DIY Mom Necklace Gift Idea Kids Can Make

A DIY Mom necklace is an easy jewelry making craft for kids, teens, and adults. Spell out mom, mum or grandma in beads for a birthday, Christmas or Mother’s Day gift idea that even kids can make!

Mom’s, grandma’s and nana’s love receiving handmade keepsake gifts from their kids and grandkids. Another great gift idea for mom and grandma is this mother-daughter necklace or bracelet set.

Related: DIY Acorn Marble Necklace

How to Make a DIY Mom Necklace

A DIY mom necklace isn’t just for mom or mum. The kids can make one for grandma or nana too!

Young children will need some assistance starting and finishing their DIY mom necklace, while older children and teens will be able to complete the project from start to the finish on their own.

Make sure you read through the directions before starting this beginning beaded jewelry making project.

Related: Ultimate Family Gift Guide

DIY Necklace Materials

DIY Mom Necklace Making Material Options

Monofilament bead cord OR Flexible beading wire OR Stretch cord
Crimp pliers AND Crimp beads OR Bent nose jewelry pliers AND Mixed metal clamshell knot covers
Barrel clasps OR lobster clasps and jump rings OR toggle Clasps, ETC.
Wire nippers OR scissors
Beadboard (optional)

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. Click on the link for the directions. The materials needed above are also listed with the tutorials.

Gemstone Bead Options for DIY Mom Necklace

We used 8mm round gemstone beads for this project because they look the best with the alphabet beads. 8mm Faceted beads would work just as easily.

10mm round gemstone beads may be better for your child if they have never strung beads before and would still be a size that would look good with the alphabet beads. These multi-colored lava-rock gemstone beads come in multiple sizes including 8mm and 10mm as another option.

There are a lot more gemstone options and other beads you can use besides gemstones than the ones that I have listed below. Some of the links below have more than one gemstone option available. Click through to see them all.

Alphabet Beads for DIY Mom Necklace

Round Plastic Alphabet Bead Options:

Multicolor on white (These are the kind 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 – black on white (These are 10mm beads and are a tad bigger than most. Perfect for little hands.)
Ceramic – multicolor on white
Sterling silver ‘A’ (more letters can be found HERE)

Heart Bead Options for DIY Necklace

Related: Alphabet Bead Necklace

DIY Mom Necklace Step by Step Tutorial

Stringing beads is a great way for kids 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. They can also make a name necklace!

Step 1 – Gather Materials Needed to Make DIY Mom Necklace

Choose the gemstone beads, alphabet beads, heart beads, and type of clasp that you would like to use. Use one type or multiple types of gemstones. Several options are listed in the DIY Necklace materials section above.

Step 2 – Start DIY 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. There are step by step directions for each method.

Step 3 – String Gemstone Beads

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 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

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 Necklace

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.