How to Make a Friendship Bracelet With Can Tops
Repurposing newspapers, magazines and other recyclables into jewelry and household decor has become increasingly popular in recent years. With items already present in your house, you can easily create a unique and inexpensive item to showcase your creativity, or give the item to a friend as a one-of-a-kind gift. It's easy, for example, to make a friendship bracelet with the tabs from soda can tops.
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Things You'll Need
- Brightly-colored cord, approximately 1/4 inch in diameter
- 10 or more metal tabs from soda cans
Instructions
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Measure the length of cord necessary for the bracelet by wrapping a length around your wrist, then adding approximately three inches to accommodate the width of the can tabs while leaving enough extra for tying the ends together when the bracelet is done. You can always cut off extra cord at the end; be sure not to cut too little or you will have to begin with a new length of cord.
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2
Make sure that there are no small bits of metal sticking out from the tabs that might scrape and irritate the skin around your wrist. With the rounded portion of the tab facing upward, weave the cord through the back of the tab's right side hole. Position a second tab behind the first, so that its right side hole matches up with the left side hole of the first tab. Pull the cord through both holes.
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3
Position a third tab on top of the second, so that the left hole of the second tab matches up with the right hole of the third tab. Pull the string through both holes. Repeat this pattern with each tab, allowing them to overlap each other. Continue stringing the tabs until it appears that there are enough to wrap around your entire wrist, with the beginning of the first tab meeting up with the end of the last tab.
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Test the bracelet's length and allow the string to slacken enough that the tabs can bend around the wrist. You'll need to be able to slip the bracelet on and off, so be sure that it's loose enough to move over your hand with relative ease. When the bracelet is long enough, tie the two ends together and cut off the excess cord.
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Tips & Warnings
Any brightly colored cord will help add to your bracelet. More than one cord can be used on each bracelet, adding additional color. A ribbon could also be used to add a feminine touch; just be sure to knot the ribbon securely.
