Turn your favorite photographs into personalized picture necklaces!
This DIY photo jewelry-making tutorial teaches how to make a personalized picture necklace. A photo necklace is a unique handmade jewelry-making craft and gift idea. Make one-of-a-kind picture necklaces that your loved one will treasure with the easy step-by-step DIY instructions below. Personalized picture necklace charms and pendants are an easy craft and homemade gift idea that even kids can make! Or click on the link to learn how to make backpack charms and DIY photo keychain ornaments.
Related: Easy Thumbprint Heart Necklace
How to Make a Photo Pendant Necklace
Gather the photo jewelry craft supplies you would like to use below and follow the easy step-by-step instructions to make a personalized picture necklace pendant or photo charm. Or make DIY photo keychains, fingerprint art necklaces, or thumbprint heart necklaces with our easy step-by-step craft tutorials.
Related: DIY Keepsake Gifts for Him or Her
DIY Picture Necklace Photo Jewelry Making Supplies
Choose the type of photo necklace shapes and pre-made necklaces you want to use to make photo jewelry from the materials list below. You might also enjoy making a handprint jewelry dish.
- Small personal photographs–one per picture necklace charm
- Detail craft scissors or precision knife and cutting mat
- Diamond glaze, OR, Mod Podge, OR E6000 Craft Adhesive
- Pendant trays with glass cabochon photo jewelry-making options (choose at least one picture pendant from the list below):
- oval photo pendant trays with oval glass cabochons,
- square picture pendant charms and square glass cabochons
- round picture pendant charms with round cabochons
- heart photo pendant charms with round glass cabochons
- Picture charms variety pack; heart, round, square, oval, and teardrop trays with glass cabochons
- Pre-made necklaces for picture pendant charms (choose at least one from the list below or make a hand-beaded necklace):
- Sterling silver snake chain necklace (fit all photo pendant shapes)
- Silver-plated snake chain necklaces (fit all picture pendant shapes)
- Imitation leather cord necklaces (fit all photo charms)
- multi-colored satin silk necklaces (fit into oval-shaped picture charms but not square, circle, heart, or teardrop photo jewelry pendants)
Related: Mother-Daughter Necklace Set
Picture Necklace Video Tutorial
Step-by-step directions for DIY picture necklaces are below this video tutorial. Another fun idea is to make fingerprint art necklaces–click the link for the step-by-step instructions.
Related: Beautiful Homemade Gifts
Photo Necklace Step-By-Step Photo Jewelry Making Tutorial
DIY photo necklaces are easy to make! You may also like DIY photo keychains, fingerprint art necklaces, and thumbprint heart necklaces.
1. Select a photograph (or photographs) to make into picture pendants.
- Select a photograph to make one photo necklace or several pictures to make as many personalized picture necklaces as you would like.
- Put the glass cabochons over photographs to find the images that will work for each personalized photo charm.
2. Trace the glass cabochon over the picture or pictures.
- Place a glass cabochon over each picture and use a marker to trace it for each personalized photo pendant craft.
- Skip to step 3 if you are using a precision knife and cutting mat to cut out the photographs.
3. Cut out the photograph or photographs for each picture charm.
- Use detail scissors or a precision knife and cutting mat to cut out the photograph or photographs for the number of picture pendant necklaces that you want to make.
4. Glue the photograph into the picture pendant or charm.
- Use diamond glaze adhesive to glue each picture into each photo pendant charm.
- Use the back of a spoon to press the photo into the picture pendant charm.
5. Glue the glass cabochon into the photo pendant charm tray.
- Apply diamond glaze adhesive to the flat side of the glass cabochon.
- Place the cabochon on top of the photograph into the pendant tray and press firmly to remove air bubbles.
- Hold firmly for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Wipe edges clean with a damp cloth or water wipe.
- Allow the photo pendant ornament to dry overnight.
6. String the picture pendant onto a necklace.
- Thread a necklace through the loop of the photo pendant to finish your picture necklace.
- Bead a DIY necklace, or use one of the premade necklace options below.
- Sterling silver snake chain necklace (fit all photo pendant shapes)
- Silver-plated snake chain necklaces (fit all picture pendant shapes)
- Imitation leather cord necklaces (fit all photo pendant shapes)
- Multi-colored satin silk necklaces (fit into oval-shaped picture pendants but not square, circle, heart, or teardrop photo pendants)
- Note: If you bead your own necklace, place the photo charm onto the DIY necklace when it is halfway finished. Otherwise, it may not fit over the beads to hang down in the middle.
Related: DIY and Readymade Family Gift Guide
Picture Pendant Necklace Gift Idea That Even Kids Can Make
Turn your favorite pictures into one-of-a-kind picture necklaces that friends and family can treasure for years with this easy photo craft tutorial for kids and adults. DIY Picture necklaces, photo keychains, and fingerprint art necklaces are an easy gift idea for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or a birthday.
You might also enjoy making fingerprint or thumbprint heart necklaces and thumbprint heart keychains–click the links to get the DIY details.
And don’t forget to check out the other beautiful gift ideas kids can make or this list of DIY and ready-made gift ideas for the whole family!
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE.
Diego Lopes says
An absolutely perfect gift idea. Pictures in jewelry? Simply a winner.
nell says
Thank you, Diego!!
Kathleen says
Where is the best place to order my materials from please. Thank you for an6 help…
Nell Regan M.A. says
Hi Kathleen!
You may have noticed that the photo necklace supplies are often written in blue text. These are hyperlinks to the exact picture jewelry supplies that we found on Amazon and used to make the photo necklaces pictured. If you click to purchase, Rhythms of Play will earn a small commission at no cost to you. 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Nell
april says
When I tried this, my pendent has what looks like water spots under it. I’m not sure what I am doing wrong
Nell Regan M.A. says
I’m sorry that you had trouble April. Usually, those spots are air bubbles where the gem has slightly come away from the glue. Do your best to press the photo back onto the gem with massage and it should go away. If not, add a dab of glue just under the photo in that spot and then press and hold it until the photo adheres to the glass gem. I hope that helps!
Nell
Lauren Street says
I had 12 of these ready to go and once I glued them, I had 2 left that were useable. I had one that part of it was dark. A lot of them bled on the sides are became. A few soaked through paper and you could see the texture of the bottom of the bezel coming through. I feel like I wasted money. Any suggestions for next time ?
Nell Regan M.A. says
Hi Lauren, I’m so sorry that your picture charms did not turn out as planned, that is never what I hope to hear. One thing I’ve noticed about making picture jewelry is that it is best to use the glue very sparingly, otherwise, it can puddle and damage the ink of the photo. So, my suggestion is to use less than you think you need.