Summertime bracelets

I am not normally a wearer of bracelets, but when I found this diy, I loved the bright, summery colors used in the bracelets.

So, I made myself two: one with silver fixtures and light blue and coral string.  And the other with gold fixtures and orange and pink string.  What's additionally fun about this diy is the color options are endless!

My two DIY summertime bracelets

Learn how to make for yourself, here.

Chain of Change

Life is in serious transition mode now.. In all of this change occurring, I am trying to keep in mind the adage,

"Every end is a new beginning."

After a year, I've decided to postpone my return to America and continue living abroad.

Though there are so many changes now, what hasn't changed is my continued search for inspiration and love for DIY :)

I made this jump-ring chain necklace a while ago now and am still waiting for the perfect opportunity to don it.

MariaFrancescaPepe Tubular Chain Bracelet

The inspiration came from a picture I found on Pinterest (of course!) of a MariaFrancescaPepe bracelet.

After studying the picture for awhile to deduce how the jump rings were attached to each other, I set to work.

At its most basic form, all you really need to make this is A LOT of jump rings, pliers (or two pairs to save your fingers!), and a clasp... and patience.

How To:

(I made these pictures in hopes of making the instructions as understandable as possible!)

1. Open a smaller jump ring (or a chain of them or a paper clip) and slide on two jump rings.

2. Open and add two jump rings perpendicularly to the first two grey jump rings.

3. Push the blue jump rings back (so that they are parallel with the smaller jump ring). 

4. Slide the grey jump rings open so they make a 'V' and have the blue jump rings come forward.  Open two more jump rings and attach them to the blue jump rings.

5. Add two more jump rings perpendicular to the green jump rings you just added.  This is the same thing you did in step 2.

6. Push the purple jump rings back (so they are parallel with the blue jump rings.  Again, this is the same as step 3).

7. Slide the green jump rings open so they make a 'V' and have the purple jump rings come forward.

8. Open two more jump rings and attach them to the purple jump rings.

Pretend these two new jump rings are the green jump rings in step 5 and that you now need to add purple jump rings and then light grey jump rings. 

Keep repeating steps 5-8 until you get to your desired length.  Add a smaller jump ring to the end and a clasp.

A beautiful jump ring chain made (hopefully!) easy!

I decided to make a necklace instead of a bracelet - thoughts?

Braced with Chain and String

Can't believe it's been over a month since I was home.  And can't believe it's taken me this long to write up another blog post!  Life here is busy to say the least.

Before I went home, I had been seeing these bracelets at fancy stores all over the place.. selling for at least $25 each.  Recognizing that they are just chain, suede string, and some connecting pieces, I of course exclaimed, "wait, I can make this!".

I had been unable to find chain that was thick enough for the purpose of these bracelets at my local craft store.  I therefore waited until my trip to America to really scour the craft stores for the right materials for this project.

The bracelet took under 30 minutes to make; I ended up making a bunch of them!

Here's what you need:
- 2 pieces of chain (about 8-10 inches, depending on your wrist).
- Suede string, 2.5 times the length of your chain.
- lobster clasp and jump rings
- craft glue
- pliers
- scissors

What to do:
1. Using a jump ring, attach the first links of the two chains together.
2. Lay the chains down so that they are flat and the links line up to one another.
3. Start weaving the suede string between the links (in, over, under).
4. Once you've weaved through a few links, glue the tail of the suede string to itself.  (Do this on the side of the bracelet that will face your wrist, so that it will not be seen when you wear it.)
5. Continue weaving the suede string the same way between the links of the two chains.
6. At the end, once again connect the last two links with a jump ring.  Again, glue the suede string to itself on the side facing your wrist.
7. Cut any extra suede string from either side, once the glue has dried.
8. Open one of the jump rings on one end and add a lobster clasp.  Close the jump ring.
9. On the other end, attach as many extra jump rings as necessary to allow ease of putting on the bracelet!

With buying most of the supplies in bulk packs from the craft store, the bracelets ended up only costing a few dollars each!

I ended up keeping one for myself and giving the rest as gifts.  Everyone loved them!

From Hemp to Suede...

In continuation of my crafting with suede string, I made this bracelet over the weekend:

When I showed my friends the bracelet, most were immediately reminded of the hemp bracelets popular at summer camps.

There's a reason for this recollection... it's the same stitch!  I believe it is called the square knot..

Materials:

- 4 pieces suede string (2 long and 2 bracelet length)

- 2 end closing pieces

- 32 jump rings, plus a few extra for bracelet closure

- clasp

- pliers

The Square Knot Stitch

Enclose the 4 pieces of string in one of the closing pieces.  Use pliers to tightly close the end piece around the 4 strings.

Begin the square knot (as shown in picture above).  I did 12 or so square knots before I started adding the rings, and the bracelet is a little large on me, but I also have slim wrists.

Add 1 ring to each outer string, and tie the knot.  Tie a second knot after that.  For the third knot, put the strings back through the rings and add another ring on top.  Tie a knot.  Repeat the steps.  I used 16 rings on each side (a total of 32).

After, do the same amount of knots that the bracelet started with, before the rings were added.

Close off the end with another end piece and pliers - make sure it is very tight.  Add the additional rings and the clasp.  

        

I'm thinking of making this with gold fixtures next.. and maybe black suede?