Simple Lego Necklace

After reading Carleyy's blog I was inspired to take up her challenge to make Lego jewelry.
These are really simple to make and the pieces can be changed around to create a different look.  I made two different types. One consists of a backing that you can add different pieces on to decorate it.  The second is created by drilling a hole through some 2x2 bricks and stringing jewelry cord through it .

• Lego*
• Jewelry head pins or jump rings
• Chain/jewelry cord
• Drill
• Needle nose pliers

*If you want to buy pieces in unique shapes and colours you can probably find them
at http://www.bricklink.com/index.asp.

For the necklace backing I used a Lego plate.  They are thinner than the Lego bricks and come in various sizes, shapes and colours making it a great canvas in which to build your necklace on.

To prepare the plate first determine which side it will hang from the chain.  I decided to do the corner.  Using a 1/16 drill bit (I used my Dremel for this), drill a hole through the edge of the plastic of your Lego piece.  Holding the piece in a vice for drilling will help you get a straight, clean hole and keep your fingers safe.

Next take a jewelry head pin or a jump ring and pass it through the hole.  If you are using a head pin, you will need to bend the pin with needle nose pliers and cut off the excess.  Now you can attach the chain.

I added smaller pieces to the backing plate to decorate the necklace.  You can use smaller plates (1x1,1x2,2x2,1x4, etc) of different colours, tiles for a finished look, and transparent, hinged, or flowers pieces too.  The key is arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing way.

You can switch around pieces and create a new design whenever you want.  Or if you find something that you like you can glue the pieces in place.  I played around with the pieces that I had (I don't actually have very many) and came up with numerous designs, here are just a few.

I tried another way to make a Lego necklace, which is simply to drill a hole through bricks from the top and stacking several pieces together.  For these I used an 1/8inch drill bit on my Dremel.  Place the piece in a vice to hold it steady and drill a hole through the top (or sides for a different look).  I stacked two pieces together to ensure the holes line up.  I threaded the pieces with jewelry cord to make a necklace (you can also make bracelets this way too).