Bubblegum Necklace

Bubblegum beads! They are large beads, usually 16mm or larger, made from either resin or acrylic. The large camelia (hot pink) coloured ones I’ve used here are covered in rhinestones – honestly, what’s not to love!

This is a long necklace without a clasp but you could easily make it shorter and add a clasp if you wished.

In the video I have used my 1-Step Looper to make the loops. If you don’t have one of these tools, you could use round nose pliers. I do strongly recommend them though. This necklace was a really quick project using this tool.

This necklace is made up of two components:

The rhinestone components are made with the rhinestone balls and the flat flower rondelles.
The smooth component is made with the 16mm beads, the glass rondelles and the desert sun beads.

You make the components first, then join them together to make the necklace.

The lower portion of chain on this necklace is made from large and small jump rings.

Materials

Here’s what you will need:

‍20x18mm Camelia Bubblegum Resin Rhinestone Balls x5‍
16mm Pink Acrylic Bubblegum Beads x4‍
4mm Hot Pink Silver Desert Sun Beads x8‍
9mm Antique Silver Flat Flower Rondelles x10 ‍
8x6mm White Glass Rondelle x8‍
10mm Jump Rings x18‍
4mm Jump Rings x32‍
20 Gauge Wire x1m ‍
Silver Chain x40cm

Tools

You will also need:

1-Step Looper or Round nose pliers
Chain Nose Pliers (2 pairs make it easier)
Flush Cutters

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below.

Rhinestone Components

Cut a piece of wire and make a loop at one end using the 1-Step Looper.

If you are not using the 1-Step Looper, make a large loop using the larger end of your round nose pliers. If you have not made loops before, check out my Disco Ball Earrings Tutorial (2.48 seconds).

Add a Flat Flower Rondelle, the Rhinestone Ball and then another Flat Flower Rondelle.

Next make a loop in the other end of the component close to the beads.

Make four more of the Rhinestone Component.

Smooth Component

Using the 1-Step Looper in the same manner as before, make a loop in the end of a piece of wire.

Feed the beads on in the following order:

Desert Sun bead
Glass Rondelle
Bubblegum Bead
Glass Rondelle
Desert Sun

Make a loop on the other end of the wire, close to the beads.

Make three more of these components.

Joining the Components

Lay out the components in the order they will be attached. Start in the centre with a Rhinestone Component, then place a Smooth Component on either side. Alternate.

Open the loop on the first Rhinestone Component and attach the Smooth Component. Ensure that all the loops are closed.

Making the Chain

The chain is made from 10mm and 4mm Jump Rings.

To open the 10mm Jump Ring, place a pair of chain nose pliers on each side of the ring. Add two 4mm Jump Rings and close the ring in the same manner as you opened it.

Open another 10mm Jump Ring and thread it through the two 4mm Jump Rings attached to the other 10mm Jump Ring, then add two more 4mm Jump Rings.

Tip: Make sure your 4mm Jump Rings are closed before you add them.

Continue to add Jump Rings until you have nine large Jump Rings, beginning and ending with a large jump ring.

Before you close the last 10mm Jump Ring, add the chain.

Repeat for the other side.

Attaching Chain to the Necklace

To attach the loose ends of the chain to the Rhinestone Components on the ends of the necklace,open the end loop on the Rhinestone Ball and slip on the 10mm Jump Ring.