Turn your favorite photographs into personalized picture necklaces!
Learn how to make a personalized picture necklace with this DIY photo jewelry-making tutorial. 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 these quick and easy step-by-step instructions. Personalized picture necklace charms are an easy craft and homemade gift idea that even kids can make!
Related: 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.
You may also like DIY photo keychains, fingerprint art necklaces, or thumbprint heart necklaces.
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 that you would like to use to make photo jewelry from the materials list below.
- 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 your own 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: Handprint Jewelry Dish Kids Can Make
Related: Mother-Daughter Necklace Set
Picture Necklace Video Tutorial
You can find the step-by-step written directions for DIY art necklaces below the 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.
Step 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 to.
- Put the glass cabochons over photographs to find the images the ones that will work for each personalized photo charm.
Step 2 – Trace 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.
Step 3 – Cut out the photograph or photographs
- 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.
Step 4 – Glue the photograph into the Picture Pendant Charms
- Use diamond glaze adhesive to glue each picture into each photo pendant charm.
- If needed, use the back of a spoon to gently press the photo into the picture pendant charm.
Step 5 – Glue Glass Cabochon to the Photo Pendant Charms
- Apply diamond glaze adhesive to the flat side of glass cabochon
- Place the cabochon into the pendant tray on top of the photograph and press down firmly to remove air bubbles.
- Hold firmly for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Wipe edges clean with a damp cloth or water wipe.
- Allow photo pendant ornament to dry overnight.
Step 6 – Place the Picture Pendant onto a Necklace
- Thread a necklace through the loop of the photo pendant to finish your picture necklace.
- Bead your own 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 make sure to place the photo charm onto the 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
DIY Picture necklaces, photo keychains, and fingerprint art necklaces make an easy gift idea for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or a birthday.
Turn your favorite pictures into one-of-a-kind picture necklaces that friends and family will treasure for years to come!
You may also like these easy fingerprint or thumbprint heart necklaces or thumbprint heart keychains.
Don’t forget to pop over to check out all of the other beautiful gift ideas kids can make and DIY and ready-made gift ideas for the whole family!
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE.
An absolutely perfect gift idea. Pictures in jewelry? Simply a winner.
Thank you, Diego!!
Where is the best place to order my materials from please. Thank you for an6 help…
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
When I tried this, my pendent has what looks like water spots under it. I’m not sure what I am doing wrong
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
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 ?
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.