Zipper Flower Necklace

Check out this fun way to utilize assorted zippers and turn them into customized bright, colorful floral necklaces. Plus they are nice and lightweight!

Step 1: Gather Your Items!

3 Different Colors of 22-Inch Zippers (For Flowers)

2 Different Tones of Green 22-Inch Zippers (For Leaves)

Necklace Chain

Necklace Clasps

Super Glue (Hot glue gun also works if you are not comfortable working with super glue.)

Sheet of White Felt (For Backing)

Scissors

Needle Nose Pliers

Step 2: Prep Felt Backing!

To make each flower, I start with some felt for the backing to glue the zippers to, eventually cutting it down to size after the flower is completed.

Take the white felt sheet and cut out 1.5 by 1.5 inch squares for as many flowers as you plan to make for the necklace. This design I use 4.

Step 3: Prep Zippers!

Next, I prep the zippers by turning them into strips that I can measure out and use easier.

To do so, cut the bottom of the zipper where the teeth are held together as a stopper for the zipper itself. See photos for reference.

Pull the zipper down and off the teeth and separate the two strips.

Save the metal zipper.

You can toss the small part with the stopper.

Step 4: Prep Zippers!

Repeat the previous step with all the colors you will be using for your flowers, creating two skinny strips of each color as seen in the photos. Save all the metal zipper parts!

Step 5: Creating the Large Flower - Part 1

First up is the large center flower.

Whatever color you pick, you will need to measure out and cut:

5 Pieces - 5 Inches in Length

5 Pieces - 3 Inches in Length.

This will use up almost all of the 22-Inch zipper.

Step 6: Creating the Large Flower - Part 2

After your pieces are cut, grab your first 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch felt square backer and your five 5-Inch length pieces.

Put a dab of glue in the center of the felt and glue down one end of your first 5-Inch strip. Be sure to keep the zipper facing outward as it gives the petals a nice almost beaded looking edge.

Put another dab of glue on top the strip you just glued.

Loop the other end of the strip around and glue it down forming your first petal.

See photos for reference.

Step 7: Creating the Large Flower - Part 3

Repeat the previous step in gluing down the rest of the five 5-inch pieces, looping them around to form petals, working your way around the backer to create a flower. See photos for reference.

Step 8: Creating the Large Flower - Part 4

Next you will create the inner smaller flower that is part of the Large Flower.

Put a drop of glue in the center of the large flower you just finished making with the 5-inch Strips.

Take your five 3-inch strips you cut and follow the same process you did for the 5-inch strips in the previous steps. Looping them around to form petals, working your way around the large flower to create a smaller inner flower. See photos for reference.

Step 9: Creating the Large Flower - Part 5

Once you have finished gluing down the smaller inner flower, put another drop of glue in the center of that and place the metal zipper of the same color you used for the strips.

Step 10: Creating the Large Flower - Part 6

With that, the first flower is complete. Now flip it over and trim up the felt backer so that it is not showing from the front of the flower and set this piece aside while you work on the rest.

Step 11: Creating the Small Flower Design One - Part 1

For the first smaller flower you will need to take the strips of the color you wish to use and cut:

5 - 4 Inch Strips

1 - 6 Inch Strip

Save the rest of this color as you will need it later.

Step 12: Creating the Small Flower Design One - Part 2

Take your second 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch backer and place a dot of glue in the center of it.

Using one of your 4-Inch strips glue down one end of the strip to the backer. Be sure to keep the zipper facing outward as it gives the petals a nice almost beaded looking edge.

Put another dab of glue on top the strip you just glued. Loop the other end of the strip around and glue it down forming your first petal.

Repeat this process in gluing down the rest of the five 4-inch pieces, looping them around to form petals, working your way around the backer to create a flower.

See photos for reference.

Step 13: Creating the Small Flower Design One - Part 3

Next, take the one 6-inch strip you cut and place a line of glue along the bottom edge of the strip with no teeth.

Slowly roll up the strip creating a spiral and press it together until the glue has set.

See photos for reference.

Step 14: Creating the Small Flower Design One - Part 4

Back to your 4-Inch petaled flower, put a large spot of glue in the center of the flower. Press on and hold the spiral center in place until the glue sets.

Step 15: Creating the Small Flower Design One - Part 5

With that, the second flower is complete. Now flip it over and trim up the felt backer so that it is not showing from the front of the flower and set this piece aside with your first flower while you work on the rest.

