Show Your Colors Bracelet

by Judy Larson

Category: Design
Technique(s): Design, Stringing, General Education
Skill Level: Beginner

Our small town goes all-out for the 4th of July-parades, reunions, vendors, and one of the best fireworks shows around. When our daughter's class started planning a big 25th reunion float, I knew I could add a personal touch.

With plenty of red, white, and blue beads in my stash, I made a batch of bracelets for the float crew-something festive they (or their families) could wear and enjoy.

Materials

22 Gauge Bracelet Memory Wire Silver Finish - Approximatly 20 coils

H14-2

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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3mm Corrugated Rondelle Gold Filled Bead With 1.1mm Hole - Pack of 10

J9-143

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.97
Gold Club Price: $9.73

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Beads - Variety of 8mm beads

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Gold Filled Bead Tips .039 Hole 3mm - Pack of 10

J10-7

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.88
Gold Club Price: $5.91

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E6000 Adhesive Glue 3.7 oz. - Pack of 1

G16-18

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.99
Gold Club Price: $6.74

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Elasticity Bead Cord, Clear, 1.0 Millimeters, 100 Meters

Jewelrytools.com Product ID: BDC-461.00

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

20 X 15 Inch Padded Work Mat

MAT-620.00

MAT-620.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Cordless Bead Reamer

HDP-380.00

HDP-380.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.97
Gold Club Price: $8.98

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EZ Sizer, Bracelet Mandrel Product

GAU-110.00

GAU-110.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Memory Wire Cutters - Pack of 1

G2-36

G2-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.38
Gold Club Price: $7.78

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Optional Tools

Bead Board

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Instructions

Step 1

Decide if you're making a small, medium, or large bracelet.

Lay out a row of 8mm beads on a bead board to match your chosen size.

For reference, I have a small wrist (5¾"), and the number of beads shown gives me a comfortable fit just below the wrist bone.

Pro Tip: Making a few at once saves time and gives you a ready-to-gift stash. Try faceted beads for extra sparkle.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Lay out a line of 8mm beads

Step 2

Lay out a row of 8mm beads on a bead board to match your wrist size.

Small Start with the layout from Step 1

Medium: Add 1 bead

Large: Add 2 beads

Once sized, thread the beads onto a prepared stretch cord.

For detailed size conversions for 8mm Round Beads, check the chart at the bottom of this page.

Pro Tip: Use a bracelet cone to double-check sizing if you're working with mixed bead shapes or sizes.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Add one more bead to make a medium size

Step 3

Make sure the last bead on your cord has a hole large enough to hide the stretch cord knot.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , can be drilled out to accommodate the stretch cord knot.

Step 4

You can also cover the knot with a crimp cover or tuck it into a large-hole or hollow metal bead. Most large-hole beads fit a 1mm stretch cord knot.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , large hole beads

Step 5

Tie the ends of the stretch cord together.

Finish the knot in your preferred manner.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Tie the ends of the stretch cord together

Step 6:

How to Style

Using just two colors instead of three makes the bracelet easier to wear year-round-not just on holidays.

To add visual interest and tie in your theme, try stacking it with a multi-gemstone bracelet that shares one or two of the same stones.

Step 7

Show off your patriotic colors with a touch of shine.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Wear your patriotic colors

Step 8

Gold-plated brass spacer beads were used instead of silver, since summer heat and humidity can cause silver to tarnish quickly.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Small gold-plated over brass

Step 9

Gold-plated brass holds its sparkle longer-and even if the plating wears over time, the warm gold tone still remains.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , Gold-plated brass will continue sparkling longer.

Step 10

Pairing your patriotic bracelet with a colorful multi-gemstone piece brings to mind parade floats, tossed candy, and the playful feel of fireworks packaging.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , multi-gemstone bracelet

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , patriotic color bracelet

Step 11

While inspired by the 4th of July, these bracelets aren't just for one day a year. Adding a multi-gemstone stack with gold accents makes them easy to wear all summer-and beyond.

Judy Larson's Show Your Colors Bracelet - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, , , gold-plated accents make them more versatile

Step 12:

Size Reference (8mm Round Beads Only)

Interior diameter measured on a bracelet cone:

Small: 6¼"

Medium: 6-5/8"

Large: 7-1/8"

Approximate strand lengths:

Small: 7¼"-7-5/16"

Medium: 7-5/8"-7-11/16"

Large: 7-15/16"-8"

Note: Gemstone bead sizes may vary slightly due to manufacturing differences.

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!