https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/geometric-necklace-from-upcycled-gift-cards • Posted by Crafty Lady Abby
I had a stack of used giftcards. They are made of a thin plastic that is perfect for crafting. I cut 2 up, used some paint, drilled some holes, and turned them into a geometric necklace. I made 3 pairs of earrings using more giftcards and a little glue. Most stores will let you keep the giftcards if you ask nicely. You need gift cards that are flat without embossing or textured printing. I chose triangles, but you could do other angular geometric shapes. The time is based on the paint layers drying, and can vary based on the weather. You can pick other colors instead. I wanted a silver toned necklace. I already had the gift cards, jewelry making supplies, and spray paint on hand.
I had a stack of used giftcards. They are made of a thin plastic that is perfect for crafting. I cut 2 up, used some paint, drilled some holes, and turned them into a geometric necklace. I made 3 pairs of earrings using more giftcards and a little glue. Most stores will let you keep the giftcards if you ask nicely. You need gift cards that are flat without embossing or textured printing. I chose triangles, but you could do other angular geometric shapes. The time is based on the paint layers drying, and can vary based on the weather. You can pick other colors instead. I wanted a silver toned necklace. I already had the gift cards, jewelry making supplies, and spray paint on hand.
With one card and the scissors, cut one large triangle horizontally (this is the largest one you see in the below photo, which will be cut apart soon). I cut from the middle of one short edge across to the opposite corner, twice to make the large triangle. Put the scraps into one of the sandwich bags. You can use them later to make something else...earrings perhaps.
With that large triangle, about 1/4 inch in from each side, cut an even V. You will get a separate smaller triangle from these cuts. Set the large V aside. With that new smaller triangle, about 1/4 inch in, cut an even V. You will get a small triangle from these cuts.
The 3 pieces will fit snug into each other, but I wanted to give them a gap. This was rather easy to do. With the smaller V, I cut off a little at the short top edges. Do a little evenly at a time, till the space between the big V and little V is to your liking. Do the same thing with the small triangle. You can check the gap size by laying the pieces inside each other, with the top edges lined up. Set these pieces inside one the other sandwich bag, so they don't get lost.
With the other gift card vertically and the scissors, cut several semi-even triangles from it. Start with one corner and cut at an angle to the other side, about 1/2 inch away from the opposite corner of the same side. Set that piece in the scraps bag. Then, go to the other side, starting at the tip of the angled cut, cut back across at an angle, about 1 inch away from the starting corner. If you go back and forth at angles like this, you will have multiple shorter triangles. The 4 short triangles you see came from 1 card, and I have a few extra for something else. You will only need 4 short triangles in addition to your long layered one, for this project. Any extra triangles or large scraps should go in the scrap bag. Put all the pieces for this project into their separate bag.
Set the magazine onto your work surface. Add the drill bit to your Dremel. Turn your drill onto the low setting (mine only has low, high, or off options). Get 1 piece out of the project bag. While holding the piece against the magazine, carefully drill a hole by one top corner. Stop the drill. Remove any plastic or paper from the drill bit. Drill a hole into the other corner, and repeat removing the debris from the drill bit and work area. Put the piece back into the project bag. Do this for each piece. For the layered pieces, you need only one hole for the small triangle, and one per V top end.
Get one piece out of the bag. With the emery board, carefully file the edges, and round the corners. File the front and back by the holes, and across the open area...mostly on the back where there is some raised ink. This will help the paint adhere smoothly and so the pieces don't stab you when wearing the finished necklace. Put each piece back into the bag after you are done sanding it.
With your project bag, large piece of wax paper or plastic bag, and clear primer spray paint, head outside. Lay the wax paper or plastic bag down on your work surface. Lay your project pieces face up out on the paper. Carefully spray the piece with the Valspar Clear Plastic Primer, following the suggested instructions on the can. Let them dry for several minutes. Drying time can vary based on the temperature and moisture conditions outside. After the 1st sides are dry, flip over all the pieces and spray paint the other sides with the same clear primer. Let dry again.
With the Valspar Silver Brilliant Metals spray paint, spray all of the pieces carefully, following the instructions on the can. Let dry for several minutes. This might take longer to dry than the primer. After the pieces are dry, flip them over again, so they are face up. Spray paint them Chrome. After they are dry, give them a 2nd coat on the top with the Chrome spray paint. Let dry again.
After the pieces are dry, carefully bring them inside. Don't to put them back into the bag, or you might ruin the Chrome finish. Be careful when touching them, as this paint can be finicky and might smudge the finish or leave fingerprints. You can gently buff out any of these, when you are finished making the necklace.
Open all the jump rings using the 2 plier method. Grasp one pair of pliers on each side of the jump ring slit. Open the jump ring by moving the pliers and slit forward and backward. I use two pliers, so it's easier to handle the holes, jump rings, and chain.
Next we need to make the necklace chain section. I like making an adjustable one, that I can make longer or shorter if I chose to that day. Lay the chain around your neck, and place the end at your collarbone in the center of your neck (or a bit lower). Bring the length of chain around the meet that. Add about 2-4 inches of extra length, if you want the necklace to be adjustable, and pinch that measurement with your fingers. If you don't want it adjustable, pinch the measurement where the length meet the end. Using the wire cutters, cut through the chain at the end measurement you chose.
Slip the lobster clasp and one chain end onto a jump ring. Close the jump ring using the two plier method. Grasp an open jump ring with the two pliers, on either side of the slit opening. Move the wire ends back toward each other in the opposite dirrection of how you opened the jump ring, until the ends touch.
For me, since I made mine adjustable, I wanted to keep track of where that collarbone measurement is. I put the chain back around my neck, and brought the lobster clasp to meet where the chain at the collarbone, like I did before. I pinched that measurement, and added an extra jump ring into a link at that measurement. This can be easily removed later, if you want to.
Time to add all the pieces to the chain. Hold the now chain necklace up, matching the lobster clasp to that extra jump ring. It will be in half now. Add a jump ring to that center chain link. Add the small triangle to that jump ring, and close the jump ring with the 2 pliers method. Now, which ever you find easier, you can add the jump rings to the pieces 1st, or the the chain as you lay out your design spacing. I did a mix of both. It's important to make sure your chain doesn't twist as you are attaching the pieces, or it will look odd when you are done. If you can see by the below photo, the chain section I'm working on, is flat. Keep in mind the spacing between your pieces, as to keep it symmetrical and even. Take your time on this step. Use the 2 plier method to close the jump ring you are handling after it's been slipped onto the piece and the chain (which ever order suits you). This will make finishing the necklace easier. After you have attached all of the pieces to the chain, you are DONE!