From Kim, Blogging from Sunny Singapore
If you don't believe in luck, think of charms as inspiration. Try to make one that is inspired from a pattern that you like. If you're not into wearing bracelets, you can make one for your friend and give it as a keepsake. You can never go wrong with anything with a touch of thoughtfulness and hardwork.
For this post, we've made a feminine charm that is inspired from a red and blue flower pattern that has been tuck in my pile of papers. Basic materials are listed below and shown in the photos as well.
Materials:
- Pattern or photo for inspiration
- Beads with colors and shades from the pattern.
- Waxed cord with colors and shades from the pattern
- Metal findings for assembling bracelet: toggle lock, rings, pins, spring crimp cord ends, charms or spacer beads
- Cutting, Flat and Round pliers for bending and cutting metal
- Scissors for cutting cord
Cut the strings into 11-inch lengths. The number of strings depends on how many colors you want to have in your bracelet. If you don't have a ruled guide, take an old bracelet and cut the string with a length that is 1.5 times longer than the old bracelet. The excess length is for knotting and crimping which you can see later.
Crimp one end of each string with the spring crimp ends. Knot them together in one big knot. After the big knot, make one more knot for each string but do not tighten. Set the strings aside.
Prepare the charms for the bracelet. Insert a pin into each bead. Trim the pin if it is too long then bend the excess into a loop. Do this for every bead, metal charms and spacers. For this bracelet, we used flower-shaped metal beads.
Attach each bead to every loop on the string using a metal ring. Tighten the loops on the string. You can make as many loops as you want and place many beads in each loop. You may stop doing this when the bracelet is long enough for you. Think that the a bracelet lock can take up about half and inch.
At the end of your bracelet, make one more big knot. Trim excess length of the cords. Crimp each end with the spring crimps.
Attach the ends of the cords to the toggle lock using metal rings. We use toggle locks since we find them fairly easy to use but you may use other types of lock if you wish.
Your pattern-inspired charm is now finished. Wear it anytime you like but remember that you can also make one as a gift it to a friend. :)
