Making a longer chain

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about lengthening store-bought chains to make them either fit or be a desired length.

The simplest solution honestly is a chain extender. I don’t currently offer them, although I can make them for simple chains and beaded necklaces, but you can find them in jewelry stores and mail order catalogs from time to time. You can also make your own!

A chain extender is a section of chain with a clasp on one end and a jump ring or something similar on the other end. Most of the ones I have seen are six inches long, but if you make your own, then you can make it the length you want. The extender attaches to the necklace by attaching the jump ring end to the necklace’s clasp and the clasp end to the necklace’s jump ring. You then only have to undo one of the clasps to put the necklace on or take it off.

Recreating the look: Yu-Gi-Oh

I am an oversized kid. I love to watch cartoons. I have a lot of respect for animators and voice actors; they don’t have the easiest jobs in the world.

One of my current favorites is Yu-Gi-Oh. No rhyme or reason for it, I just seem to like the show (and the manga, for that matter). Two of my favorite characters wear matching lockets, each with a picture of the other in it. The lockets themselves look like cards from the game played by most of the characters in the show.

I have often thought about attempting to create one of them, but I’m having a difficult time picturing exactly how it would work. I’d use Sculpey to do it. That’s the easy part. Create one side of the locket with an opening to slide a copy of one of the pictures in, and then create a very stable loop to string the locket. Create the other with the card front.

The problem comes in trying to design the hinge so that it doesn’t detract from the look of the locket. I briefly considered attaching metal hinges to it, but that would complicate the baking process (among other things). I’m currently trying to design a Sculpey solution, but I’m afraid if the sturdiness issue. Also, I’d have to figure out how to put a pin in it.

The point of the locket is withstand being worn constantly, and to be functional. This is going to take a lot more planning, I suspect.