Tom Binns is easily my favorite jewelry designer. From his safety pin cuffs (you can see me wearing one in practically every outfit post) to his brilliantly colored necklaces (see here & here), I just cannot get enough of his designs. Unfortunately, many of his pieces are out of my price range and I am thus forced to sit and stare at them like a puppy dog in a window hoping that my pleading eyes will magically place one of his swarovski crystal necklaces around my neck. I realize that this plan is a bit ridiculous (ok, a lot ridiculous) so I decided to take matters into my own hands and created a multi-layered necklace inspired by his designs. Since I don’t have access to swarovski crystals, I improvised with candy colored beads and a design that imitates many of his pieces.

You will need:

• atleast three different kinds of beads
• 24 gauge craft wire, metallic flex wire and illusion cord
• pliers, metal clippers, tweezers
• lobster claw clasp and 5 inches of gold round link chain

1. After deciding which bead you want to use as the main part of your necklace, string them onto the illusion cord (I strung about 36 beads) and fasten one end of the cord to the lobster claw and the other end to the gold round link chain.

2. String the same kind of beads from Step 1 onto metallic flex wire (I strung about 30 beads). Fasten each end of the metallic flex wire to the strand you made in Step 1. I counted six beads in on each side of the first strand before fastening the second strand.

3. Bend craft wire into half moon shape and string on the next set of beads (I strung about 18). Make two of these.

4. Fasten the craft wire onto the strand of beads you made in Step 2. I counted six beads in before clasping the craft wire and left six beads between the two sets of craft wire.

5. Finally, using the illusion cord, fasten your ornamental beads into the middle of each half moon and one in the center of the necklace.

Voila!