Easy Mother’s Day Pendants DIY

This Mother’s Day craft is so easy and fun, and it’s sure to be a great gift because the ones I made have practically walked themselves right off my desk into people’s hands. Everyone wants me to make them one and it’s so easy!

Supplies for Mother’s Day Pendant:

1. large flat clear marbles – you can buy these at most craft stores in the floral section.
2. wire*, something easy to bend
3. some beads for extra bling
4. 1-inch photos cut into circles
5. clear-drying glue (modge podge is ideal)
6. paint brush
7. cording
8. needle-nosed pliers*
9. wire cutters*

Instructions for Mother’s Day Pendant:

First you’ll make the bauble. Paint the flat side of your marble with a thin layer of glue. Then gently put your photo face down onto the painted glue. Try not to move it to much because sometimes glue will remove toner (if it’s a printed photo).  Next paint another layer of glue over the top of the photo. Let this dry.

When the bauble is dry, get your wire and start wrapping it around the bauble. I didn’t come up with a magical method for this wrapping. I just kind of eyeballed it. I basically tried to keep my wire somewhat towards the edges of the marble and not going right through the center of the photo but it’s not a perfect science.  When I was done wrapping I made sure to leave enough room at both ends to create wire loops at the top and the bottom. The top loop was for the cord for the necklace to go through and the bottom loop was for a dangling decorative bead. I used needle-nosed pliers to manipulate my wire and tucked the loose (sharp) ends in as close to the back of the pendant as I could. Of course the wire cutters are for snipping it close. I’m sure anyone with jewelry experience could come up with a better way to do this but it worked for me.

You could also easily replace the cording with jewelry chain and facets depending on your jewelry-making skills.

Once it’s all crafted, wrap up your necklace in a pretty box with a bow and present it to your lovely mother! Or present it to yourself, like I did. Happy Mother’s Day! I’m off to make eleventy-million more Mother’s Day pendants!

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Difficulty Level: moderately easy
Appropriate Age levels:  any age for painting the photos onto the marbles, but leave the wire cutting and wire manipulation to teenagers and older. Wire can be really sharp.

* wire, wire-cutters and needle-nosed pliers can be dangerous. Be careful with that sharp wire.

Find more Mother’s Day ideas here:

• Printable Mother’s Day Gift Coupons from the Kids
• Hand Printed Head Scarf for Mother’s Day
• Mother’s Day Gift: Hand Print Lavender Sachets