Not a $168 necklace!
Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 4:14PM Do. It. Yourself. Duh!!!
A few weeks back I was trolling through one of my most favorite women's collections. This particular line has clothing, accessories and home designs. The first spot I normally go is jewelry... not because I'm a huge jewelry fan but because this store employs the most amazing jewelry designers... quite pricey but amazing.
This one caught my eye....
It is called the Acrobatics Necklace... Ok.
It is $168.00 american dollars.... Not Ok!
As I looked closely I could tell this would be an easy make. The description even clearly states "ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary on this eye-wowing piece, where paperclips are cloaked in brightly hued sheaths as they perform dazzling feats beneath your neckline." Paperclips!!! Eeeeeee.Zzzzzzz.
I started out taking step by step pictures and then realized video would be easier. So, here we go....
You will need: a box of large paper clips, colored duck tape, scissors, an exact-o blade, cloth measuring tape, "spring ring & eyelet" jewelry hooks and a picture of the necklace.
I'm not sure what type of "brightly hued sheaths" (hee hee) they used but lucky for us Duck Tape started making lots of fun colors... not just grey anymore! They even come in prints. I'm a solids girl so these are the few I chose.
Duck Tape is one of two very important purchases at the craft store. The other was the jewelry hooks. They sell several different kinds. I like these best.
The concept is easy. You literally connect the paperclips a few at a time as they are on the picture of the necklace. You choose your color and wrap the tape around the paperclip. You can see how I would lay several out a time then connect and wrap.
That part is easy.... but, the tape is too wide for the paperclip.
So, you have to cut each strip.
Not a huge deal but there are specific measurements and a method to cutting the tape. The measurements are
1 1/4 inches across the tape roll x 1 1/2 inches down the tape roll.
I used my cloth tape measure to measure each strip and the exact-o knife to cut it. You want to cut the strips when you are ready to wrap around the paperclip. Don't try to do it ahead of time. Picture to follow but you will also see me do it in the video.
It is tedious to fit the tape through the triangle shapes and wrap around but not hard.
I hope this video helps.
Here is my finished product.
I wore it out the next weekend and had about 10 girls ask me where I got it. Two different girls followed me outside to ask if they could look at it. Yay!!! for Do It Yourself and colored Duck Tape.
My total cost was $24.88.
Not $168.00!
Reader Comments (18)
Super excited to try!
That's cool. I am so glad to have such a talented sister.
DFD boys!!! Valentines Days commin up.
your so talented
You are incredibly talented Melissa! You inspire me :)
Thanks Tina!!!
what a great tuturial....
my son was just asking me to take him to store to get duct tape and i told him i didn't think we had time today....we may now have to make time :)
Hahaha! Make time! Is he making duct tape wallets? My son makes those all the time :)
very cool! I've always loved finding ways to make expensive things myself. I'm putting this one in my bookmarks!
Awesome!!! Glad you like!
I love this necklace! Duck tape is so amazing! Thanks for the tutorial.
That's awesome! I used to make a lot of duck tape wallets and purses, this is a project I must try!.
www.brightshadows.etsy.com
Me encanta el collar y lo fácil que parece el hacerlo. Gracias por compartir. Un saludo
I made your necklace out of grey duck tape and added silver emblellishments and I found an easier way to cut the duck tape. I made a thick cardboard template and used very sharp scissors and it worked great. I even cut many and taped edge to my board and it worked really good. I will have to take a picture and let you see it. Peggy
I have posted a picture of my necklace I made like you did, so go to my blog and check it out. and any feedback you might have for me. Peggy
Sorry forgot to post my blog site. mimismomentsintime.blogspot.com
The video was somewhat helpful but if you do some of it slower and talk for it it would help alot more
I made this necklace and would like to send you a pictue of it. Email me and let me know if you do. I did mine different and I got rave reviews on it. Peggywhiz@cableone.net