Handmade Gift Ideas: Vintage Necklace Frame

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read my Disclosure Policy.

Do you need a housewarming or girlfriend gift?

I have an easy to make gift giving idea for you.

I made this for my mom for Mother’s Day.

Mothers Day gift ideas to make - handmade gift ideas pearl frame

A frame covered in a old and broken strands of pearls.

The materials I used to make this frame came from old junk. An old photo frame that had lost its luster, pearls I found for a few dollars at a flea market and hot glue were all I needed.

I used a pearl necklace since it is very feminine.  The frame would also be great as a bridal gift or to use as place card holders for an elegant dinner party.

Try other styles of beaded necklaces to create truly unique frames to give – a colorful necklace into a child’s frame, a crystal necklace for a trendy modern look.  Your options are wide open.

supplies needed:

  • Any frame – I used a 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ frame
  • Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
  • 18″ vintage pearl necklace or 2 shorter ones, for larger frames more necklaces will be needed

1.  Remove glass and back of frame.

2.  Put a thick line of hot glue on the front of the frame.  Lay one opened end of necklace on the hot glue.  Press gently. Add more hot glue, continue gluing necklace onto front of frame, then sides, then back of frame.  If second necklace is needed, start where first one ends.

Affordable gift ideas to make from women

3.  After frame has been covered, start overlapping necklace by putting hot glue on top of the first layer of pearls until desired thickness is achieved. Make sure clasps of necklaces are covered or cut them off do you don’t see them once necklace is securely glued to frame.  Trim excess.

Gift-ideas-to-make-for-woman

4.  In random spots or a space, hot glue individual beads to cover or as accents.

Mother's Day gift idea that uses an old photo frame and a pearl necklace

5. Reassemble frame and add photo.  I found an old snapshot of my mother holding my twin sister, Carol and I when we were infants.  My brother was also in the picture, but he didn’t quite fit, so I cut him off, sorry  Greg.  

Photo Frame ideas


What are you giving your mom this year? 

We all need ideas and love handmade gift ideas, so please share any creative ideas you are going to do this year or have done in the past to help your Mom celebrate Mother’s Day.

Repurpose an old frame and a new or vintage necklace to create this pretty frame to give a mom as a Mother's Day gift. It makes a great teacher gift, too. | In My Own Style

You May Also Like:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments

  1. I love this idea! I’ve been holding on to some of my mother’s costume jewelry from the 1960s and ’70s for years. Sadly, it’s been living in a box – I know it’s there, but rarely take it out to look at it and appreciate it. This project will finally put that jewelry to good use. P. S. Greg needs his own frame! #StayHome #FlattenTheCurve #StayHealthyMyFriends

    1. Hi Regina – I don’t have a photo, but I even covered a large frame once with beaded necklaces. Done the same way, just on a larger scale. I gave it to my sister. I need to find Greg a frame. I still have his cut-off image. :-) Stay well.

  2. I made one for my mother in law for a wedding gift when my husband and I got married 10/15/16. She loved it.

  3. Great idea. I’ve used some of my mother’s old costume jewelry to frame a picture of her wearing it. it made a nice memento.

  4. This looks so pretty, and elegant for Mother’s Day. I think I’ll try this technique on some napkin holders for Mother’s Day.

  5. Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!

    Those are beautiful! And thank you for the reminder. I haven’t even started thinking about what to get my Mom for Mother’s Day (school has been intense this spring, that’s my excuse :) ).

  6. Thanks for your bathroom help! I did you semi-gloss…which is why it looks so horrible. I like the idea of white beadboard..I’ve done that in the other two. LOVE the idea of using their artwork. THANK YOU!!!

  7. I love this! I just saw strands of pearls at a local beadshop yesterday…but wasn’t sure what to do with them.

    My Mom’s name is Pearl …wouldn’t that be a cute gift?

    I may have to do something like that for her :)

  8. Great idea!! I may have to make one of my own with one of my mom’s necklaces. Mother’s day is usually a rough one for me…as I’ve lost two moms. I try to focus on my kids….
    Julie