Anthro-Inspired Book Stack Necklace

[malmow]

One of my favorite bloggers posted about this necklace available on Anthropologie's website a few months back.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20860656&catId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&pushId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&popId=JEWELRYACCESSORIES&navAction=top&navCount=354&color=000&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES-PENDANTS#BVRRWidgetID

It was retailing for something like $165. I figured it would be pretty easy to diy. So I did.



First, I looked around my house for leather-like items to cut up for the covers. I had a bag that my dog had chewed the straps on. I had an old placemat that I had purchased to make into a purse.



I remembered an old red purse I had that would be perfect. My dog had chewed the straps on it, too. Then I remembered that I had finally thrown it away. I kicked myself. Then I headed to the thrift store.

I found an old green purse for a few dollars. A few dollars was more than I wanted to pay, but still considerably cheaper than the Anthro necklace!



I set out molding the pages out of white fimo that I had laying around. I scored the sides. I poked a hole in the middle. I baked them.



I sandwiched them between the cut leather and mashed things around a bit. The "pages" cracked.

Time for round two.

I did some reading about the Anthro necklace, and found a similar one on Etsy. The shop-owner on Etsy was selling actual usable books. Made with real paper!

So I started cutting up books.


I cut and I cut and I cut! And then I used a needle and poked a hole in the middle. I inserted a headpin through the middle, found a suitable chain, and voila!



I love it.

[bookstorebabe]

I just hit This Rocks. You did a fabulous job, and thanks for sharing how you did this, what worked and what didn't. My daughter volunteers at our local library, and it'd be nice to make one of these for the librarian.
I have old leather planners, and old leather look plastic planners as well, that I've saved the covers to before recycling the innards. Hmm...I wonder if a thin leather belt would work, too? They're about a dollar at Goodwill...
Thanks again! You rock!

[bunny1kenobi]

I love this!! Pinned!

[malmow]

Thanks you guys!

Bookstorebabe, I think a belt would work too as long as it's a thin one. I will say I think fake leather is probably easier to work with than genuine.

[Artmomto5]

You did a great job recreating the Anthropologie necklace. I love your use of polymer clay for the pages. I may just have to give this one a try myself.

[Thorn]

I was thinking of making that exact necklace myself after seeing it on etsy.  You did a great job!

[indigo_roses]

Oooh, awesome! Thanks for the steps on what you did!

[claire313]

i ADORE this! added it to my "favorite projects" on my profile hehe
thanks for sharing the tutorial, too!

I may have to make my own

[SoCraftyTal]

Thanks for sharing, I LOVE this project! 

[imafundork]

This is lovely!  I want to make one now!