Monday, January 03, 2011

diy rosary wedding cord

Happy New Year everyone! :)

I'm happy that my first post for this year is a productive one. It's less than 6 months before the big day, I want to make sure that we make use of the time wisely. The last thing that we want to happen is to see the wedding day coming and we're cramming in completing our DIY projects.

The project that I decided to tackle after our invitations is the rosary wedding cord. I'm quite handy with paper crafts but it's my first time in doing beading/jewelry making. I initially thought that I would be having a hard time in doing the wedding cord but is pleasantly surprised that it is actually easy! When I went back home, I had the chance to get all the materials that I needed for the project when we visited Divisoria and Quiapo. I basically patterned our wedding cord from Lights and Binds website, I love their rosary style wedding cords.

I thought I'd share the materials and instructions on creating our DIY rosary wedding cord, so that you can make your own too! Okay, let's start with the materials:


1. Beads that catches your fancy. I think the ones that I used are called class-A swarovski. You can use any beads that you want here.
2. Different kinds of spacers. I'd suggest that you buy two packs of every design. You don't want to run out on the spacers while finishing the cord. Also the circle ones are a must.
3. Pliers and tape measure. You want the to have at least 50 inches for each loop.
4. Rings and end-clamp. Ok, I honestly don't know how you call the "end-clamp", but it's basically a clamp with a small hole in between which you place in the beginning and end of each line. It will hide the knot that you'll create with the nylon cord.
5. Trinkets of your choice. Since this is a rosary wedding cord, I chose a crucifix, a brooch for the middle and letters of our initials.
6. Nylon cord and bead board (optional). Choose a thicker nylon cord.

Now, for the instructions:


1. I initially laid out the sequence of the beads and spacers that I wanted using the bead board, but that's totally optional. First, you want to measure the nylon cord, make sure that you make an allowance on the length before you cut the cord. Make a knot using the pliers and pull until the knot is small enough.

2. Place the end-clamp in a way that if you close the clamp, it will swallow the knot. Then place the sequence of spacers that you want. How many spacers to put before and after the beads and the mysteries, it will be totally up to you. Just make sure that once all have been placed, the length of the loop will make at least 50 inches. Place another end clamp before making a knot to secure the end. Close the clamps before cutting the cord near the knot.

2a. After finishing the 2 loops, and the end tail of the rosary, connect all three using the brooch in the middle.

2b. For our initials, I basically created a small link using the rings and put clasps at the end. By putting the clasps, it's now optional if we wanted to include the initials or take it off.

3. I used white beads for the 10 Hail Marys and purple and gray beads for the mysteries.

4. The ones shown in pic 4 is the tail of the rosary. I basically followed the sequence form the Lights and Binds website.

If my instructions are confusing, let me know through the comments sections and I'll try my best to explain. :) Now I present our DIY rosary wedding cord!

(I used a brooch in the middle)
(crucifix)
(white beads for the 10 Hail Marys and purple and gray beads for the mysteries)
(a clasp at the end to make the initials optional)
(here connected to the brooch)
(our rosary wedding cord with the initials)

Not bad for a first time, right?! :) I'm really happy on how that wedding cord turned out. A bit surprised that it was actually quite heavy! For the cost, not including the strands of beads that I didn't get to use (about 4 strands, I bought extra), it will be about Php600-700. All materials are bought from D.I.Y Store and Wellmanson in Quiapo, Manila.

I can now happily take this one off the wedding list! Wedding Cord = Checked!


16 comments:

dee said...

hi, can specify how many beads, spacers, etc. you used in your cord? thank you..^^

Anna Katrina Nillo said...

Another great DIY project! I can't wait to start my own. I love your handiwork. Have you considered entering the wedding preps industry? I'm sure you'll be a hit! ;D

Anna
05.12.2012
Tagaytay

ålêng said...

hi Dee, there are 5 sets of Hail Mary beads per loop. about 103 for the white beads, 12 purple beads and 24 gray beads. I used 6 different kinds of spacers. It would depend on you how you want the sequence.

hi Anna, thanks for liking the wedding cord. Working for the wedding industry will be great, possibly I can do in part-time :)

Happy preps girls!

LA + AJ said...

Aleng!!!! :) Ganda!!! :) naintriga naman ako sa parang guide :) naakatuwa..ang lapit mo na..pwede na mag apply for cenomar and all :) weeee! nakakaexcite ang dami mong diys! :D

happy preps sis!

ålêng said...

hi LA!!!:) I miss your comments, hehe. Hihi, thanks for liking the cord. Onga sis, nararamdaman ko na yung pressure, chos! :))

Anonymous said...

Hi Aleng! ang ganda!! i wish i'm as good with crafts as you are. =D
galing ng handiwork. and yes, you'll be a big hit on the wedding industry =)

ålêng said...

hi Marj :) thank you for loving the cord! if ever magbakasyon ka sa 'tin, try to see if you can get materials to do your own cord. madali lang sya, promise! :D

Sheng said...

Hi Sis Aleng,

I already features Your DIY rosary wedding cord. Thanks for allowing me :)

God bless your wedding!

Sheng said...

sorry, I mean "featured"

Lexil May said...

hi aleng! really liked ur wedding cord! in fact i made one for my own wedding these june but unfortunately didn't know how to tie the end of the nylon..hihi..nahirapan akong gawing neat ung buhol nya baka kasi matanggal pg hindi doble ung buhol.and di ko alam kung pano tamang ikabit s brooch ung tail pati ung 2..and still a problem kung panu ko din ikakabit yung cross s tail..hehe..daming tanong but i hope i can get answers from u..thanks for sharing this craft of yours.. !

Yosh said...

hi sis aleng! i noticed the design board behind the nylon cord. where did you get it? thanks! :)

ålêng said...

Lexil May, trial and error lang sa knots, toxic talaga yung mga knots, pero, kelangan nga na doble yung knots kasi mabigat yung beads.

y0sh, check wellmansson or DIY store in quiapo. I can't remember where I bought them but those are the two places that I went to.

Pink Macaroons Chic said...

Hi,

Can you please send me the rosary pattern you have used for this. Here is my email address. shalybhe29@yahoo.com

Thank you.

God Bless

Shaly

mart said...

Very nice!:) May I ask for the measurement of the loops?

ålêng said...

Pink Macaroons Chic, i really didn't have a pattern for the rosary. Check the Lights and Binds website for ideas, that's where I got mine. It's on the blog. :)

mart, hey there! the loops were measured 50 inches for each loop. :)

ambervd said...

loved it so much I used this process to create my own! Thanks!!

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