Fans awaiting the October release of the final Beautiful Creatures novel, Beautiful Redemption, and the 2013 release of the movie adaptation can get crafty to help them pass the time.
In the Beautiful Creatures novels, one of the most iconic symbols is Lena's necklace -- described as "a long silver chain around her neck, with tons of stuff dangling from it — a plastic ring from a bubblegum machine, a safety pin, and a bunch of other junk."
Authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have created their own replicas of Lena's necklace, and have been known to wear them at book signings. But crafty fans can create their own version and even personalize them.
To create your own version of Lena's necklace, start with a long chain -- which you can purchase from a store with a clasp and jump ring already attached, or make your own using jewelry-making supplies from your local craft store. From there, it's simply a matter of adding a variety of eclectic charms.
If you want to make a necklace like the one worn by Lena in Beautiful Creatures, some of the charms you'll want to include are:
- soda can ring
- flattened penny
- plastic ring
- safety pin
- gold bird charm (ideally, a Raven)
- a piece of red yarn
- silver button
- paperclip star
- a locket or cameo
Many of these you can find at your local craft store, or by searching junk sales and second-hand stores, or even just digging through bins of forgotten items at home.
Fans don't have to stick to the items Lena wears on her necklace, however. You can personalize your version by adding charms that mean something important to you. You can also search craft stores for other charms, beads, and assorted trinkets that appeal to you.
"They aren’t really charms, just things that mean something to me," Lena says in Beautiful Creatures. "I know it looks like a bunch of junk. But I’ve never lived anywhere very long. I’ve never had the same house, or the same room for more than a few years, and sometimes I feel like the little pieces of me on this chain are all I have."
For the comments: What other tips do you have for making your own version of Lena's necklace? Have you made a necklace? Link to a photo in the comments below.
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