Craft Lightning Mother’s Day Crafts | DIY Photo Charm Necklace

• Bezel Connectors with Domes (Adhesive Resin domes are easiest but glass works fine too!)
• 2mm Cable Chain – 24-28 inches
• Craft Glue
• Jewelry head pins – one for each charm you’re adding
• Beads you love
• Jump rings – 2 for each charm you make
• Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers, and Wire Cutters
• Optional: Round hole punch, sized to match your bezel (mine are 5/8″)

Depending on which bezel kit you buy, you’ll either be gluing the photo onto the bezel and adding a self-adhesive dome, or adhering the image to the glass dome first and then gluing that to the bezel.  The self-adhesive domes work best if you can find them, but the glass will give you a heavier, more professional look.  My photos demonstrate how to use the self-adhesive domes, and glossy photos will work best!  Trace and cut out the image, or you can take a shortcut by using a round hole punch! Glue the images into the bezels. You can use your favorite paper-safe adhesive for this (I used Aleene’s Tacky Glue). Allow it to dry while you work on the next steps.

I had some leftover cards from the summer with a matte finish that I used here, and while the necklace still looks lovely, you’ll get a clearer finished piece by using a smooth or glossy paper.  For glass domes, you’ll want to use a matte-finish paper.  I demonstrate how to adhere images to round bezels in my Glass Map Necklace project from a few years back, so check that tutorial out as well if you’re working with a glass set and want some pointers!

If your bezels didn’t come with domes at all, you can alternately mix up some jewelry resin to seal your piece.  I share how to use jewelry resin in my tutorial for a coffee-lovers’ necklace, so there are tips for that style here at Happy Hour Projects as well.

Between the loop you created and the bead, wrap the end of the pin around the base, filling the space with coils of wire. You only need one wrap to secure your charm, but if you like the looks of more coils, then try leaving a bit more space between the bead and the loop. The goal is to fill the space so that the bead won’t slide around on the pin. If there’s any excess wire, trim it off with your wire cutters.

While I was still waiting for my photos to dry, I worked on assembling the rest of the necklace. To attach the beaded charm(s) you make to the photo charms, twist open a jump ring with your jewelry pliers, and add both pieces. Twist the ring closed again. Add a second jump ring to the top of the photo charm so that you can string it on a necklace.

When your photo charms have dried, you can add the self-adhesive domes (which is what I used), add your resin, or add your glass dome to the bezel, depending on what type of bezel you’re using.

This keeps my kids close to my heart every time I wear it, so it makes for a lovely Mother’s Day gift!

Check out  these other great Mother’s Day crafts from Here Comes The Sun, 100 Directions, Me and my Inklings, Creative Cynchronicity, Storypiece, My Mom Made That, The Country Chic Cottage, and 30 Minute Crafts.  You can click the image to visit the post and learn more!