Friday, January 29, 2010

How do I love thee...charm bracelet

How do I love thee...let me count the ways.



This charm bracelet has 'enameled' red heart charms mixed with sparkly red beads and a few numbers, 1-10 to be exact. I like the way the numbers float in between the more substantial, painted hearts and red beds. It would more personal with the wearer's significant numbers, perhaps the ages when the lovers met, the numbers of their first date, a lucky number.

Note that some of the heart charms are placed back-to-back to make two sided charms. I have also seen these called flip lockets as you can flip the two charms apart and expose the inside. I'll do a sample next week to show you how to fill paired charms with images. If you didn't want the charms to flip apart you could just glue them together.

To learn how to 'enamel' your own naked brass charms go here.

Ingredients:
Naked Brass number charms, 1-10
assorted Naked Brass heart charms, painted red
2 Antique Brass round jump rings, 11 mm
2 6-inch sections of Antique Brass Open Extender Chain
1 1-inch section of Antique Brass Open Extender Chain
1 6-inch section of Antique Brass Pyknic Cable chain
1 Antique Brass Spring Clasp, 12 mm
20 Antique Brass jump rings, 5 mm
4 Antique Brass head pins, 2 inch
assorted red and pink glass beads, plastic flowers or rhinestone beads

1.Assemble the bracelet. Lay the three strands of chain out in order as shown. Using your chain nose pliers open an 11 mm jump ring and thread it through the end links on the chains and through the ring on the spring ring clasp. Close securely. Repeat on the other end of the chain lengths, adding the 1 inch section of extender chain.

2. Create your bead dangles by stacking beads and plastic flowers onto head pins and looping the head pins with your round nose pliers. Set aside.

3. Using your chain nose pliers attach the number charms, painted hearts and bead dangles to the Pyknic Cable chain length. You may wish to lay out the placement of the charms, dangles and numbers before you begin attaching them.



You'll find a free downloadable project sheet of this project and many others right here at Ornamentea.com. All tools and supplies are available at Ornamentea and Panopolie in Raleigh.

1 comment:

  1. Funky fun bracelet...my favorite bracelet to wear is one with dangles, I love the feel & the movement!

    I see you used three chains, I've made a few like that myself lately...necklaces as well!!! I remember when we used to wear 4 or 5 necklaces at one time each a little longer than the next...loved it!!! I think I'm aging myself??? :0)

    Enjoy your weekend...
    Cheers

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