Learn how to make a personalized necklace for mom (mum) or grandma, with this easy beginning jewelry making tutorial. A grandma or mom necklace makes an easy homemade gift idea for Mother’s day, Christmas, or her birthday!
Mom’s, grandma’s and nana’s love receiving handmade keepsake gifts from their children and grandchildren.
If you would like one too, make a mother-daughter necklace or bracelet set!
Related: How to Start and Finish A Beaded Necklace or Bracelet
Related: DIY Acorn Marble Necklace
How to Make a Personalized Necklace for Mom
A DIY mom necklace isn’t just for mom or mum. You can make one for grandma or nana too!
Young children may need some assistance starting and finishing their homemade mom necklace, while older children, teens, and adults will be able to complete this beginning jewelry making project from start to finish on their own.
Make sure you read through the directions before starting this beginning beaded jewelry making project.
Related: Ultimate Family Gift Guide
Related: Picture Necklace Photo Jewelry Tutorial
DIY Mom Necklace Materials
Mom Necklace Jewelry Making Material Options
- Monofilament bead cord OR Flexible beading wire OR Stretch cord
- Crimp pliers AND Crimp beads OR Bent nose jewelry pliers AND Clamshell knot covers Clamshell knot covers
- Barrel clasps OR lobster clasps and jump rings OR toggle Clasps, ETC.
- Wire nippers OR craft scissors
- Beadboard (optional)
Clamshell knot covers
Related: Thumbprint Heart Necklace Tutorial
Bead Options for Mom Necklace or Bracelet
We used 8mm round gemstone beads
for this project. 8mm faceted glass beads
would work just as well.
If you are assisting a child that has never strung beads before, 10mm round gemstone beads may be a better size, and, would still look good with the alphabet beads. These multi-colored lava-rock gemstone beads come in multiple sizes including 8mm and 10mm as another option.
You can also use pony beads
, colored wooden beads
or unfinished wooden beads
. Unfinished wooden beads can be colored or dyed to make them any color you wish, and come in sizes from 4mm to 30mm. Larger wooden beads make it easy for beginning jewelry makers to string a simple chunky necklace or bracelet for mom or grandma.
Related: Painted Wooden Spool Necklace
Personalized Birthstone Necklace for Mom
For an extra special touch, use birthstones to make a personalized mom necklace or bracelet!
Gemstones that are associated with each month are called birthstones. A birthstone is, therefore, a gemstone that represents the month that a person was born. There is at least one birthstone associated with each month of the year.
If you would like to design birthstone necklace for mom, we have listed each gemstone by month for you to choose from below. Use mom or grandma’s birthstone and or her children’s and grandchildren’s birthstones to string a personalized necklace just for her.
If you are more interested in the color of your necklace than birthstones by month, there are a lot more gemstone beads and glass bead options that you can use besides the gemstones listed below.
Gemstones or Birthstones by Month of the Year
- January – Garnet
- February – Amethyst
- March – Aquamarine or Bloodstone
- April – Diamond (Can substitute Rock Crystal)
- May – Emerald
- June – Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone
- July – Ruby & Carnelian
- August – Peridot
- September – Sapphire
- October – Opal & Tourmaline
- November – Topaz & Citrine
- December – Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon
or 
(Can substitute 
)
, 
& 
& 
& 
& 
, 
Another one of my favorite gemstones to use for a mom or grandma necklace is rose quartz
. Rose quartz
is the stone of the heart and represents unconditional love. The pink and blue necklace pictured is made with 8mm rose quartz
and aquamarine
gemstones.
My daughter made it for me for Mother’s Day a few years ago, and it is still one of my favorite necklaces because it pairs well with another longer necklace like THIS or THIS
.
I love how the word “M ❤️M” shifts around and is not always sitting at the bottom of it. Just make sure that when you put it on is not upside down, or it will read “wow” with an upside down heart–lol!!
If mom has more than one child or you’d like to use a rainbow of gemstones to make birthstone jewelry for mom, try this gorgeous collection of mixed natural gemstones or, natural multi-color Amazonite.
Alphabet Beads for Mom Necklace DIY
Round Plastic Alphabet Bead Options:
- Multicolor on white (These are the alphabet beads that we used.)
