Remember that huge sale at Thriftsmart we wrote about awhile back? (If you missed that one, you can read it here!)
Well I lucked out majorly at that sale, and wound up with two huge shopping bags full of finds! I found these two necklaces, and they each only cost $1.00! I’ve been wanting to build my jewelry collection and specifically wanted to recreate thrifted treasures into necklaces I could layer.
This is how they looked prior to me “playing” with them (displayed on the DIY necklace stand I showed you how to make out of a pizza box in this post).
Both of the necklaces were way too short, almost choker length! So when I heard about a bead and beading tool sale at Michael’s, I knew it was the time to make these necklaces over! I got some beads for each of the necklaces, and some string.
I knew once I tried on the pink necklace that it would not work as is, the baby pink shade of the beads looked very, very, very (I cannot emphasize enough how very) bad against my skin shade/tone. Step one was to change that! I mixed some acrylic paints I had leftover from doing wedding crafts to create a mauve-y rose pink.
I taped off the gold beads in the middle, and got to painting! I spread the paint thinly and in swirly patterns to create a marbled look. Once the first side dried, I turnedthe necklace to the other side and painted that side of the bead, making sure to cover each bead entirely.
Next I painted the beads (on both sides again!) with Mod Podge to give it a glossy look like most beads have. After laying out the beads in several different combinations, I decided on one and started stringing!
On to the second necklace!! Not only was this blue one too short, but it was also on wire which made it stiff and unable to lay flat. But the beads were so beuatiful with their flecks of blue, turquoise and gold, I just HAD to get it! You know that feeling, right? Unfortunately in all my thrifting I get that feeling often, and have a pile of things to alter, update, or refashion somehow! But I digress…
I added these dark blue beads to the old beads and re-strung them to create a longer necklace. I love it, don’t you?
Here’s the cost breakdown (already had the paint and mod podge):
- Two Thrifted Bead Necklaces - $2.00
- Bead Gallery White and Grey Speckle Beads (on sale) - $4.99
- Bead Gallery Dark Blue Beads (on sale) – $2.50
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Stretch Magic Bead and Jewelery Cord (on sale) - $2.50
Total Cost of TWO Necklaces: $11.99!!
That’s roughly $6.00 per necklace!
It goes to show that even if something isn’t exactly right as you find it, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own, and still for less than you’d pay for something new!
xo,