Memory Wire Leather Wrap Bracelets

A fun new trend is memory wire leather wrap bracelets. They are easy to pair with your casual outfits, easy to slip-on on your way out the door, and definitely easy to make.

Memory wire leather wrap bracelets are easy to make and require only three components: leather cord, memory wire, and end/bead caps. The best type of leather cord to use for these bracelets has a hollow inner tube or has a hollow center, such as our braided leather and cork cord. The great thing about using memory wire with leather cord is that the bracelet will retain its round shape through many wears. For a clean look, cap off your leather bracelets with bead caps and end caps. You can also add extra character, color and movement to a bracelet with beads, spacers and/or charms.

Memory Wire and Leather Bracelet Tutorial

GoodyBeads | Blog: How to make a memory wire leather bracelet

Memory Wire Tips

When making your wrap leather bracelet, don’t cut the memory wire before adding your bracelet components. First, slip all beads, leather pieces, and caps onto the loops of memory wire. Then you can see how the whole bracelet will look and still have a chance to make changes.
Use Memory Wire Cutters to cut the memory wire, as regular cutters may not be strong enough to cut through the wire.
Use Memory Wire Finishing Pliers to create a simple loop when using an end cap with a hole. These pliers can withstand the toughness of the memory wires. Learn how to make a simple loop on our blog.

Scarlet Willow Memory Wire Leather Bracelet:

GoodyBeads | Blog: Scarlet Willow Memory Wire Leather Wrap Bracelet

What you will need:

WR00120 – Large Silver Heavy Duty Memory Wire
(16-18″) CH00159 – 5mm Braided Red Round Leather Cord
(2) A021678 – End Cap
A015821 – Super New Glue
TL00206 – Memory Wire Shears

Morocco Mint Memory Wire Bracelet

For this bracelet, we broke up the leather into two pieces and used Czech beads and flat spacers to accent the middle portion of this bracelet. We added drop charms to each ends for extra movement.

What you will need:

WR00109 – Silver Memory Wire
(8) CH00881 – 5mm White Cork Cord
(4) A015229 – Gold Smooth End Cap
(12) A022157 – Blue Silk Picasso
(11) Z001355 – 6mm Gold Steel Disc Beads
(2) A001550 – Copper Etch Oval Drops

Instructions:

Make a simple loop at one end of your memory wire.
Cut cork cord in half.
Refer to image above to slide on the following cork cord, end caps and beads.
Make another simple loop and cut excess wire.
Open one side of the memory wire loop and slide two drop charms. Close loop.
Repeat step 5 to other memory wire loop end.

Pink and Pearly Wrap Bracelet

For this leather bracelet, instead of having beads in the middle, we added pearls to the ends of the bracelet for a for a pretty accent before finishing it off with a simple loop.

What you will need:

WR00109 – Silver Memory Wire
(8) CH00319 – 5mm Pink Twisted Leather Round Cord
(2) A021121 – 7mm Bali Deep Bead Cap
(2) SW00672 – 8mm White Pearl Bead
(2) SW00673 – 10mm White Pearl Bead

Instructions:

Make a simple loop at one end of your memory wire.
Pull out inner threading inside of the braided leather. Using chain nose pliers will also help this process.
Slide on the following beads:
Small pearl, larger pearl, end cap, leather cord, end cap, large pearl, smaller pearl.
Make a simple loop at the end and cut excess wire with memory wire cutter.

Teal Braided Wrap Bracelet:

What you will need:

WR00109 – Silver Memory Wire
(8) CH00660 – 5mm Pale Turquoise Braid Cord
(2) A010436 – 6mm Barrel End Cap
(2) A002413 – 4mm Jump Rings
(1) TC00082 – Made with Love Charm
(1) TC00464 – Lotus Flower Charm

Cut cord at about 7-8 inches or to your wrist preference.
Feed the Memory Wire through the inside of the leather until you’ve reached the end of leather.
Cut the wire flush to the end of the leather. Adhere end cap and leather ends together with Super New Glue.
Open a jump ring, slide on charms and loop end of your end cap. Close jump ring.

Check out these inspirational GoodyBeads memory wire leather bracelets:

Headpin Wire Loop Tutorial: Christmas in July Edition

Are you thinking about Christmas in July? We are. We want to give you a heads up about the gift of handmade this upcoming Christmas. And what better way to jump start your jewelry projects by learning the basic skill of how to make a headpin wire loop.

