Ring around the collar necklace {made!}

Collars are popping up everywhere these days ... peter pan, lace, velvet ... I love them all!  They add a bit of playful whimsy and tend to make an outfit look a little bit less serious.  With a small collection jewelry tools, some chain, and jump rings, you can make a collar necklace in less than an hour!  This is such a simple project and, when you are finished, you can wear it with just about anything your heart desires.

What you'll need:

• 24" of chain
• 4 smaller sized (4-5mm) open jump rings
• 1 larger jump ring (8-9mm)
• Lobster claw clasp
• Jewelry tools: a bent nose needle-nose pliers, flat nose pliers, and a wire cutter (or you can just buy a beginners set)

STEP 1:  Take your chain and hold it loosely around your neck to determine the length you want for your necklace.  NOTE: collar necklaces are meant to be worn a bit closer to the base of your neck, so you will most likely make your collar necklace shorter than a traditional necklace.  Using your wire cutters, cut the chain to your desired length.

STEP 2:  Finish your necklace by attaching the large jump ring to one end of the chain.  On the other end, attach your clasp with a smaller jump ring.  NOTE: this is where having jewelry tools makes light work ... use your bent needle nose pliers to firmly grasp on side of the jump ring.  Then, using your flat nose pliers, twist the jump ring apart.  Repeat to close. 

STEP 3:  Now it is time to add the "collars" to your necklace.  Using the remaining chain, cut two equal lengths (~ 5" each).  Find the exact middle of your necklace (folding the necklace in half).  Open one of your smaller jump rings and, using your bent nose pliers to hold the jump ring loop one end of one "collar" in followed by the center point of your necklace followed by one end of the other "collar".

STEP 4:  Attach the other ends of each piece of "collar" to the necklace using your remaining jump rings.

Viola!  Your collar necklace is ready for the world :)