I guess it’s obvious that I really love Hallowe’en. When I saw these new SoftStrike pewter cubes from ImpressArt, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. You can stamp on all four sides! How cool is that?! Write words, dates, pictograms…they open up a whole new dimension in metal stamping…literally! I dug through my bead stash to find fall friendly color combos for these Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets. You can use any beads you like here and of course, any words. I plan to wear this trio together. Scare up a wrist full for you or your family and friends!
What you need:
Beads
Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint, Licorice
ImpressArt SoftStrike Small Cubes
14mm Lobster Clasp
2 6mm Jump Rings, Silver Plate
2 Crimp Tubes
Beadalon 19-Strand .015-Inch Wire
Impressart 1/2 Lb Brass Hammer
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
ImpressArt Premium Newsprint Uppercase Letter Stamps
Beadalon Bead Crimp Tool, Standard
Beadalon Flush Cutter
Beadalon Chain Nose Pliers
Bead Board
Cotton Swab
Paper Towel
Amazon.com Widgets
Amazon.com Widgets
Step one: Stamp letters on your cubes. You don’t have to hit these very hard, too much pressure and you may mar your metal. Stamp letter on all four sides. Use enamel paint to ink letters, swipe on with a cotton swab and wipe off with a paper towel. This is a little messy, so work where you don’t have to worry about making a mess! Step two: Measure your wrist. Use a bead board to lay out your beads, leave enough room for the clasp and jump ring in your plan so your bracelet isn’t too big. You don’t want to loose it! Cut wire with about 2″ extra. Thread it into the crimp tube, the clasp and back into the crimp tube. The loop should be about 1/4″, too small and it will create friction when you wear the bracelet and this will begin to cut the wire. Step three: Make sure the wires are uncrossed. Compress the tube with the front oval section of the pliers. This makes the round tube into an oval, so it is easier to crimp. Move tube back to the heart shaped section of the pliers. Compress the tube, separating the wires into separate openings. It should look like a heart! Face the smooth side of the crimped tube towards the jaw of your crimp pliers and in the front oval opening. Press the ends together tightly. Check to be sure it is secured. Cut off the wire tail. The key to beading is making sure your wire fills the holes in the beads, this is why I don’t recommend threading the tail into the beads, if you can do that then your wire is too thin. Adjust the wire thickness you use to fill your beads! Now you can bead! Step four: String your beads on the wire. When you reach the final bead, slide a crimp tube on around a jump ring like you did at the start. Before you crimp, attach the clasp to the jump ring. This will keep your bracelet rounded to allow for play between the beads. This keeps it from being to stiff and breaking later. Use chain nose pliers to pull the wire through the crimp tube. Crimp using the same steps from before. Cut excess wire. Make more!
How about a little candy corn inspiration?
Or maybe Indian corn? Yup, I’m feeling corny, folks. I made a little boo boo here…do you see it? Oh well, pobody’s nerfect.
That’s it! If you make some Boo-tiful DIY Bracelets, we’d love to see them! Happy Hallowe’en!
Cheers,
Madge
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