Did you know that March is National Craft Month?! Yay!
I am determined to do at least one craft a day throughout the month of March. I love creating and trying new things, so this is going to be a really FUN month!
Follow along with me and share your ideas, suggestions, and comments. You can also follow along on my Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/JayDeesBlogPage
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Wire Wrapped Bracelets Using Vintage Glass Beads
Today, I made wrap bracelets for friends using vintage glass beads. I bought the beads from an estate sale many years ago – they were all used in a variety of necklaces. I took the necklaces apart and saved the beads for just the right project.
Knowing my friends and their favorite colors, I separated the beads into bowls to get them ready for assembly. Let the creating begin!
What You Will Need:
- Beads
- Memory Wire
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- Charms (optional)
What You Do:
- Count 3 to 4 coils of memory wire, then cut memory wire about an inch past the number of coils you want for your bracelet
- Use a needle nose pliers to make a small loop at one end of the wire – you can add a charm to this loop, if desired
The loop at the ends keeps the beads from slipping off the end of the wire. - Thread beads onto the memory wire in the order you’d like the beads to appear – you can create a pattern of beads, or keep it random
I like using a variety of bead sizes for the bracelets, and I tend to keep the beads fairly random. - Continue threading beads onto the wire, pushing them along the wire to the end to make room for more beads
- When all the coils of wire are filled with beads, use a wire cutter to cut off excess wire so that you have about 1/4-inch of wire left to form a loop
- Use a needle nose pliers to form another loop at the end of the wire to hold the beads in place
You can add a charm to this last loop if you want. - Your bracelet is done and ready to wear!
Additional Tips:
- Choose Your Beads Wisely – While any type of beads will work for this project, I especially like using glass or stone beads versus plastic beads. The heavier weight of the glass or stone beads make the bracelets look and feel like a quality piece of jewelry.
- Number of Beads – The number of beads you’ll need for your bracelet depends on several things. For example, the number of coils you’ll be creating and the size of the beads. In general, for a 4 coil bracelet, you’ll need at least 120 beads. You can use a bead board to plan your beads if needed – or just wing-it as you go.
Here’s another way to make bracelets with vintage beads – “DIY – Breaded Bracelet on Wire with Lobster Clasp
I hope you enjoyed this project! Make sure to check back tomorrow to see what I’ll be working on.
