How to Make a Pendant Necklace: 5 Easy Ways for Kids

A pendant necklace is one of the most satisfying first jewelry projects, because a child chooses one special piece and turns it into something another person can wear. This guide covers five ways to make one at home, from a photo pendant under glass to an air-dry clay charm. It also covers the part most tutorials skip: how to attach the pendant, how long the cord should be, and what to check before anyone wears it.

Quick Answer

To make a pendant necklace, you need three things: a focal piece, a way to hang it (a hole, a bail, or a wire loop), and a cord or chain. Thread the cord straight through the bail for the simplest version, or add a jump ring so the pendant swings freely. Air-dry clay is the easiest starting point for most kids. Check the length and the closure before anyone wears it.

Table of Contents

• Choose your method
• What you need
• Method 1: Photo pendant under glass
• Method 2: Air-dry clay charm
• Method 3: Knotted cord pendant
• Method 4: Beaded pendant
• Method 5: Simple wire wrap
• How to attach the pendant
• Getting the length right
• Before anyone wears it
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

Choose your method

Each method gives a different result. Let your child choose based on what they enjoy doing, not only on how the finished piece looks.

Method	Tools needed	Good starting age	Look and feel
Photo pendant under glass	Scissors and glue	8 and up	Polished, like store-bought jewelry
Air-dry clay charm	None beyond a straw for the hole	5 and up	Personal, painted, chunky
Knotted cord pendant	Scissors (adult)	6 and up, with knot help	Casual and soft
Beaded pendant	Scissors (adult)	6 and up, with large beads	Colorful and patterned
Simple wire wrap	Round-nose pliers and wire cutters	Older children, closely supervised	Handmade and natural

What you need

Gather supplies before your child sits down, and use a tray or shallow dish so small parts do not roll away. Most methods share a few basics:

• Chain or cord. A smooth chain, cotton cord, or satin cord that feels comfortable against skin.
• A bail or jump ring. A bail is the small fitting that lets a pendant hang from a chain or cord. A jump ring is a small metal ring that links the bail to the chain.
• Scissors, handled by an adult for cutting cord.
• A work mat to protect the table.

Each method below lists anything extra it needs. If you would rather use what is already in the house, our ideas for jewelry from things already in the house start with washers and string, and our guide to a child-friendly project shelf helps keep the small parts organized between sessions.

Method 1: Photo pendant under glass

This is the method that looks most like store-bought jewelry, and it needs no pliers. A printed picture sits under a clear glass dome, called a cabochon, inside a metal pendant tray that already has a bail.

1. Choose a picture: a family photo, a pattern, or a child's own drawing, printed small.
2. Spread a thin layer of glue on the picture and press the glass cabochon on top, pushing out any air bubbles.
3. Let it dry, then trim the paper to the shape of the glass, with adult help for younger makers.
4. Spread a thin layer of glue inside the pendant tray, press the glass in firmly, and wipe away any extra glue with a damp cloth.
5. Let it dry fully before threading it onto the chain.

Prefer a ready-to-use setup? The Pendant Jewelry Kit has materials for 10 pendant necklaces and 4 bracelets: pendant trays in four shapes, glass cabochons, silver-plated chains and black cords, glue, and more than 200 printed images, so the only thing left to decide is what goes inside. You can also print your own designs from our free pendant templates, and our Mother's Day guide shows how to turn a photo or a pressed flower into a pendant.

Method 2: Air-dry clay charm

Clay is forgiving, needs no tools, and is the method most families can start tonight. You need air-dry clay, paint, small brushes, and a sealer if you want one.

1. Knead a small piece of clay until it feels even, then press it into a flat shape. Keep it sturdy rather than paper-thin, because thin charms crack.
2. Make the hanging hole while the clay is still soft. A drinking straw pressed straight through makes a clean opening.
3. Let the charm dry according to the clay manufacturer's directions. Do not paint it while the surface still feels damp.
4. Paint the dry charm, letting each color settle before adding dots or details.
5. Seal it if you like, following the sealer's own label for ventilation, number of coats, and drying time. Aerosol sealers are an adult job.
6. Add a jump ring through the hole, then attach it to the chain or cord.

Even sealed, treat a clay charm as a gentle-wear piece and keep it out of water.

Method 3: Knotted cord pendant

Cord gives a relaxed, casual necklace, and it works well with a drilled shell, a large bead, or any charm that already has a hole.

1. Have an adult cut the cord, then thread it through the pendant and slide the pendant to the center.
2. Tie a knot on each side of the pendant so it cannot slide around.
3. Join the two ends with a sliding knot, so the necklace can open over the head and then tighten, or with a clasp.
4. Pull gently on both sides and check that nothing shifts or loosens.

Method 4: Beaded pendant

Beads suit children who love sorting colors and repeating patterns. Use one larger focal bead, a few smaller accent beads, and a cord that fits snugly through the bead holes.

