Your cameo picture necklace will be an instant classic. Cameos are traditionally hand carved from materials including shells and agate. Today, you can find machine made cameos or make cameos at home using polymer clay. Some even use photographs to make personal cameos.
Cameo Necklaces for Kids
If you are looking for an easy cameo necklace project that you can help your child make, look no further. With just a few supplies and a picture, you can create a pretty cameo necklace that will be a keepsake for years to come.
First, you will need to buy a marking tag. Marking tags are also called key tags or play tags. You should be able to find these tags at office supply or art supply stores.
Next find a picture that you like. You will have to reduce it so that when the picture is trimmed, you can glue it to the tag. Or, your child might draw a picture that you can reduce for a very personal cameo.
After you have glued the picture onto the tag, you can add decorations. This is where your child can get really creative. Glue a pretty ribbon on the top of the tag or prefer to add rhinestones around the picture.
String the cameo tag on a long piece of ribbon. If you want a more complex necklace, braid different colors of embroidery thread together to use instead of the ribbon.
Cameo Necklaces for You
Say that you have found a vintage cameo or bought a mounted cameo that you like. You can, of course, simply string it on a gold, copper or silver chain for a simple, elegant look.
You can also make embellish your cameo necklace for a look that is unique to you. Think about what other pieces of stray jewelry you have in your jewelry box. Do you have any broken necklaces that you keep on planning to fix? How about an old locket or some charms that you never got around to putting on a necklace or bracelet? You can even pull the clips off of the backs of old clip earrings and string the earrings in your design. This is like a scavenger hunt to see what you can “recycle.”
Take the cameo to your local crafts store to get recommendations for the best material to use to make the necklace. This will depend, in part, on the size and the weight of your cameo and the other pieces of jewelry that you are using to complete your necklace. The person who is helping you at the crafts store will also be able to recommend the best way to finish your necklace.