Making a sparkly necklace is very easy. Here are the supplies I used for this project:

• A sparkly button for the pendant
• Blue seed beads
• Aquamarine stone like beads
• Light blue crystal beads

The other day I browsed the button section and found a beautiful bead I wanted to use as a pendant. Using buttons for pendants is a great way to achieve a one of a kind shimmery necklace look. In the past I used to choose many of the pendants available in the jewelry making section of the craft stores, but lately I have been opting for buttons because these create more of a unique look. Take a gander at the steps below to see how I created this beautiful necklace.

Place the sparkly button on the memory wire, which will serve as the pendant for this necklace.

The seed beads serve as the accent beads for this necklace.  Put a few of this tiny blue baubles on each side of the sparkly button.

For this necklace I used acrylic fake stone beads, but you can buy the real McCoy at the crafting store.  I prefer to keep down the cost involved in creating new pieces, so I tend to use what beads I have on hand.  In the future I plan on buying a few more glass and stone beads when my cache begins to run low.

Add ten more seed beads to each side the necklace.

Here I added an acrylic crystal bead to each side of the necklace.  The crystal beads are light blue, which compliments nicely with the blue seed beads, and the aquamarine stone beads.

Continue the pattern by adding another crystal bead to each side.

Keep adding the seed beads to each side of the necklace.  Ten seed beads will be added in between each stone and crystal bead.

Yes I know acrylic crystal beads are cheaper than the real thing, but these can be just as pretty.  My goal is to make a sparkly necklace, and these beads shine in the light too!  As I said buy real crystal and stone beads if that is your desire, but I like to use the supplies I have on hand.  Also, the see beads are made out of glass, so their luster definitely adds to this handmade necklace.

Here I continue to follow the pattern by adding another ten more seed beads to each side. Have you seen the really cute jewelry making organizer in the pictures? I bought this at the craft store for around two dollars, and it is great for keeping beads, beading wire, stretchy cord, and other findings tidy.

The pattern marches on as I add a stone bead to each side.  As you can see I enjoy having a pattern in my necklace making.

Seed beads take up very little space, so these make the ideal spacer beads.

Add one crystal bead to each side to balance out this fun arrangement.

Follow the pattern as outlined above.  If you have just tuned in, this means adding ten seed beads to each side of the necklace.  The seed beads are the spacer beads between the stone and crystal acrylic beads.  The complimentary colors of blue, light blue, and aquamarine all work together, but add some interesting variety to this piece.

Keep adding more seed beads to each side of the necklace.

Put ten more seed beads on each side of the necklace.  Repeative, but at least you get the idea of the arrangement of the beads.

Even though I have a strict pattern for this necklace the crystal beads are of various shapes and sizes, which adds more interest to this piece.

Slip ten seed beads on each side of the memory wire.  Continue the above pattern all the way to the top of the necklace, but leave enough room for adding the clasp.

Leave enough room on both sides of the beading wire for attaching the clasp.  Use the jewelry pliers to knot the clasp to both sides of the necklace.

Now the necklace is ready to wear with the clasp added.  My necklace looks especially stunning with my aquamarine colored sun dress.  Home made jewelry is my favorite because I can make dozens of pieces to tailor to my wardrobe for the same price people pay for just a few pieces at the department store.  Happy jewelry making!