Wood Tile Necklace

Last month, I showed you a scrapbook page, where I used jewelry charms as an embellishment.  Now, I’m going to show you how you can use your scrapbooking papers to make a piece of jewelry!  This is an easy (albeit a little drawn-out time-wise) project and would make a wonderful gift!  And because they are so easy, why not make up several of them at once and keep them on hand for that unexpected party, forgotten birthday, or a quick thank-you?

Project Supplies:

• wood tiles
• scrapbooking paper (I used the Mariposa matstack)
• jewelry bail mount
• brown leather necklace kit
• magnetic clasp
• Mod Podge (matte or gloss)
• Aleene’s Paper Glaze
• Gem-Tac glue
• paint brush
• craft knife
• needle nose pliers
• sanding block or sand paper

First, take your wood tile, and move it around on your paper to find what you’d like to have placed on your tile.  Once you decide, trace around the tile with a pencil on the paper.  Cut the paper slightly outside the pencil lines.  *Of course, while I used scrapbooking paper for mine, you could also use wall paper, wrapping paper, washi tape…the possibilities are endless!*

Next, cover the tile in a good layer of Mod Podge, and lay the paper on top of the tile, making sure to center it as desired, and pressing down evenly.  Continue to add pressure, moving your fingers (or a bone folder) all around, for a couple minutes, to be sure the paper adheres well to the tile.  Allow the glue to dry completely, and then use a craft knife to trim the excess paper from each side of the tile.

After glue dries, trim excess paper from sides

After trimming the paper, gently sand the sides to make sure there are no scraggly sides or sharp corners, and to make sure the paper is even with the tile on all sides.  Then, use a paint brush to put a coat of Mod Podge over the entire tile, front, back, and sides.  (Set on a non-stick surface such as wax paper or a craft sheet to dry.)  Once dry, set the tile on an even surface where it will not be disturbed, and coat the top of the tile, over the paper, with a nice thick, even layer of Aleene’s Paper Glaze.  (Be sure there are no air bubbles, as these will dry in the Glaze; if any appear, use your finger nail to pull them out.)  It will appear cloudy when wet, but no worries…it will dry perfectly clear!  Let this dry overnight.

Coat top with an even layer of Aleene’s Paper Glaze; dry overnight

Now you can prepare the necklace.  The kit comes with leather necklace cord, end coils, and regular clasps.  (Since I cannot use regular clasps due to my neuropathy, I added a magnetic clasp instead of the regular clasp.)  The kit comes with excellent instructions, so that even a jewelry novice like myself can easily assemble the necklace.  First, you need to cut the cord to your desired length.  Then, take one end and insert it into one of the little coil end pieces, as shown.  Using needle-nosed pliers, you’ll crimp the coils to cause the piece to stay on the cord.

Insert cord into coiled end piece; use pliers to crimp coils

Then, use the pliers to gently pull the loop out at the top to add the clasp (or in my case, the magnetic closure), and then close the loop again.

Once the tile is dry, use Gem-Tac adhesive to add a bail mount to the back of the tile, as shown.  Be sure it is centered so that your tile will hang nicely.

Use Gem-Tac to adhere bail mount to tile

After the bail mount is dry, string the tile onto your cord, repeat the coil process with the second end of your cord, and your necklace is complete!

The crimpled coils and magnetic closure on my necklace

Completed necklace

I can’t wait to make more of these simple necklaces to give as gifts!!  I think any crafty gal would love to have one of these lovelies!