Simple Stone DIY Bead Necklace

If you read here often, you know I really love natural elements like stone beads in jewelry-making.  And I love quick projects.  So take a look at how I combined some of my favorite things during my last quick-craft session: this simple stone DIY bead necklace!

I loved these stone beds when I got them a few months back in my surprise Blueberry Cove Beads box.  (You may remember that I made some bead and leather bracelets with one of these focal beads.  You can check out that tutorial if you like today’s project!)  But I’ve been digging the simple necklace designs that I’m seeing this season, so this is my take on the current trend.

You don’t need many supplies to make this sweet necklace.  I’ll leave affiliate links where I can in the list below, so that you can shop for supplies if you need to!

• 20 gauge tinned copper wire
• 4mm jump rings
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutter
• 15-19? 2mm chain
• Oval jasper bead (what I used isn’t available anymore, but I found a similar jasper bead strand here)
• 2 metal spacer beads
• Lobster clasp

The first step is to create a beaded connector as the focal point of your necklace, which requires some simple wire wrapping.  Cut a length of wire about 3-4 inches long.  About one inch down along the wire, bend it slightly to the left, then wrap it over the right side of your round pliers, forming a loop.  Then, take the tail end and wrap it once (or twice) around the main part of the wire.  Cut off the excess tail with wire cutters.

Add your beads, framing the stone bead with metal spacers, and repeat the process to form a loop on the other side.  A few millimeters from the bead, create a loop, and wrap it around the main part of the wire until it fills the space between the loop and bead.  Trim off the excess wire on the second side.

Next, decide how long you want your necklace to be.  Mine is 19 inches, which hangs low on the chest.  You can keep it closer to the neck at a length of 16 inches, but this will all depend on your personal preference!  Keep in mind that your beaded piece and the addition of a clasp will add about an inch to the total length of the necklace.

So for a 19″ necklace, I cut two lengths of chain, 9 inches each.  Attach each chain to either side of the beaded connector with small jump rings.  Twist the jump rings open with your chain nose pliers, and then twist back closed again.

At the ends of each chain, add another jump ring.  On one jump ring, also add a lobster clasp.  The final result is understated and earthy, and because I chose a mostly gray stone (with some orange marbling), it matches nearly everything I own.

If you’re practiced at basic wire wrapping, this necklace should take less than 10 minutes to make!  I hope you enjoyed this quick project, and I’ll see you guys again soon!