Let's Make Some Bamboo Pendants!

Materials needed:

Bamboo tiles 7/8" wide by 1 1/2" long. Cut in half or used whole.
Craft or artist's acrylic paints.
Paint brush.
Water soluble clear varnish.
Large nails (used as holders)
Plaid raised gold glitter.
Beads
Cotton or hemp cord.
Barrel clasps
Crimpers.
Pliers.
Wire.

Half Tile Springtime Pendant

I use small a mitre box and saw to cut the bamboo tiles in half. The mitre box and saw can be purchased anywhere dollhouse wood and accessories are sold. However, you can just as easily use the whole bamboo pendant and paint and bead it the same way.

1. Some of the materials needed. Clear water soluable varnish. Artist's or craft acrylic paints. Bamboo tiles. Paintbrush. Long nails to use for handles.



2. Paint the white acrylic base coat. You may need two coats to cover completely. Notice I'm using one of the nails jammed into one of the holes in the tile as a handy handle.



3. Painting simple colored daisies in blue, pink, lavender. Use colors of your choice.



4. I added a tiny yellow butterfly and highlighted the tips of the daisies with darker shades of the same color of each daisy. Add some tiny green strokes for leaves.



5. Sign and date the back and paint an accent daisy. Then use a toothpick to put a drop of raised gold glitter into the center of each daisy front and back. The glitter is actually for scrapbooking and is made by Plaid.



6. Finished tile - ready to varnish and then bead and string.



7. Materials needed. Black hemp cord. Goldtoned barrel clasp and two crimps. A piece of wire shaped into a "v" to string the cord thru the beads...use the wire as you might use a needle. Raspberry colored glass beads, one small golden heart dangle, one golden filigree ball.



8. Starting at the top, string one raspberry glass bead and then push your wire "needle" through one of the holes at the top of the bamboo tile. At the bottom, string two raspberry glass beads, the heart dangle and two raspberry glass beads. Then push your wire needle through the next hole in the bottom of the bamboo tile and up through the top. String another raspberry bead and the gold filigree ball. Now take your wire needle and switch it to the other end of the cord...string the needle thru the filigree ball again. You may need the pliers to pull the needle thru the ball since the threads will be doubled.



9. Even out the two ends of the cord so they are the same length. Then measure. I wanted my cord to be approximately 18 inches so I measured to 9 1/2 inches and cut both cords to that length.



10. Push one end of the cord thru the ring on one side of a barrel clasp. Bend the cord over and secure it with a crimp. The crimps are generally "U" shaped and you place the cords in it and then crimp it shut with your pliers. Do the same with the other end of the cord. Trim the cords right up to the crimps.



11. Finished bamboo pendant necklace!



NOW THAT Y OU KNOW THE BASICS, USE YOUR IMAGINATION AND GO WILD!!!

The pendant is a regular bamboo tile cut in half and now it contains a tiny print of a picture of my cat, Angel. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it. If you would like one with a picture of your pet, child, grandchild, etc. just contact me. If I can use your photos either thru email or by regular mail (all photos will be returned) I can make you a charming customized half tile pendant or whole tile pendant for only $12.99 plus shipping.

Mothers...grandmothers, can you stand it? Wear pictures of your child or grandchild for all the world to see :-)