Washed Ashore Sea Glass Floating Necklace

Intro: Washed Ashore Sea Glass Floating Necklace

FULL TUTORIAL and many more: Shrimp Salad Circus

This little gem was created as part of the Tutorial Exchange Program that I've told you guys about before on Totally Tutorials. The lovely Corrie of 808Sunshine {How fun is that shop name?} was kind enough to send me a set of gorgeous little drilled sea glass pieces to use for this project. Corrie was an absolute sweetheart and even offered to send me a new set when I thought I lost my first set {long story that involved Mish and Rosco - or didn't really...}. She finds all her sea glass while scouring the beaches or diving the waters in Oahu, so if you're looking for legit sea glass, you've found your source!

For all my nail polish fans, get excited - the fiery coral tips are back! I must apologize for the terrible photos because we were having a horribly rainy, overcast week, and it's also sort of difficult to capture the beauty of something that is almost totally translucent. This project is super easy but yields a stunning result, so get to supply shopping!

STEP 1: Materials

Materials:

• Round Nosed Pliers
• Flush Cutter Pliers
• Chain
• Eye Pin, Head Pin, or Piece of Stiff Wire
• Sea Glass Pieces with Holes {available at 808Sunshine}

STEP 2: Create and Eye Pin

Step 1. I used a head pin because it was all I had on hand, so I had to snip off the end with my flush cutters. If you're using an eye pin, you can skip this step. For a head pin or wire piece, wrap the end around the round-nosed pliers until you have a little loop.

STEP 3: Add Sea Glass

Begin sliding your pieces of sea glass onto the pin. Continue adding sea glass until you have attained the desired length. You might want to arrange them first on your work surface to decide what order to put them in, since they will not be symmetrical.

STEP 4: Close Eye Pin

Use the round-nosed pliers to make another loop to close off the end of the pin and secure the glass in place. Your finished sea glass focal piece should look something like this.

STEP 5: Add Jump Rings

Attach a jump ring onto the loop.

STEP 6: Attach Chain With Jump Ring

Thread your wire through the jump ring, and close the ring. Repeat with the other side. Your necklace should look something like this.

STEP 7: Add Clasp

If you like the length of your necklace, cut the chain at the middle, and attach a clasp component to each end. If you would like, adjust the length of the chain before adding the clasp.

STEP 8: Voila!

You're done!

Comments

[TammyC138]

My father made a lot of jewelry before he died and he always used a diamond tip drill bit to make the holes in just about everything. (stone, glass, bone. horn, coins, shells, you name it.) He usually bought the bits on ebay in multi packs and used either his Dremel or drilled the holes by hand using a holder for the bits. It took longer to drill by hand but he had better control and often would stop if the glass/stone/shell was threatening to break. Let it be for a bit (to let it settle, he always said) and he could finish the drilling.

[sunshiine]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[ShrimpSaladCircus]

So glad you like it, sunshiine. Thanks!

[RaNDoMLeiGH]

If you have a stained glass store nearby, ask them to keep the cut offs for you. They throw away lots of pieces this size and you can put them in the rock tumbler with a handful of play sand.

The little pieces that are too small to drill can either be kept in the tumbler for another round (they'll eventually break down to sand), or you can put them in a dish and use it for incense burning or drip potpourri oil on it. Clean occasionally by putting in a closed container (like tupperware) with a squirt of dish soap and hot water. Use a strainer or a dish towel to keep the bits from escaping down the sink when rinsing.

I also use the pebbles for photography:
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3195069

And of course you can always put them in a fish tank.

[wocket]

thank you. i adore looking for seaglass.

[SOisme]

Beautiful necklace~!  I have gotten 'sea glass' at the craft store and also found it (very cheap!) at the dollar store, but it does not come with holes in it!  Any ideas?

[mazinggrace]

I make jewelry out of tumbled glass and have to drill my own holes (www.gracesglass.com). There are some close up shots so you can see what they will look like when you are done. Here is what you need to do, first you just need the appropriate drill bit. I recommend a 2mm diamond bit http://myworld.ebay.com/pvcfish/ this is the seller I buy from on ebay and he has a great product and price. Or if you want to get it done now you can go to lowes or home depot and purchase a glass drill bit http://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/userpics/10332/TILE--GLASS-DRILL-BIT.gif. You will need the smaller sizes and they do burn out alot quicker than the diamond bits.

Once you have your drill bit I recommend drilling under water. It will keep your bit and glass at a cooler temperature to avoid breaking. I use a metal bowl and I place my glass on a small block of wood to keep it steady. I then fill the bowl with enough water to cover the glass completely while I am drilling.

Then just drill, nice and slow. With the diamond bit you do not have to use alot of pressure. With the other glass bit you will need to use more pressure but be careful the glass will break and water will go everywhere when you do this.

Here is also a video of sea glass drilling but with a dremel tool. You can use either a dremel or a drill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RaHRyuBIwI

[wocket]

thankyou :)

[JClouseau]

I've got a rock tumbler... wonder how long it would take to make simulated sea glass (same conditions: glass, water, sand/grit).  How to drill the glass would be my personal challenge.

[mazinggrace]

It takes 24 hours to make sea glass in a rock tumbler. I break wine bottles and use the broken pieces to tumble. Then i Make jewelry out of them (www.gracesglass.com). The one thing you need to remember is to put a handful of sand and small pebbles in with the glass and water, it will help it get the frosted seaglass look. Hope this helps.

[ycc2106]

Very pretty, I like 'washed ashore sea glass' that I've got a collection from all around the world.
So the hole point I cam to see this page... was to try and find out how to make the holes.

[Sunbanks]

That is such a pretty necklace! I would love to make one, maybe I will if I can ever find enough sea glass!
And I love your nail polish :D