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.
Below are the materials for each bracelet plus the instructions. I haven't gone into too much detail regarding the crimping, as I covered that off in the tutorial above. Please watch that if you are having any difficulty or just want to know more.
The gold and bronze bracelet uses a beautiful hook and eye clasp and carlotte clamps/bead tips to disguise the crimp tube.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 a turquoise bead, then a silver ball and repeat that until all the beads are on except the final silver bead.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here are the earrings. I did a short on how to make them.
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.
If you like my blog be sure to click on the RECOMMENDED button and SHARE it with your friends! It’s the best way for my blog to grow. I would love for you to be part of my family so sign up to receive my emails. Every time I post a blog, I will send you an update email.Also, follow me on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE and Pinterest HERE.
Come by and say Hey!
Tags:
October 26, 2023
Hi, my name is Carol Karl. I live in little old New Zealand. My family and I strive to live the most ‘real’ life we can – by that I mean that we eat real food, we live real lives and just generally be our most authentic selves.
