got a little over 2 yards.

* Small amount of chain

*Lobster clasps

*Jump rings (they're a plain, metal ring in the jewelry section at the crafts store)

* Nuts and washers the same thickness as my cording. You will need 1 washer and one nut for EACH end of each necklace. 2 ends x 3 necklaces: 6 washers and 6 nuts. Grab a few extras if you want some extra embellishments.

Optional: beads or any extra bling.

Step 1:

Loop the cording around your neck at your desired length and cut. My strips are 22, 24, and 29 inches. Take an awkward picture if you need to get the position right.

Step 2:

Lay your strips out and tightly tape your ends, ensuring they won't unravel.

Step 3:

 Leaving an inch or two out, start wrapping your cording with your first floss color. You want to wrap evenly, but not too tightly. Every few inches scrunch down the wrappings- you don't want any gaps!

Want to change colors?

  Cut your first color and tie the end to your next color, hiding the tail as you wrap.

Step 4: Optional

I added a few extra bells and whistles to mine, but you don't have to. As you wrap, thread a bead, extra nut, or washer and continue to wrap.

Step 5:

Keep wrapping and changing colors, until you reach the end. Have fun with it! Remember to leave a few inches at the end.  Repeat for the other two pieces of cording.

Step 6:

Grab a nut and a washer, and carefully thread them on the ends of your necklaces.

Step 7:

Lay your chain out and decide how long you want it to be. You will be attaching some chain to each end. I cut my chain at 2 inches long. Repeat for all.

Step 8:

With the end pieces of floss, carefully tie it to one end of the chain. Also, trim down the leftover end of the cording,  Repeat for all.

Step 9:

(sorry no pic)

Here you have two options. You can either:

- make 3 separate necklaces

OR

- have 3 necklaces, strung together as one BIG necklace.

I chose the 2nd option, but both are easy. Grab and open 1 jump ring and one of the lobster clasps. The jump ring links the clasp and the chains of the actual necklace. Carefully open the jump ring and thread the ends of the chains. Now add in the little hoop of the clasp, and close the jump ring. Repeat on the other side. If you wanted to make separate necklaces, you will need a jump ring and 2 lobster clasps.

Step 10: Optional

I added a bit of super glue to each of the end nuts/washers and to the string on the chain. You know, just for durability. Let everything dry and trim up any loose ends.

Ta-da!

 You're done!

Awkward-Awesome Thursday...

 Oh, hey friends.
 It's been so long since we've talked. And I've really missed you! Work, work, work has kept me feeling like some crazed bumble bee you can't swat- buzzing around all over the place. But, now that I have a minute, let's catch up, shall we?

Awkward:

- Attempting to drink a gulp of Mtn. Dew but having it just run out of your mouth. Whilst others watch you.  Yes, a fine example of motor planning, indeed.

- Christian Grey. See also: Awesome.

- Learning that some things are completely beyond my grasp and beyond my control. This week, especially, has been profoundly trying. I feel like I'm on a beach, wearing my coconut bra and hula skirt, watching a tsunami wave grow and grow. Rising up to pelt the daylights out of me...But you know, sometimes, the only way to deal with things is not to run but just go right through them. Weather the storm as best as you can, and then pick up the banged up pieces later. I think I'll tighten my coconut bra straps tighter, now.

Awesome:

-Shhhhhhhhhh... Don't tell. Back around Christmas time, a good work pal and I popped into a local store. On a TOTAL whim, she grabbed a job application.  And then grabbed one for me, too. Apparently, I was to be her "wing man" and fill it out also. Well, we both got the job. Gulp. Was I looking for a 2nd job? No. Had I even considered doing anything else, even part-time? No. What's that you say? Where are we? I'm not sure I can tell you. But I'll let you guess. Here's a hint. It starts with an "A"........and rhymes with "Thropologie".

- Man, I am digging sequins lately. Yes, Tina-Turner-back-up-singer-Proud-Mary-Keep-on-Rolling sequins. I've wanted an all sequin T-shirt or blouse or... something for awhile, now. Just a little over the top bling. So when I found this sequin moto jacket from MJR sales, I knew it was perfect. And for 14.99? Bingo.

- A side note about MJR sales. This lady turned me onto the site. Basically, they take over all of Express' and Victoria's Secret's (and a few more brands) leftovers and re-sell. For a much cheaper price. My new moto jacket will be from Express. Bras, undies, shoes, dresses, men's, you name it. You just gotta dig around, though. You're welcome.

-No really... shhhhhh... shhhhhhh... if you are looking for a new book series: Fifty Shades of Grey. That's all I'll say.

-  From one of my sweet families, beautiful burnt orange tulips and a kind word, on the last day of therapy. It's the little things, I tell ya'.

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Button Bib Necklace

Need a little "something-something" to jazz up your outfits?

Are you searching for an "everyday" necklace, but don't want to spend BIG bucks (or little bucks for that matter)?

Make this!

I've been swooning over big necklaces for awhile now. Anthropologie and LOFT carry them, but I just didn't want to spend alot.

So with a bit of help from a friend, I made my own.

Here's what you'll need:

* 2 Squares of felt of your choosing (I chose black)

*Old buttons  (this would be a good time to raid mom's, aunt's, or g-ma's button collection- BUT craft stores also have them)

(Here's a close up of my buttons):

*At least a 20 in. chain (also at craft stores)

*Little beads or pearls (I have  taupey-looking pearls)

*Hot Glue Gun

*Scissors

optional: Michael Jackson music while you work

Step 1: Shape it, Baby!

Lay your felt out, and play around with buttons until you reach a desired shape or pattern. Mine is clearly uneven, but that's the look I was going for. Find something YOU like and go with it!

Step 2: GLUE away!

Try to add a bit more glue on the buttons with the loops on the back. Make sure all your buttons are straight and "standing up". Feel free to hum along to "Billie Jean" or "Beat It" as you work.

Step 3: Fill in the holes

Once all your main buttons are glued down securely, go back and fill in any gaps with your pearls or beads. Throw a few on top of the buttons you just glued, if you like. Let everything dry.

Step 4: Cut 'er out

Carefully, cut around the edges with a smooth, even cut.

Step 5: Attach your chain

Cut your chain to ~20 in. (or desired length), keeping in mind you will hot glue ~1 in. on each side.

 Flip your necklace over (button side down) and hot glue chain to each side of your bib.

Step 6: Glue your Backing

In order to finish your necklace, let's add a backing. It will seal off your chain, and give your necklace some stability. Add LOTS of hot glue to the back of your necklace (the side where you just glued your chain) Grab your second piece of felt and smush down on your necklace. Let dry. Use the edge of your bib to trace and re-cut out the 2nd piece of felt. Sorry, no pic for this one!

Step 7:

Ta-da! All done!

If there are any little fuzzies left from your hot glue, go ahead and clean those up.

Now, proudly do the moon-walk with your necklace on and brag about how fine and foxy you are!