Things You'll Need:
- "Stretch Magic" Cord
- E6000 Glue
- Crystals, Pearls, and Beads
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Step 1
Cut 10 inches of stretch cord for an 8 inch bracelet. This will give you enough room to tie your knots, and secure the bracelet after you have strung your beads. You could probably get by with 9 inches if you are concerned about waste, but you would need very small fingers in order to tie your ending knot. Spare the extra inch, and the whole process will go that much smoother. Then put a paperclip or a bead stopper on one end of your cord.
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Step 2
String your beads. This is the easiest, and most fun part of the process. This is where the artist in you will truly shine, as you can create the exact look that you are going for, or the look that your customer wants to achieve. In the following picture, you can see a number of different patterns you could try, but I would suggest that you create one of your very own.Bring the two edges of your bracelet together so that the beads from each end are touching. As you can see by the RIDICULUS illustration, what I am talking about… (I really wonder if I would do any better in Photoshop, but I doubt it…) When you have a knot tied, and your bracelet has formed a rough circle, pull that knot as TIGHT as possible. The cord has quite a bit of give, so don’t be afraid to pull hard.
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Step 3
Bring the two edges of your bracelet together so that the beads from each end are touching. As you can see by the RIDICULUS illustration, what I am talking about… (I really wonder if I would do any better in Photoshop, but I doubt it…) When you have a knot tied, and your bracelet has formed a rough circle, pull that knot as TIGHT as possible. The cord has quite a bit of give, so don’t be afraid to pull hard.
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Step 4
Glue the knot so that it stays tight, let the glue seep into the knot for a minute or two, and then tie another knot and glue it. I suggest E6000 because it dries flexible, and for a stretchy bracelet that is very important. You don’t want your knot to be noticeable, so try and cut your ends as close as possible to the knot, and if you can, slide one of your beads over the knot before it is dry for even more protection from breakage.
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Step 5
Enjoy your new bracelet, or give it as a gift. Depending on the materials used, you now have a very classy bracelet that you could wear to work, or a night on the town. Swarovski Crystals are –in my opinion- the most beautiful on the market, so try and use them. They are a little more expensive than other Czech crystals, though.