Step 16: Creating the Small Flower Design Two - Part 1

For the third and last flower. Grab your third color that you have not touched yet and cut:

5 - 4 Inch Strips

Then take what is left of the color you used for your first small flower along with the matching metal zipper piece and cut:

5 - 2 Inch Strips.

Step 17: Creating the Small Flower Design Two - Part 2

Grab your third 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch felt square backer and your five 2-Inch length pieces and the matching metal zipper.

Put a dab of glue in the center of the felt and glue down one end of your first 2-Inch strip. Be sure to keep the zipper facing outward as it gives the petals a nice almost beaded looking edge. Put another dab of glue on top the strip you just glued. Loop the other end of the strip around and glue it down forming your first petal.

Repeat and glue down the rest of the five 2-inch pieces, looping them around to form petals, working your way around the backer to create a flower.

Finish by gluing the metal zipper piece to the center of the flower.

See photos for reference.

Step 18: Creating the Small Flower Design Two - Part 3

Grab your fourth and last 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch felt square backer and your five 4-Inch length pieces of the third color.

Put a dab of glue in the center of the felt and glue down one end of your first 4-Inch strip. Be sure to keep the zipper facing outward as it gives the petals a nice almost beaded looking edge. Put another dab of glue on top the strip you just glued. Loop the other end of the strip around and glue it down forming your first petal. Repeat and glue down the rest of the five 4-inch pieces, looping them around to form petals, working your way around the backer to create a flower.

After you have finished the flower, take the tiny 2-inch flower you created in the previous step and trim the backer felt up small. Then glue it to the center of this flower, pressing it until it is set. Then trim the backer felt from the larger flower as well.

See photo for reference.

Step 19: Flowers Made!

Gather all three flowers that you created and arrange them how you would like the necklace to lay.

Step 20: Glue Flowers!

After finding a layout you are happy with, find the points where the flowers meet and glue them together. See photos.

Step 21: Prep the Leaf Zippers!

On to the leaves!

Prep the green zippers as you did in the previous steps with the flower colors by turning them into strips that you can measure out and use easier.

After that measure out and cut:

5 - Dark Green 6 Inch Strips

3 - Light Green 5 Inch Strips

Step 22: Making the Leaves - Part 1!

Grab the five 6-Inch strips of dark green.

Place a dab of glue on one end. Then loop the other end to meet it creating a loopy leaf! Just like with the flower petals, make sure to face the zipper teeth out for those beaded borders.

Repeat this step with all five 6-Inch strips of dark green.

See photos for reference.

Step 23: Making the Leaves - Part 2!

Next grab 3 of the dark green loop leaves you created and the 3 light green strips.

Place a dab of glue on the part where the ends meet on the dark green loop.

Glue down the end of one of the light green strips to the dark green.

Then loop the other end to meet it creating a second, smaller, inner loopy leaf! Just like with the flower petals, make sure to face the zipper teeth out for those beaded borders.

Repeat this step with all 3 5-Inch strips of light green and attach them to the 3 dark green loops.

See photos for reference.

Step 24: Attaching the Leaves - Part 1!

Flip over your flowers, time to attach the leaves you made in the previous steps.

You can see in my photos where I placed the leaves.

The dual colored ones are for the main center piece flower.

Use your glue to tack down each leave where you want it to be placed and let set.

Step 25: Attaching the Leaves - Part 2!

The two single dark green loops are for where the chain will connect to the pennant piece I made.

Continue tacking down each leaf in it's place, if needing to flip over after each leaf to make sure you still like the lay out.

Step 26: Attaching the Clasps!

Next, grab two clasps, one for each side of the necklace.

Open each clasp and connect it to the end leaves of your necklace where the chain will meet. See photos for reference.

Step 27: Measuring the Chain!

Figure out the length of chain you want for your necklace. It will differ depending on where you would like the necklace to rest. For mine I used a 12-inch measurement of chain.

Step 28: Connecting the Chain!

Use your pliers to pull open the chain link where you measured it out in length so that you can disconnect it from the original chain piece and connect it to the to the clasp on your leaves.

Then use the pliers to clamp the link back closed again.

Repeat this on the other side of the necklace with that clasp.

Step 29: Done!

There you have it. It seems long and complicated because I get extra detailed with the steps and photos, but it's really pretty fun and easy. It makes for a cute, stylish conversation piece.

Thank you for checking this out. I hope you enjoy and give it a try. Be sure to share any photos if you do, I'd love to see your necklaces!