Best Friends Forever Necklaces — Tips for Simple and Unique Pieces

Posted by on May 18, 2011

Print this Post

TAGS:

No matter what your age or background, when it comes to jewelry, the classic friendship necklace is always a welcome gift. Friendship jewelry can be playful, sentimental, sophisticated or cloaked in mystery (in case you want to quietly allude to an inside joke between you and your friend). No matter the look, the message is clear — you're lucky to have one another.

Pssst ... for even more aspirational picks, check out our gallery of BFF jewelry for sale online.

broken heart brain bff necklace
etsy.com/beatblack
Easy Broken Heart Friendship Necklace

To make the classic broken heart BFF necklace, use a polymer clay, such as Sculpey or Fimo, which can be found at your local craft store. Roll out some clay until it's about 1/4" thick, then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make the heart. If you want, use a toothpick to write "Best Friends" or any message you like on the heart. Then, cut the heart into two equal pieces with a plastic knife and poke one hole all the way through the top of each pendant with a toothpick. This is so you can attach a jump ring and string your charm later. Follow the directions on the clay packaging to harden the clay in the oven. After the clay is done baking, let your charms cool, then insert the jump rings through the hole in each charm and thread chain or ribbon through the ring. You keep one necklace and your friend gets the other!
Buy jump rings for your bff necklace from Jo-Ann Craft and Fabric Stores!
clay PBJ sandwich BFF necklace
babylovespink / amazon.com
PB&J BFF Necklace

To make your necklaces even more unique, sculpt a shape other than a heart. For example, you can make two halves of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Or if you both love cats, make a kitty face out of clay and divide it in two. It's best to start out simple, but you can make anything you can imagine out of clay. Just remember to make the hole in the top of each charm so you can string them.
Get the pb&j bff necklace from Baby Loves Pink
puzzle piece BFF necklace
Tiffany Threadgold / planetgreen.discovery.com
Puzzle Piece BFF Necklaces

If you're not into getting clay under your nails, there are other ways to commemorate BFF time without getting so artsy-craftsy. One way is to poke holes in two adjoining puzzle pieces and add a jump ring to each one to make pendants. You can leave the puzzle pieces as-is, or embellish them with paint or glitter.
Learn to make your own puzzle piece bff necklace from Planet Green!
polymer bead bff jewelry
playclay.com
Beaded BFF Jewelry

Making beaded necklaces out of polymer clay is usually considered a kids' party activity, but it can easily be transformed into a fun evening for adults. You just need assorted colors of polymer clay, toothpicks and wine. Just roll a small bit of clay into a sphere, or whatever shape you like. For a marbled effect, roll two or more colors of clay together, but don't blend them too well or else you'll just get a dull brown or gray color. Make a hole all the way through the bead with a toothpick, and bake according to the directions on the package. Once the beads have been baked and cooled, share the beads to make each other necklaces by stringing them onto embroidery floss.
Buy polymer clay for your DIY bff jewelry from Polymer Clay Superstore!
vintage pendant bff necklaces
crafter.org/milesapart714
Vintage Pendant BFF Jewelry

You could also make pendants out of other jewelry. Go through your jewelry boxes and set aside anything that's broken, you don't wear anymore or earrings that don't have their mate. If you don't like the selection of trinkets you have on hand, go to a resale shop and scour the interesting pieces. You can easily convert earrings, bracelets, brooches or parts of necklaces into one-of-a-kind new creations.
Get other tips for recycling broken or unwanted jewelry from Tip Junkie!



Log-in to Post a Comment: Craftfoxes shadow Google shadow

Responses

(3 comments)
  • by buggalcrafts
    User profile
    buggalcrafts

    Like the cookie cutter heart necklaces - love everything cookie cutter-ish!

  • by joseyb
    User profile
    joseyb

    I love the vintage pendants, small enough that you can wear it all the time. This would be a great gift to give to a little cousin or daughter. I remember in elementary school loving bff necklaces!

  • by southerndropout
    User profile
    southerndropout

    love the unique options!