Glass Marble Pendant Tutorial

I've been wanting to make something like this with my anniversary date on it for a while now. I just couldn't decide how I wanted to make it, and I had kind of put off the project...but my cousin is due with her second baby next month, and I thought it might be a cute idea to make her something similar in honor of her kids as well (so Candice, if you're reading this, avert your eyes! You'll see it soon enough!)...

You'll need some sort of paper or cardstock to print your name, date, graphic, etc. onto; clear glass, flat-back marbles; felt or something similar for backing; Mod Podge and brush; eye pins; wire snippers; tweezers; and a hot glue gun. Each of these marbles tend to vary slightly so make sure to pick one that will show your text. Trace around it lightly with a pencil and cut it out, along with a piece of felt or backing about the same size.

Next, spread a thin, even coat of Mod Podge onto the back of your glass marble as well as onto the text side of your piece of paper. I find that using a pair of tweezers is super helpful for this...you can hold on to the tiniest edge of the paper and get the Mod Podge on evenly. Line the paper up accordingly to the marble, and press firmly. If you need to adjust it at all, now is the time! :) Don't worry if it looks a bit cloudy at first; it will dry clear.

While those are drying, use your wire snippers to cut your eye pins. You'll want enough to cover the majority of the back of the marble but not so much that any will stick out or hang off the bottom.

Here's a shot of my 3 after drying...One with my anniversary date, the other two are the initials of my cousin's kiddos. I really loved this font for some reason, it was a little fancy-pants but still appropriate for a boy and a girl (Gigi, it's called, in case you're interested).

Flip your marble over, and apply a little bit of glue, and press your eye pin down into the glue. Again, I used tweezers for this part to keep from burning my fingers. It also helps in making sure the pin is lined up appropriately to the front.

Then apply more hot glue to the back, and press your felt or fabric backing onto it firmly. Not only will it hide the eye pin, it creates a smooth feel and finished look.

Now that the marbles have their pins and backing, you're ready to turn it into a necklace if you wish.

For Candice, I wanted the pendants with the kid's initials to be far enough apart that they wouldn't flip around and hide one another. I dug this connector piece out of my jewelry stash. I opened the 'loop', or eye, of the eye pin and simply hung one pendant from each end of the connector and then closed them up.

To embellish the middle a bit and add a feminine touch, I wire wrapped a single fresh water pearl and two small bicone crystals together, and hung them from the middle hole of the connector and...voila!

All that was left to finish it up was attaching a jump ring through the top hole of the connector and sliding it on to a black leather choker I had on hand in my jewelry stash...I'm so thrilled with the final product! I love love love it and I cannot wait for her to see it! (excuse my t-shirt as I model the necklace)

Have you made these before? If you have, or if you do after reading my post please let me know! I would love to see your take on this fun project! Now I want to make one for everyone I know...I think it would be super cute on a bobby pin as well, or the center of a brooch, a ponytail elastic...lots of possibilities!

I'm linking up here: