DIY Pom Pom Bib Necklace

If the title of my post threw you off a bit, I understand. Usually when I have a DIY project in the works, it has something to do with furniture or other home decor. But this weekend, I expanded my craftiness into the world of wearables for the first time.

I don’t sew, so I can’t make clothing. But with this project, I found out that accessories are thankfully not out of the realm of possibility for me! Just give me a glue gun and let me go to town.

This necklace has been on my mind ever since I saw it on Pinterest several weeks ago (and repinned it, naturally). It is just so dang cute and definitely more of a “statement” piece than the simple jewelry I normally wear. I was just itching to give this one a shot!

{ via Little Miss Momma }

The materials list was pretty simple: felt, 100% cotton fabric, a necklace chain, and hot glue. (This is the kind of project during which you will develop a deep and meaningful relationship with your glue gun and fabric scissors.) I ended up getting the felt and necklace chain at HobbyLobby, and the fabric (1/2 yard, which was more than enough) at Hancock Fabrics. Most of it was on sale, so the total cost was under $5.

The original post at Little Miss Momma has really great instructions and photos, so I pretty much followed it to a T. But, I figured I’d give a brief recap and share some of my own photos.

1. Cut out five (or however many you want, but an odd number is best) felt circles. Mine were  probably a little more than 1” in diameter. They don’t have to be perfect (another reason I love this project).
2. Cut out lots (and lots) of fabric circles, using one of your felt circles as a template. Again, they don't have to be perfect. A little jagged is okay! (I cut out squares first, so I could stack them into layers and cut several at one time.)
3. Bunch up one of your fabric circles as shown below, and dab some hot glue on the point. Press it onto the center of a felt circle. Repeat until the felt circle is covered in scrunched fabric circles. (I kept losing track, but I think I may have used anywhere from 12-15 fabric circles.)
4. Repeat Step 3 to create “pom poms” with the remaining felt and fabric circles.
5. Place your pom poms on the larger piece of felt in the desired arrangement. Hot glue only the middle three onto the felt.
6. Hot glue each end of your chain onto the back of the remaining two pom poms. Then, hot glue these to the felt.
7. Cut around each pom pom, "releasing" the necklace from the felt. Voila!

I chose gray felt to match the fabric, even though once you're done

you can't see the felt unless you look at the back side.

(Will someone please get this girl a manicure and some hand lotion??)

 I adore it.

(No makeup = no photos above the neck)

I chose this light gray color because I thought it would go with most of my shirts, but I could see myself making one (or two) more of these in different colors. There's just so much potential! However, considering this project took me almost two hours, I’m going to take a break and just admire this one in the meantime.

So, what do you think? Have you ever made any accessories of your own before? 

Linking up to these parties:
Craft-o-Maniac Monday Link Party 
Monday Funday at C.R.A.F.T.
Frugal Crafty Home
Monday Link Party at Le Chateau des Fleurs
Look What I Made! at Creations by Kara
Link Up with Me, Liz Marie
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest