5 Quick and Easy Bracelets
The requests were overwhelming! When I did last week’s tutorial all about disguising crimp tubes, I got so many requests for tutorials for the bracelets, so today we are making 5 bracelets in a really short amount of time.
If you haven’t seen the previous tutorial showing ways to disguise ugly crimp tubes, I suggest you go and watch that as well. I explain the crimping/disguising in much more detail there.
Bronze and Gold Bracelet
Materials for the Bronze and Gold Bracelet
- Indian Glass Lampwork Round 14mm – Brown x3
- Austrian Crystal Faceted Rondelle 8mm x 6mm - Bronze AB x16
- Bead Caps Leaf 10mm – Gold x6
- Metal Ball 3mm – Gold x14
- Crimp Tubes 1.5mm – Gold x2
- Carlotte Clamps / Bead Tip 12mm x 4mm x2
- Hook Eye Clasps 14mm - Gold x1
- Gold Tiger Tail 0.38mm x 50m x 30cm (12”)
Tools
Instructions for the Bronze and Gold Bracelet
Add the First End of the Clasp
Cut a piece of gold Tiger Tail about 30cm (12”) long.Thread the carlotte clamp/bead tip onto the Tiger Tail from the bottom (without the loops). Thread on the crimp tube. Squeeze the crimp tube flat. Trim off the end of the Tiger Tail.Close the carlotte clamp by squeeze the two ‘clamshells’ together.If you need assistance with this I suggest that you watch the video all about how to disguise crimps.
Thread the loop part of the clasp (figure 8 piece) into the hook of the carlotte clamp. Using the chain nose pliers (you could use round nose pliers if you prefer) close the hook of the carlotte clamp.
Thread on the Beads
Lay out the beads on the bead board using the layout diagram below.
Thread all of the beads onto the Tiger Tail in the order above.
Finish the End
Once all the beads are on, thread on the other carlotte clamp and the crimp tube. Making sure that the beads are still about to move about on the tiger tail and there are no gaps, push the crimp tube down inside the clamp and squeeze it flat. Trim off the end of the tiger tail.Close the carlotte clamp as before.Thread the loop of the hook part of the clasp onto the hook of the carlotte clamp.
Copper Bracelet
The copper bracelet is a very easy design. It simply alternates the two sizes of beads. This one uses crimp covers (my least favourite way to disguise a crimp tube). Remember to watch the video if you have any problems, or want to know more.I love these beautiful Czech Glass Antique Rondelles. They are stunning and so well complimented with the copper faceted beads.
Materials for the Copper Bracelet
- Czech Glass Antique Rondelle 9mm - Jet with Copper x14
- Czech Glass Firepolished Faceted Round 4mm - Copper Matt x15
- Crimp Cover 3mm - Red Copper x2
- Crimp Tubes 1.5mm – Nickel x2
- Jump Rings Round 21 Gauge 4mm - Red Copper x1
- Lobster Claw Clasp 12mm – Copper x1
- Silver Tiger Tail 0.38mm x 50m – Silver x 30cm (12”)
Tools
Instructions for the Copper Bracelet
Add the Clasp
Cut a piece of tiger tail approximately 30cm (12”) long.Thread on a crimp tube then the loop of the clasp. Thread the tiger tail back down through the crimp bead and squeeze it flat. Apply the crimp cover and close it. If you need assistance with this remember to watch the video.
Thread on the Beads
Thread one of the faceted beads and one of the rondelles onto both ends of the tiger tail. Trim off the excess.Thread on the remaining beads alternatively, beginning and ending with a faceted bead.
Finishing the Bracelet
Make sure that the jump ring is very well closed. If you need help with jump rings you can watch this video. Thread a crimp tube and the jump ring onto the tiger tail.Thread the tiger tail back through the crimp bead capturing the jump ring inside the loop.Making sure there are no gaps but the bracelet still moves freely, squeeze the crimp bead flat then apply the crimp cover.
Blue Bracelet
The blue bracelet is the one I made with the bead bandit. As I said in the video, the bead bandit is probably better suited for a necklace. If you want to change this, you could just use any of the other techniques shown in the crimping video but you will need to adjust the amount of beads. Personally, I would probably add one more set of the metallic blue beads/beaded rondelles on either side to achieve this.
Materials for the Blue Bracelet
- Pearlised Glass Pearl 12mm - Royal Blue x3
- Crystal Glass Faceted Round 6mm - Metallic Blue x12
- Spring Cage Bead 9mm - Silver x2
- Silver Lined Glass Bugle Bead 6mm x 1.8mm - Medium blue x2
- Metal Ball 3mm - Silver x8
- Beaded Rondelle 5mm x 1mm - Tibetan Silver x18
- Bead Caps Flower 7mm - Silver x6
- Bead Bandit Crimp Hide 10mm x 4mm x2
- 304 Stainless Steel Lobster Claw Clasp 12mm x 7mm x 3.5mm – silver x1
- Jump Rings Round 6mm x 1.1mm – Silver x1
- Jump Rings Round 4mm x 0.8mm – Silver x1
- Crimp Tubes 1.5mm – Nickel x2
- Silver Tiger Tail 0.38mm x 50m – Silver x 30cm (12”)
Tools
Instructions for the Blue Bracelet
Add the Clasp
Unscrew the bead bandit. Cut the tiger tail and thread it through the bottom hole of the bead bandit. Add the crimp tube and squeeze flat. Trim the tiger tail and place the top of the bead bandit on top. Screw it down.Open the 4mm jump ring and feed on the loop of the bead bandit and the loop of the clasp. Close the jump ring. If you need help with jump rings you can watch this video.
Thread on the Beads
Lay the beads on the bead design board using the layout diagram below. Note that the bugle bead goes inside the spring cage bead when you thread it on.
Thread all of the beads onto the tiger tail as per the diagram above.
Finish the Bracelet
To finish the bracelet you need to attach the bead bandit in exactly the same was as you did for the one at the beginning.Once that’s done, open the 6mm jump ring and attach it to the loop of the bead bandit.
Turquoise Bracelet
The turquoise bracelet used a bead to cover the crimp tube. This is a great option – the possibilities here are endless. All you need to be aware of is that the crimp tube fits inside the hole of the bead.This bracelet also used a toggle clasp which is my favourite clasp to use on a bracelet because it’s so easy to do up.
Materials for the Turquoise Bracelet
- Magnesite (dyed/stabilised) Round Beads 11mm - 12mm – Turquoise x11
- Ball 6mm - Silver x12
- Jump Rings Round 6mm x 1.1mm – Silver x1
- Toggle Clasp Flower 23.5mm – Silver x1
- Crimp Tubes 1.5mm – Nickel x2
- Silver Tiger Tail 0.38mm x 50m x30cm (12”)
Tools
Instructions for the Turquoise Bracelet
Attach the Clasp
Open one of the jump and feed on the loop of the toggle clasp. Close the jump ring, making sure that it’s closed really well.Cut a piece of tiger tail and feed on the crimp tube and the jump ring you just attached to the clasp.Thread the tiger tail back through the crimp flat. Pull everything up and squeeze the crimp tube flat.
Hide the Crimp Tube
Feed on the 6mm ball and push it up over both ends of the tiger tail and the crimp tube. Trim the short end of the tiger tail.
Thread on the Beads
Thread on a turquoise bead, then a silver ball and repeat that until all the beads are on except the final silver bead.
Finishing the Bracelet
Feed on the crimp tube. Loop the tiger tail around and bring it back down through the crimp tube, leaving a loop large enough that a little bit of the loop will stick out of the silver bead when you place it on. To make this easier, cut an extra piece of tiger tail and thread it through the loop to stop it disappearing into the bead. If you need assistance with this, make sure to watch the video.Thread the tiger tail back down through the next turquoise bead.Squeeze the crimp tube flat and trim off the extra tiger tail.Thread the two ends of the extra piece of tiger tail through the metal ball and pop it over the crimp tube.Open the remaining jump ring and thread on the loop of the tiger tail, then the loop of the second part of the clasp. Close the jump ring then remove the extra piece of tiger tail.
Purple Bracelet
For the purple bracelet I used the magical crimping tool. This is my all time favourite way to crimp as it makes the crimp tube look like a little bead, removing the need to disguise it at all.I used these amazing Indian Glass Beads. The size varies quite a lot between the beads which is often the case with hand made beads but I do love them. They are such a pretty colour.
Materials for the Purple Bracelet
- Indian Glass Lampwork Round with AB Finish 9mm - Blue AB x15
- Crystal Glass Faceted Bicone 3mm – Purple x20
- 304 Stainless Steel Lobster Claw Clasp 12mm x 7mm x 3.5mm – silver x1
- Jump Rings Round 6mm x 1.1mm – Silver x1
- Jump Rings Round 4mm x 0.8mm – Silver x1
- Magical Crimp Tubes 2mm x 2mm x2
- Silver Tiger Tail 0.38mm x 50m x30cm (12”)
Tools
Instructions for the Purple Bracelet
Add the Clasp
Open a 4mm jump ring and thread on the loop of the clasp. Close the jump ring really well.Cut a piece of tiger tail and thread on a Magical Crimping Tube and the jump ring you just added to the clasp.Thread the tiger tail back down through the crimp tube, trapping the jump ring inside the loop.Using the Magical Crimping Tool, crimp the tube. If you need assistance with this I suggest you watch the video on ways to disguise a crimp tube.
Trim off the short end of tiger tail.
Thread on the Beads
Start by adding 3 of the bicones, then add one of the larger glass beads. Alternate the bicones and glass beads until you use up all of the glass beads. End with three of the bicones.
Finish the Bracelet
To finish this bracelet you use exactly the same method as you did to begin except you omit threading the clasp onto the jump ring.
Jewellery I’m Wearing
The necklace I’m wearing in the video is my Moody Statement Necklace.
The earrings are one of the dangles from the Butterfly Garden Necklace.
The bracelet I’m wearing is actually the Breast Cancer Awareness necklace that I just wrapped around my wrist several times.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial of 5 quick bracelets that you can make. Remember to check out both the video for this tutorial and the Ways to Disguise a Crimp Tube video as well.
REMEMBER TO PIN THIS FOR LATER!!
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Thank you so much, Linda. I’m so pleased that you have found my videos helpful.
Thank you very much for your videos. It has helped me alot.