- Black on white
- White on black
- Black on silver
- Black on gold
Square Plastic Alphabet Bead Options:
Ceramic, Wood and Sterling Silver Alphabet Bead Options
- Wooden alphabet beads (These are 10mm beads and are a tad bigger than most. Perfect for little hands)
- Ceramic alphabet beads
- Sterling silver alphabet cube beads)
(These are 10mm beads and are a tad bigger than most. Perfect for little hands)
Heart Bead Options for DIY Necklace
Related: Alphabet Bead Necklace
Handmade Mom Necklace Step by Step Tutorial
Stringing beads is a great way for children (and older adults) to practice fine motor skills and develop the fine motor muscles in the hand. Creating patterns and counting out beads will create even more learning opportunities for children. Children can also make a name necklace as a preliteracy activity.
Step 1 – Gather Materials Needed to Make homemade Mom or Grandma Necklace
Choose the gemstone beads, alphabet beads, heart beads, and type of clasp that you would like to use from the bead supply lists provided in the materials section. Use one type or multiple types of beads–you design the necklace with the type of beads that you like.
For an extra special touch, use children’s and/or grandchildren’s birth month gemstones to make this personalized necklace for mom or grandma.
Step 2 – How to Start Mom Necklace
Start, or help your child start their beaded gemstone mom necklace using one of the three methods in how to start and finish a beaded necklace or bracelet. You will find step by step directions for each method with photo tutorials that make it easy.
Step 3 – String Gemstone Beads onto Personalized Necklace for Mom
Decide how long you would like the “mom necklace” to be. Necklace lengths are typically 14, 16, 18, 20, and 24 inches long. If you are using more than one type of gemstone decide on the pattern that you will string. Placing beads in patterns on a bead board makes it easy to test ideas.
Step 4 – Use Alphabet Beads to String Mom, Mum, Grandma, or Nana onto the Necklace
Use your favorite kind of alphabet beads listed above to string “Mom,” “Mum,” “Grandma,” or “Nana” onto the necklace when you are about halfway finished with it.
As an example, if you are making a 16-inch necklace, string the alphabet beads onto the necklace when it is 7 3/4 inches long. Once again, using a bead board makes this easy.
Feel free to use hearts on both sides of “Mom or Mum” or use a heart instead of an “O” or a “U.” The same goes for grandma and nana necklaces. Feel free to use a few hearts in them too. <3
Step 5 – Finish Stringing Gemstone Beads onto the Mom Necklace
Make sure to string the same number of beads that you placed on the other side of M-O-M and your good to go.
Step 6 – Finish Personalized Necklace for Mom
Complete the necklace using the same method you started with. Hop on over to the step by step jewelry making tutorial on how to start and finish a beaded necklace.
Related: Fingerprint Flower Necklaces
Mum or Mom Necklace Tutorial
A DIY mom, grandma or nana necklace makes a perfect homemade Mother’s Day gift idea that kids can make.
Mom’s love receiving homemade personalized keepsake gifts from their daughters and sons, while grandmas love gifts from their grandkids.
Remember, there are three simple ways to start and finish a necklace for this DIY necklace jewelry project. Infinity, using crimp beads and pliers, or clamshell knot covers.
You can even make mother-daughter or BFF, necklace or bracelet sets!
For more fun gift ideas check out Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make and Gifts for Mom That Will Put You in the Good Book.
You may also like this gorgeous collection of Jewelry and Adornments for Her.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
More Homemade Necklace and Bracelet Gift Ideas for Mom
- Alphabet Bead Necklace Craft for Kids
- Picture Necklace Photo Jewelry Tutorial
- Fingerprint Flower Necklace and Keychain Charms
- Wooden Bead Bracelet
- Painted Wooden Spool Necklace
- Fingerprint Art Necklaces
- Thumbprint Heart Necklaces
If You Liked This Mother’s Day Necklace Tutorial, You May Also Like:
- Thumbprint Heart Crafts and Gift Ideas
- Personalized Candle Holder for Mother’s Day
- Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make
- Gifts for Mom That Will Put You in the Good Book
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