How to Make a Watch Band From Safety Pins

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By indiependance
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Making funky watch bands out of safety pins is easy and inexpensive. In this variation on the popular "safety pin bracelet," select beads of different colors, shapes and sizes to create a personalized watch band. These watch bands are fun to wear and make creative gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Stretch jewelry cord
Safety pins
Beads
Watch face
Craft glue

Step 1

Cut two equal lengths of jewelry cord. The length of cord you will need will depend on the size of your wrist. Wrap a strand of cord around your wrist and measure 2" extra to leave room for closing the watch band with a knot. Cut the strand and use it to measure out the second strand of cord.
Step 2

Choose safety pins. Safety pins for the watch band can be of any length you choose, but they should be larger than the two safety pins used to hold the watch face in place. The number of safety pins in the watch band will depend upon the length of the jewelry cord.
Step 3

Choose beads. They can be of different types, shapes, sizes and colors. Use simple seed beads to make colorful designs, choose letter beads to spell out a meaningful word, or add glass or metallic beads to create texture.
Step 4

Bead the safety pins. Open a safety pin and add beads to the sharp pin. Put a small dot of glue inside the clasp and close the pin. Apply pressure for a few seconds and set aside. Set aside two empty safety pins for fastening the watch face. Continue beading the rest of the safety pins.
Step 5

Add the watch face. Put the sharp end of a safety pin through the eyelet or holes on one side of the watch face. Add a few beads on either side of it so it matches the rest of the watch band. Glue the safety pins closed as in Step 4.
Step 6

String the safety pins. On a table, lay the safety pins flat. Put them in a line "head to foot" so the clasp end of one pin is next to the thin eye end of the pin beside it. Arrange the safety pins holding the watch face so they are in the middle of the watch band. Thread one of the strands of jewelry cord through the top of the line of safety pins, first through the eye of one pin, next through the clasp end of the pin beside it, and so on. Thread the second strand of cord through the bottom of the line of safety pins in the same way. Knot the strands of cord together like a bracelet; the watch band should not be too loose. Knot the loose ends of the cord around closest safety pins and your watch is ready to wear!