Make sure to have lots of headpins on hand. Plated headpins are inexpensive and a great starter for wire looping. Don’t be discouraged if your first or second or tenth loop doesn’t turn out the way you want it. Practice. Practice. Practice. Just remember to grip your tools loose but firm and as cliché as it may sound, it’s all in the wrist.

The tools you will need:
Round Nose Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Side Cutter

Supplies you will need:
Beads
A LOT of headpins (for practicing)

Tutorial:

Step 2: Using Flat Nose Pliers, bend the headpin, from the top of the bead, in a 45 degree angle.

Step 3: Using a Round Nose Pliers, measure about ¼” of the plier tip. That is where you will place your pliers at the curve of the headpin. *Tip: You can mark the pliers with a Sharpie if you want consistent loops

Step 4: Using your fingers, wrap the headpin over the plier.

Step 5: Continue wrapping the headpin under the plier.

Step 6: Using Side Cutters, cut the excess wire where the headpin crosses.

Step 7: If there is a gap, use Flat Nose Pliers to adjust and close the loop.

Tip:
When clipping, be safe and hold headpin end so that the end doesn’t shoot away. You can also face the headpin end away from you – towards your jewelry mat – to avoid excess from flying off.

Get your holiday gifts done and ready with this essential skill. You can make multiple bead dangles for a chunky beaded bauble bracelet, a statement pendant for a necklace or simple holiday dangle earrings. For a fun and easy idea to test your skill, pick up one of our many earring kits. The necessary beads, headpins, and ear wire are included to make a charming pair of earrings.

Happy Holiday and Happy Beading!

Tools and Supplies used in images:

Tools:

A001400 – Super Fine Side Cutter
FTTL0002 – Super Fine Chain Nose Pliers
FTTL0004 – Super Fine Round Nose Pliers

Supplies:

A006236 – Peridot Swarovski Christmas Tree Earring Kit
A006547 – Garnet Swarovski Holiday Light Bulb Earring Kit
A019505 – Holiday Tree and Swarovski Earring Kit
A002428 – Natural Gift Box
A001493 – 2 Inch Headpins

Tassel Jewelry

A hot trend this summer are tassels. We have three fun inspirational tassel jewelry projects for you to enjoy at your next music festival or relaxing under the shade by the beach.

Mala Meditate Necklace

Mala is a strand of counting beads used in Hindu or Buddhist practice for praying or reciting a mantra to aid concentration during meditation. A typical mala is made with 108 beads that are strung with a knot tied in between each bead. Depending on the type of chant, counts of strung beads may vary. It is said that with each knot, people recite a mantra to bless the beads. The strand is also accompanied with a larger bead named the “Guru” bead and a tassel.

For our Mala necklace, we used 8mm round gemstone beads for a 42” necklace. Using a sturdy Super-Lon bead cord, cut a piece of cord about 150″ and make a knot 6″ in. This will help stop the end bead from falling off. String on your first bead and make a knot (using a pliers or tweezers if needed) flush to the bead to keep it in place. Repeat until you’ve strung and knotted all 108 beads.

Now take both cord ends and tie together. At these two ends, you will string on your Guru bead and tassel.

We made our tassel portion by using a large rust suede leather tassel. Insert a 3” eyepin from the middle-bottom of the tassel up. Slip on a 10mm tulip end cap to cover the top of the tassel. Wrap the headpin and your tassel is ready. (see images below)

Now take the two tied ends, string on the 12mm wood bead and place the tired ends through the tassel wire loop. Bring the strings back through the bottom of the wood bead and make a knot or two. Secure it with some clear adhesive like GS Hypo Cement. Cut the ends and you are ready to meditate or wear your Mala as a fashion accessory.

Beaded Tassel Earrings

For these Beaded Tassel Earrings, we used our brand new Tassel Maker from Beadalon®. You can find a tutorial of how to make tassels HERE. We took Super-Lon bead cord and made 25 loops to make the tassel. Attach an eyepin to the top of the tassel and slip on a cone bead cap and a 4mm round bead. Make a simple wire loop and attach to earring hooks.

If you find that some of your tassel ends have kinks, twists or curls, dampen with water, twist and pull them straight. After a few seconds when dried, you will find them straightened out. Taking about a third or half of the tassel ends, string 10 beads to each strand and knot the end. We recommend using an already-mixed, size 8 seed bead for a fun colorful look. Cut the remaining, unstrung tassel ends at a variety of shorter lengths to blend into the rest of the beaded tassels. Now you are ready to rock these earrings at your next music festival!

