Around where I live, the scorching summer is now slowly fading and the monsoons are gaining momentum. In my opinion, this is a period when beaches are at their very best. Blue, clean and quite lovely! If you can afford a trip to a beach resort, there is nothing like it, but for others like me, a trip to the local beach can be as equally fulfilling. Talking of beach resorts, the first thing that comes to my mind, apart from long lazy walks on the beach, are the roaring parties that happen at night. How do you dress up for those?

Cute shorts or a sundress topped with beads are the cliche looks, but tanks or spaghetti tops with sarongs are a good bet too, particularly when paired with a little dressy jewelry that has a nautical touch with a hint of bling. Jewelry with cords, some pearls and shells and something metallic. Like this Beachy cord necklace – light weight, colorful and fun! This is an easy homemade necklace tutorial that is sure to have your friends begging you to make them one also. It’s a lightweight chain necklace with pretty accent beads and bright colors.

 Beachy Cord Necklace

by Divya N

Materials

1.  5mm sand round braided cord
2. Silver Gota ribbon(Stitched metallic Indian Lace)
3. Felt (color of your choice)
4. 1″ acrylic pearl cabochon
5. 12mm green glass round bead-1
6. 14mm acrylic purple barrel bead with rims -1
7. 14mm Pink and green dutone glass crystal bead -1
8. Looped pearl chain -1 (36 inches long)
9. Lobster clasp in brass -2
10. Brass jumprings -2
11. Brass eyepin -2
12. E6000 or rubber adhesive

Tools – Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, wire cutters and scissors

Method

1. Coil the braided cord, gluing the starting edge to the second round of the cord.
2. Glue a cabochon on to the spiral to cover both ends of the cord. Let it dry.
3. Once dry, flip over and glue the gota strip around the circumference of the spiral. Remember that the spiral itself is not glued to be gentle.

4. Measure the circumference of the spiral and cut out a circular piece of felt in the color of your choice.

5. Make the loop of an eyepin bigger so that it can be used with a clasp.

6. Spread glue all over the back of your spiral and place an eyepin with the loop facing the top, wherever you want to hang the pendant from. Glue the felt circle on top, sandwiching the eyepin. Let it dry for a good 15-30 minutes depending on the glue that you have used, until it becomes strong.

7. Cut you looped pearl chain into two. To both ends add lobsters clasps using jump rings. This makes you pendant detachable.

8. Add a green glass bead, followed by a purple barrel followed by a faceted crystal on an eyepin and create a loop that is big enough to be used with a clasp. Loop the other end to the eyepin already glued to the pendant

Clasp both closures, one to the eyepin with beads and other to the eyepin on the pendant. You necklace is now complete. Since the pendant is detachable, you can simply use the pendant with any other chain that has two claps or you can use the chain with any other pendant that simply has a ring. As a variation try, spiraling chain to create your Spiral pendant instead of using cord.

So how are you going to accessorize your beach look?