Are you looking for simple yet elegant Christmas gifts you can make this year? A great gift for anyone who wears glasses, whether they are prescription eyeglasses or simply sunglasses, is a handmade eyeglass lanyard.
My husband had a beautiful beaded lanyard for his sunglasses, and one day on a sailing adventure we capsized the boat, and in the process he lost his sunglasses as well as the lanyard.
I searched and searched to find another one for him, but could not find one as nice as the one he lost. So I decided to try my hand and making him a new one.
I discovered that it was very easy to do, and a lot of fun too! I went to the local bead store, and picked out an array of beads similar to the ones he had had before, a pair of the ends that attach to the glasses, and some strong nylon thread, and went to work.
Stringing the beads is the fun part, you get to choose the different colors and make up your own pattern. For him I used a lot of turquoise and wood beads. Depending on who you are planning to give the gift to, you can choose bright colors that you think your recipient will enjoy.
The beads are really inexpensive, in fact all of the supplies you will need are fairly cheap. One thing to watch for when selecting your beads is the weight; try to avoid extra large beads or stones that may add too much weight to your lanyards.
I used an empty egg carton to sort my beads in. This was very helpful in keeping the beads separate and easy to choose.
I plan on making several lanyards to give as Christmas presents this year. Money is tight, and sometimes it is hard to come up with an idea of a present to buy for someone. A handmade gift is usually appreciated more anyways, as it shows a little thought and care went into the gift.
Purchase a few jewelry gift boxes, create a special tag to attach to the lanyard “Handcrafted with love especially for you”, (or whatever you want it to say) and you have a wonderful Christmas gift that anyone will surely enjoy receiving.
Make a list of who you would like to create a custom eyeglass lanyard for, visit your local bead or crafts store, and start stringing!
This year make your family Christmas a memory your children will cherish for years to come. For great ideas on having a Natural Christmas right now!