I Love to Create: Sparkly Bow Necklace

While visiting family last month, I flipped through a copy of Elle Magazine and came across the Kate Spade Bow Necklace. It made me smile in all of it’s kitschy glory; also inspiring me to create a less-blingy, more affordable, ribbon version. I think the result is an adorable, vintage-style bit of sparkle that makes the perfect accessory to wear to those holiday parties. Here’s how to make your own!

Materials

60″ Chain

1, 9 ft. Roll of 3/8″ Wide Ribbon

9, 6mm Jump Rings

1, 12mm Lobster Clasp

Jewelry Pliers & Cutters

Scissors

Needle & Thread

5, Lucite Shank Buttons

Liquid Fusion

Aleene’s Fabric Stiffener

How-To Make Bows

Make 3 large versions and 3 small (made by just pulling the loops tighter as you go).

To make these bows, make a loop as if you were creating a hope ribbon (you know, the ones for supporting our troops, breast cancer awareness, etc.). (Photo 1)
Without cutting the ribbon, make another loop that points in the opposite direction. Begin hand-tacking with needle & thread. (Photo 2)
Make 3rd & 4th loops, perpendicular to the last set. Hand-tack. (Photo 3)
Continue in this manner, creating 8 loops total and hand-tacking as you go, until bow has a “filled-in” look (Photo 4)

Brush-on a layer of Aleene’s Fabric Stiffener to each bow. Let dry.
Use jewelry cutters to snip shanks off of 3 buttons. Use Liquid Fusion to adhere buttons to the centers of the large bows. Let dry.

How-To Assemble Necklace

Double chain, so it’s tiered at desired lengths. Snip off excess.
Use jump rings to secure the ends of the two tiers of the chain together. Attach lobster clasp to one of the jump rings.
Link the two chains together towards the top of the necklace by attaching a jump ring to a button (with shank left on) and then hooking them both on to the chains. Repeat on opposite side.
Pierce a jump ring through each bow, and attach them evenly to both tiers of chain.
Wear, sparkle & enjoy!