Wood Tassel Bracelets

One of our easier projects is our Wood Tassel Bracelets. Make these quick and easy bracelets to show your love of tassels. For each bracelets, we used different round wood beads in a sequential design along with a tassel, strung on elastic. Make sure to stretch the elastic string lightly to loosen the elasticity before stringing on beads. Also, after knotting the elastic, use GS Hypo Cement to secure your knot.

Malas Meditate Necklace

A012991 – Super-lon Cord (Maroon color)
(4 strands) FJR8RD-8 – 8mm Fossil Coral Round Bead
(1) NBWB0003 – 16mm Wood Bead
(1) A018886 – Tulip End
(1) A003255 – 3 Inch Eyepin
(1) Z008825 – Large Rust Suede Leather Tassel
Tool: A007224 – GS Hypo Cement
Optional Tool: A013730 – Bent Chain Nose Pliers

Beaded Tassel Earring

SB01054 – Size 8 Honey Butter Mix Seed Bead
A012991 – Super-lon Cord (Maroon color)
(2) A021484 – Bali Etched Cone
(2) Z001480 – Antique Gold-Plated Round Bead
(1 pair) A008998 – French Wire Earrings
(2) A001495 – 2 Inch Eyepin
Tool: TL00230 – Tassel Maker Tool

Wood Tassel Bracelet

(1) Z002653 – Red Tassel
(1) Z003429 – Brown Tassel
(3) NBWB0003 – 16mm Wood Bead
(8) A002425 – Rondelle Wood Bead
(26) Z004978 – Red, Black, and Brown Round Wood Bead
(14) Z002802 – Ivory Round Wood Bead
(4) A004268 – Dot Design Wood Bead
A002290 – .7mm Stretch Elastic Cord
Tool: A007224 – GS Hypo Cement

Summer DIY Hemp Bracelets by HappyHourProjects.com

Who doesn’t love summer? It’s a season full of sunny days, barbecues and beach waves. And who doesn’t love an easy-to-wear, easy-to-make hemp bracelets? Here is an inspiring project to keep you kicking back this summer!

Our friend Adrianne, from HappyHourProjects.com, has an easy-to-follow beaded button-clasp hemp bracelet tutorial for designing the perfect festival bracelet. All you need is some hemp cord, seed beads, a button piece and a few minutes. With a minimal purchase, you should have enough time and supplies to make more than one!

Create several handcrafted hemp bracelets to mix, match and love this summer!

Click HERE to go to tutorial now.

How to Make Bead Pens

Bead pens are easy to design and make a wonderful gifts. Spruce up your workstation with an ornately-beaded pen or give a teacher, office co-worker, or special friend a pen they’ll surely swoon over.

Bead pens have three separate pieces: a base, a mandrel, and a cap (shown below).

To assemble your pen and design, first twist the shorter threads of the mandrel into the bead pen itself. Apply beads to the mandrel (approximately a space of 2.5”) as desired. Beads and spacers will need a 2mm or larger bead hole diameter to fit onto the mandrel. Tip: The GoodyBeads.com beads and spacers that are labeled “Large Hole” will fit GoodyBead.com bead pen mandrels. Lastly, once you have decorated your mandrel with beads and spacers, complete it by attaching the pen cap to the top of the mandrel.

If you find that the beads and spacers are spinning after placing the cap on, add another spacer or bead to fill any gaps. If the gap is not wide enough for a bead or spacer, add a Rubber O-ring at the top or bottom of your beads. This will help secure the beads in place.

We have compiled 5 bead pen designs for your inspiration:

Blacken Wood

Our Blacken Wood pen has African-inspired bone beads with carved designs and a matte finish. It embodies both a rich and natural beauty.

Copper Swirls

Our Copper Swirls pen represents mesmerizing and whimsical nostalgia. It holds one of our 44mm oval large hole lampwork beads, accented with large-hole gemstone beads and silver spacers.

Berry Sparkle

Our Berry Sparkle pen is the perfect pen to glam up your office space! This pen features a pink 2” long furnace-glass tube that is accented with two metal spacers.

Silver Smoke

Our Silver Smoke pen features a sophisticated and clean look, and it’s easy to carry in your handbag. We have used our large-hole Swarovski® beads for a gradient caramel look.

Green Floral

Best for those green-thumb lovers out there, our Green Floral bead pen uses our ready-made bead pen sets. Bead pen sets are fast and ready to use for your bead pen projects. Bead pen not included with bead pen set.