Beaded Friendship Bracelet

Materials

• Beading wire
• Beads
• 2 crimp beads
• 1 magnetic clasp

Tools

• Wire cutters
• Bead board or towel
• Crimping pliers

Directions

1. Decide how long you want your bracelet to be and add 6″. Cut your wire, making a knot close to the end of the wire on one side to act as the bead stopper.
2. Using your bead board or towel, lay out beads in the pattern you want for your bracelet. String all your beads onto the beading wire.



3. To attach the clasp, string on a crimp bead and half of the clasp. Turn your wire to push it back through the crimp bead. Check the fit of your bracelet and add/remove beads as needed.



4. Using your fingers, grip and bend the beading wire at the clasp and push the crimp bead up against the clasp, but not too tightly. You want the clasp to move freely once it is secure. Continue to push the wire through the next 2 or 3 beads, trim wire to leave no tail, and push all beads snug against the crimp bead.



5. Using the “tooth” of the crimp pliers, press the crimp bead to flatten the crimp and crease the center. Move the bead to the next hole in pliers and gently press to fold and round the flattened crimp. Your wire is now secured.



6. At knotted end of wire, use wire cutters to clip off the knot. Repeat the crimp and clasp process.



7. Do not bend the beading wire at the clasp until you have pulled the wire through the next two or three beads and pulled the wire snug with the remaining bracelet beads, eliminating any excess wire in the length of the bracelet. This time you will have a tail outside the second or third bead from pulling the wire tight. When you have secured the clasp, use wire cutters or fine point scissors, if you wish, to remove wire tail.



Congratulations on your new creation!

How to Make a Beaded Bookmark

 

1. Cut 18 inches of cord, ribbon, or yarn. Tie a knot three inches from one end.
2. String beads to cover 1 1/2 inches of cord and knot at bottom of beads.

3. Tie knot five inches from opposite end of cord (leaving 10 inches between knots).
4. String beads to cover 3 inches of cord to make “bottom” of bookmark, adding a unique bead or charm if desired. Tie knot. Trim cord 1/4 inch on each end.*

*If you do not want any cord hanging on the end of your bookmark, dab a little craft glue on the end knots, let dry, and then cut the excess cord at the knot’s edge.