Shells are probably among the most popular souvenirs when you've spent your vacation at the beach. They come in countless shapes and are perfect for crafting. If you want to bring a bit of that beach and vacation feeling home, you can create your own unique shell jewelry. This guide shows you how to make extraordinary shell jewelry.
Step-by-step Guide for Shell Jewelry
1. Drilling Shells
To prepare your shells for the jewelry, you need to drill them. Take care, as shell calcite is stable but sensitive to pressure. Select shells according to the intended jewelry, whether earrings or pendants, and carefully drill a hole. Make sure the hole is neither too close to the edge nor too far inside. Tip: Stabilize the drill on a tabletop for more precision and be patient while it penetrates the surface.
2. Variant for Flat, Large Shells
Take three large, flat shells and drill a hole at the top center of each. Thread the desired beads onto a prism pin and insert it through the hole in the shell. Use pliers to shape the protruding end of the pin into a loop. If it's too long, trim it with side cutters. Before closing the loop, attach an eye pin, on which beads are also threaded. At the end loop, the ear hook will be attached.
For pendants, use a similar technique, but employ a prism pin and a jump ring. Through the connection ring, you can thread a chain.
3. Variant for Twisted Shells
Twisted shells require extra care when attaching beads. Here, you drill only one hole for the jump ring, to which beads with a prism pin and the ear hooks are attached. In the necklace, the ear hook and beads were attached separately. Ensure that the drilled holes are not placed too close together to allow for an aesthetically pleasing hang of the elements. Depending on the shell shape, you can place beads inside or outside.
Have fun making your own shell jewelry!
Now that you know exactly how it's done, it's time to start your own jewelry creations! Visit our online shop to purchase all the materials you need and start today!
