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DIY Gold Animal Necklaces

- January 10, 2013 | by April -

GoldAnimals1

You probably know from my incessant talking about Anthropologie that I’m head-over-heels in love with shopping there. I can’t get enough. Sometimes, I run across something that’s super cute but I can’t wrap my mind around spending that much like these two brass animal necklaces.

So, I figured I’d make my own. To be fair, mine aren’t even close to the quality that Anthropologie is selling. Brass versus plastic and spray paint? Not really a competition. But, I think mine are super cute. Here’s how I did it:

GoldNecklaces1b

Supplies: Jewelry tools {you can buy a set at your local craft store} or small pliers, drill, gold spray paint, gold chain, jewelry clasps and jump rings {look for a set that includes matching jump rings and clasps}, eye hooks {get these at your local hardware store–mine only had the smallest ones in silver}, toy animals {I got these at Michael’s}

Directions:

1. Drill a small hole into the top of the toy animal. You want to use a small drill bit and only drill down a little. You don’t want the hole to be as deep as your eye hook–just enough to help get it started.

2. Twist the eye hook into the hole. If you have a starter hole drilled, this will be pretty easy but it will also keep the eye hook secure.

GoldNecklaces3

3. Spray paint the animal and eye hook. I sprayed about five coats over the period of an entire day. Let each coat dry before adding another. And, make sure to spray at different angles to get every part covered.

4. Cut your chain to the desired length and thread it through the eye hook when the spray paint is completely dry.

5. Add the clasp using your jewelry tools or small pliers and jump rings. If you don’t know how to do this, it’s VERY easy. Check out this video tutorial.

6. Wear it and get TONS of compliments!

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15 Comments · Filed Under: Creativity, DIY, Jewelry

Comments

  1. Angela says

    January 10, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    These are so cute! I think they look great and quite impressive despite the cheap materials (plastic and spray paint). I’ve also tried to make another version of Anthropologie Animal Necklaces (they are full of great ideas, aren’t they?). you can take a look here:
    http://www.anzouya.com/2012/09/jungle-animals-necklaces.html

    Reply
    • April says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:09 am

      Thanks Angela! And, thanks for linking to your version. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Dana says

    January 10, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Clever! 🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:09 am

      Thank you…thank you! 😉

      Reply
  3. Lindsey Little says

    January 10, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Wow, I wish I had thought of that! 🙂 I used to make and sell jewelry to pay my bills in college (P.S. I’m a Hokie too!) Now I’m just thinking of all the things I can drill holes in and spray paint lol.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:10 am

      Go Hokies! I know…lots of ways to go with this, right? 🙂

      Reply
  4. haroulla says

    January 11, 2013 at 6:12 am

    April, this is the coolest jewelry tutorial since like, forever! You’ve really inspired me to make some for myself. Thanks!

    Reply
    • April says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:10 am

      Thank you!!! That puts a HUGE smile on my face!

      Reply
  5. Emily says

    January 11, 2013 at 11:56 am

    These are awesome April! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    January 11, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    What a creative project, April. Seems like yours would be a more comfortable weight to wear, too.

    I used that spray paint on my drafting table a few months ago, and it wound up a teensy bit golder than I wanted, so I went over it with some Rub and Buff to tone it down just a smidgen. Now it’s a bit more burnished looking so it still has the warmth of brass.

    Reply
    • April says

      January 16, 2013 at 10:16 am

      Yep, it is super gold. I like it with these necklaces, because it matches the chain that I used really well. That’s a great tip for the future if I want to make something look a little more burnished. Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply
  7. Erin Giles says

    January 15, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    OMG, I have to do this! I love them:)!!

    Reply
    • April says

      January 16, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Yay! Aren’t they so cute? I love them, too!

      Reply
  8. Emmy says

    March 17, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    Love this idea April! Looks like it turns out great =)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 74 fun things // 03 - 74 Lime Lane | 74 Lime Lane says:
    January 24, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    […] Gold animal necklaces with Blacksburg Belle […]

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