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| Before: Plastic Cards |
Although we designed the bracelet thinking that only one side would really be seen, when we flipped the finished jewelry over we learned that the opposite side also had an interesting (if unplanned) pattern. Lucky us, now we have a reversible bracelet.
Materials
18-gauge round brass wire
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| After: Bracelet by Geltdesigns.com |
Tools
Disc cutter
Ball pein hammer
Size 54 drill bit
Drill (Flex shaft
, Drill Press
or Dremel
)Center punch
or automatic center punch
Round nose pliers or 3-Step wire looping pliers
Chain nose or bent nose pliers
Wire rounder or needle file or cup burr
and flex shaft |
| Back: Bracelet by GeltDesigns |
Steel bench block
or anvil 
Rawhide
or plastic malletStep 1
Measure the wrist of the person for whom you are making the bracelet to determine bracelet size and the amount of materials you will need to construct your bracelet.
Use a disc cutter and ball pein hammer to cut the charms for your bracelet. We cut seven charms in two different sizes to construct a 7-1/2 inch long bracelet. Arrange the charms in the order you want to use them for your bracelet.Step 3
Mark the charms to prepare for drilling. Use a magic marker to mark where you want to drill holes on the cut charms. Use either a center punch
or an automatic center punch to create divots in the charms where you marked the plastic. The divots will prevent the drill from slipping when you drill the holes. Step 4
Drill the holes. Use a size 54 drill bit
and a drill of your choice (Flex shaft, Drill Press or Dremel) to drill the holes. Any drill will do but you need to select a drill bit that is approximate in size to the wire you are using to create your links.Step 5
Create seven "B" links from wire. To create a "B" link, use your round nose pliers or 3-step wire looping pliers to make a loop at one end of your wire. Make a second loop so that the link looks like a "B." Cut the wire from the spool with Wire side cutters or flush cutters. File the end of the wire in your link using either a wire rounder or a needle file or a cup burr and flex shaft. Place each link on a steel bench block or anvil and hammer the links with a rawhide or plastic mallet
to harden the metal. Adjust the link with your chain nose or bent nose pliers. 
and it is both a nice weight and color for our bracelet project.Step 6
Make the clasp. We made a hook style clasp and used a "B" link as the "eye."Step 7
Assemble the bracelet. Begin by attaching the clasp to a charm. Proceed by attaching a "B" link to connect each charm to the next until the chain of the bracelet is complete.
Step 8
Test the bracelet and adjust the clasp, if needed.
Related Tutorials
Make Your Own Hook & Eye Clasp
Make Your Own Clover Shaped Hook & Eye Clasp
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| Before & After: Back Bracelet by GeltDesigns |
How to Drill Acrylic
How to Use a Dremel to Make Jewelry
How to Use a Flex Shaft to Make Jewelry
How to Straighten Wire
How to Smooth Sharp Edges on Copper, Brass and Sterling Wire
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| Before & After: Bracelet by GeltDesigns |
How to Use a Wire Gauge
Make Your Own "S" Clasp
Make Your Own Beaded "S" Clasp
Make Your Own "S" Chain
GeltDesigns Tutorials by Topics
Further Reading
Chris Franchetti Michaels.
Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders;
Irina Miech; 2009.
Inspired Wire;
Cynthia B. Wuller; 2008.
Cynthia B. Wuller; 2008.Bead on a Wire;
Sharilyn Miller; 2005.
Sharilyn Miller; 2005.Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition
; Tim McCreight; 2004.
; Tim McCreight; 2004. Day 22. Week 4. Jewelry from Found Objects. $ spent: 0
Found materials: Gift Card
New Jewelry a Day.
to make "S" links and a
we had all the materials needed for this fast, simple project.
Marthe Le Van; 2007.
; Carole Rodgers; 2004.
"; Brenda Schweder; 2007.
;Tair Parnes; 2007. 
"; Heather Skowood; 2011.
