Proud Mary Necklace Tutorial

Creating the Focals

For each of the Czech glass buttons, cut a piece of bead backing that is large enough for the beading you will be adding in the following steps. Mark on the bead backing where the shank of the button is going to be.

Make a little cut where you marked the center and then slide the shank of the button through. Glue your button to the bead backing in this position and allow to dry. We like to use either two-part epoxy or Jewel Bond glue. Repeat step one and two for each button.

After gluing your buttons to the bead backing, make two rows of beads around each button with the two seed bead backstitch. For the Czech glass blue and silver daisy design round button, the first row will be made up of 4mm faceted rounds in Aquamarine and the second row is made up of TOHO 8/0 bead rounds in trans-rainbow teal. For the Czech glass pink and silver pinwheel design round button, the first row is made up of TOHO 6/0 bead rounds in gilt-lined terra cotta and the second row is comprised of 2.5mm faceted bicones in Light Topaz. For the Czech glass green and aqua floral and faceted design round button, the first row features TOHO 6/0 bead rounds in gilt-lined dark mint opal and the second row is made up of TOHO 8/0 bead rounds in trans-rainbow lime green.

Two-Seed-Bead Backstitch Tutorial

Finish each button by adding a backing and an edge using TOHO 8/0 bead rounds in higher-metallic teal green iris for all of them.

Brick Stitch Edge Text Tutorial

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Creating Beaded Links

Decide where the center of the largest button is going to be. Count nine beads over from the center, along the edge. This will be the start of the bead link.

Start by taking your needle through the first row of beads in your bezel. The knot will hide under the beads. Go out through the teal green iris bead of the edge.

String this pattern of beads onto your thread: two teal green iris TOHOs, one 4mm faceted round in Crystal Luminous Green, one teal green iris TOHO, another Crystal Luminous Green faceted round and then two teal green iris TOHOs. Go through a green bead on the edge of another button through the back.

To reinforce the link, go back through a little bit of backing and the same entry bead and then into the other beads in the link. Your needle should be back at the largest button you started with.

Go through the next green bead over in the edge.

Repeat steps seven through nine.

Make a knot close to the edge and cut the thread.

When you've finished the first link repeat these steps to do the second link on the other side of the largest button. ,

Create the Looped Bails

Decide where you want your bail to be on the blue Czech glass button. It should be a little to the left of the center of the button. Remember that there will be three rows of beads creating the bail and account for this in where you decide to place your bail.

Thread your needle and go through the second row of beads in the backstitch and through a green bead in the edge.

Thread on the same pattern of beads for the links you created and go back through the entry bead to form a loop.

Go back through the backing and the entry bead and back through the beads of the bail to reinforce the loop. Exit out of the entry bead.

Go through the next bead in the edge and repeat steps thirteen through seventeen to create two more loops.

Create three more loops for the green button, this time to the right of the center of the button. ,

Finishing the Necklace

Cut a piece of ultra micro fiber suede in black approximately 12 inches long. Pass it through one of the loop bails. Attach a JBB sterling silver U-shape 4mm ribbon end to each end of the suede. Attach a 0.035 x .180 inches sterling silver open jump ring to each loop on the ribbon ends. Attach one part of the antique silver-plated pewter round floral design toggle clasp to those two jump rings using a 0.035 x .290 inches sterling silver open jump ring. Repeat this step for the other side of the necklace.

Crimp End and End Cap Tutorial
More Crimp End and End Cap Basics
Fancy Crimp End Tutorial

List of Components:
Czech Glass Blue and Silver Daisy Design Round Button (BTN-249, qty 1)
Czech Glass Pink and Silver Pinwheel Design Round Button (BTN-258, qty 1)
Czech Glass Green and Aqua Floral and Faceted Design Round Button (BTN-253, qty 1) (Or, try BTN-562 or BTN707)
TOHO Bead Round 6/0 Gilt-Lined Dark Mint Opal (TBRD6-2119, qty 1)
TOHO Bead Round 6/0 Gilt-Lined Terra Cotta 8g Bag (TBRD6-2113, qty 1)
TOHO Bead Round 8/0 Trans-Rainbow Lime Green (TBRD8-164, qty 1)
TOHO Bead Round 8/0 Trans-Rainbow Teal (TBRD8-167BD, qty 1)
TOHO Bead Round 8/0 Higher-Metallic Teal Green Iris (TBRD8-507, qty 1)
4mm Faceted Round Aquamarine (5000-AQUA4, qty 28)
4mm Faceted Round Crystal Luminous Green (5000-CLU4, qty 20)
2.5mm Faceted Bicone Light Topaz (5328-TOLT025, qty 70)
Antique Silver-Plated Pewter Round Floral Design Toggle Clasp (CLASP-0131, qty 1)
JBB Sterling Silver U-Shape 4mm Ribbon End (SS-ENDCAP01, qty 4)
Sterling Silver Open Jump Ring - 0.035 x .180 inches (0.90 x 4.60mm) (SS-OJR35-C, qty 4)
Sterling Silver Open Jump Ring - 0.035 x .290 inches (0.90 x 7.35mm) (SS-OJR35-G, qty 4)
Ultra Micro Fiber Suede Black by the Foot (MSUEDE01, qty 2)