1. Thread the focal bead onto the middle of the cord and tie a knot on each side to hold it in place.
2. Add accent beads on either side in a pattern your child chooses, tying a knot after each group so they stay put.
3. Finish the ends with a sliding knot or a clasp, the same as the cord method.

Large beads are much easier for younger hands to control than tiny seed beads. If you use beading wire and crimp beads instead of cord, match them using the sizes printed on the wire's packaging, and let an adult do the crimping.

Method 5: Simple wire wrap

Wire wrapping takes a little more precision and suits older children with an adult close by. You need craft wire, a drilled stone or large bead, and round-nose pliers.

1. Thread the wire through the pendant hole and center the pendant.
2. Bend both ends upward so they meet above the pendant, then twist them together neatly.
3. Use the pliers to form a small loop at the top.
4. Wrap the remaining wire around the stem below the loop a few times.
5. An adult trims the end and presses it flat against the wrap, then runs a fingertip around the whole piece to check for anything sharp.
6. Attach the loop to the chain directly if it is large enough, or add a jump ring first.

How to attach the pendant

This is the one decision that matters most, and it comes down to two choices.

• Thread through the bail. Simplest, when the bail opening is large enough for the chain or cord to slide through.
• Use a jump ring. A ring between the bail and the chain lets the pendant hang freely, and makes it easy to swap pendants later.

To open a jump ring, grip both sides of the opening and twist the ends sideways, one toward you and one away. Never pull the ends apart, because that bends the ring out of shape. Close it by twisting back until the ends meet flush with no gap.

Getting the length right

Skip standard adult lengths and compare the necklace against the collar of a shirt your child actually wears. Let them move, bend, and turn in it before you decide. A lighter pendant sits better during play, and a sliding knot or extender lets one necklace work at more than one length.

Before anyone wears it

Making a necklace and wearing one are separate questions. A five-year-old can happily make a clay charm; whether they should wear a cord around their neck unsupervised is a different call.

• A cord or chain around the neck can catch. Take necklaces off for sleep, naps, car seats, climbing, and rough play. For younger wearers, a breakaway or magnetic clasp that pulls apart under strain is the safer choice.
• Small parts are a choking hazard. Keep beads, jump rings, glass cabochons, and trimmed ends away from toddlers and pets, and sweep the table when you finish.
• An adult cuts cord and trims wire, and checks every finished piece for sharp ends or open rings.
• Check the closure before every wear, not just before gifting. Hold both ends, support the pendant, and give each connection a gentle tug.
• Follow the label for glue and sealer, including ventilation and drying time.

Troubleshooting

• The jump ring will not close. Reposition your grip and twist the sides until the ends meet flush.
• The clay cracked. Make the next charm thicker and let it dry fully before painting or sealing.
• Glue shows around the edge. Use less glue and wipe the edge with a damp cloth before it sets.
• The cord frays. Cut cleanly and tie the end off with a small knot.
• The pendant keeps flipping around. Center the loop over the pendant, or add a jump ring so it hangs freely.
• The necklace feels heavy. Choose a lighter focal piece or a softer cord.

Make it a gift

Changing one element changes the whole piece. Try a heart for a friend, an oval to frame a drawing, ocean colors for a shell, or a favorite color beside a contrasting bead. When it is finished, a small card makes the gift feel complete: your child can draw the pendant, name it, or write a line about why they chose those colors. Wrap it in tissue paper or a small fabric pouch, and keep the closure easy for the recipient to open.

FAQ

What age can a child start making a pendant necklace?

Most children around five and up can shape and paint a clay charm, with an adult doing the cutting and the closure. Photo pendants under glass suit children around eight and up. Wire wrapping and any work with pliers suits older children with close supervision. The age for making and the age for wearing are separate questions.

Is it safe for a young child to wear a homemade necklace?

Treat a cord or chain around the neck with care. Keep necklaces off during sleep, climbing, car seats, and rough play, use a breakaway or magnetic clasp for younger wearers, and keep small parts away from toddlers and pets. Check the closure before each wear.

How long should a kid's necklace be?

Compare it against the collar of a shirt your child actually wears rather than using an adult length, and let them move in it before you decide. A sliding knot or extender lets one necklace work at more than one length.

How do you attach a pendant to a chain or cord?

Thread the chain straight through the bail when the opening is large enough, or add a jump ring between the bail and the chain so the pendant swings freely. Open a jump ring by twisting the ends sideways, never by pulling them apart.

What can you use as a pendant if you do not have a charm?

A drilled shell, a smooth stone, a large bead, a metal washer, a clay shape with a hole made while it is soft, or a printed picture set under a glass cabochon. All it needs is a hole or a fitting to hang from.

Do you need to seal an air-dry clay pendant?

Sealing helps a painted charm survive handling. Follow the sealer's own label for ventilation, coats, and drying time, and leave aerosol sealers to an adult. Even sealed, keep a clay pendant out of water.

Ready to make one? The Pendant Jewelry Kit has everything for a set of photo pendants in one box, and our jewelry kits offer more projects to try.