Paperclip chain necklace DIY
The first step is to gather your materials. You will need a bunch of paperclips. For a necklace that sits nicely around your neck, try to get around twenty to thirty paperclips. The small or medium size ones work best because they feel light and look delicate. If you have colored paperclips, even better. You can mix and match pastel pink, baby blue, mint green, or even neon colors to match your favorite outfits. Do not forget to look for paperclips that are smooth and not too thick, so they are easy to bend. The best part is that you do not need a single tool. No pliers, no wire cutters, no glue. Just your fingers and a little bit of patience.
Now, let us get into the fun part. Take one paperclip and hold it in your hand. Notice how it has two loops, one big and one small. To start your chain, you simply hook the end of a second paperclip through the outer loop of the first one. That is all. You are literally linking them together like you would link a bunch of rings. The trick is to make sure each new paperclip goes through the previous paperclip’s loop before you close it. Here is a helpful way to think about it. Imagine you are making a paper chain out of construction paper, but with metal clips instead. You want the links to be secure, so give each paperclip a gentle squeeze after you hook it. This will help it stay in place and keep your necklace from falling apart.
Continue adding paperclips one by one. Each time, take a new paperclip, slip its end through the loop of the last one you added, and then push it through until it clicks into place. After about ten paperclips, hold the chain up to your neck to see how long it is. You can always add more or take a few off if it feels too long or too tight. A good necklace length for most tween girls is somewhere around sixteen to eighteen inches. That usually means using about thirty small paperclips. But do not stress about the exact number. You can even make a longer chain and wrap it twice around your wrist to make a bracelet.
Once your chain is the perfect length, you need to close it into a circle. To do this, take the last paperclip and hook it through the first paperclip’s loop. Just like you did with all the others. Give it a gentle squeeze, and boom, you have a necklace. It is actually that simple. You made a real piece of jewelry out of office supplies. That is a pretty awesome hack if you ask me.
But wait, there is more. You can take this paperclip chain to the next level by adding some fun extras. Since you are not using tools, think about things you can push onto the paperclips. Small pony beads, for example, can slide right onto the end of a paperclip before you hook it. That way, you can add a pop of color every few links. You could also use tiny washers or even a small charm from an old bracelet. Just slide it onto the loop and continue. Another cool idea is to thread a colorful ribbon through the chain and tie it in a bow at the back instead of closing it with a paperclip. That gives your necklace a whole different vibe. The possibilities are endless, and that is the best part of making your own jewelry.
One thing to remember is to be gentle with your new necklace. Paperclips are not as strong as real metal chains, so they can bend if you pull on them too hard. When you take it off, unhook the last link instead of stretching it over your head. That will keep your creation looking neat and ready to wear again tomorrow. Also, you might want to store your paperclip necklace flat in a jewelry box or on a hook, so it does not get tangled in your other accessories.
Now you have a brand new fashion statement that cost you almost nothing. You can make them in different colors to match every outfit or give them as friendship gifts to your besties. They will be so impressed that you made them by hand with zero tools. So next time you are doing homework and feel a little bored, grab a few paperclips and start clipping. You are officially a jewelry maker, and your collection is just beginning.