How to Make Your Own Italian Charm

By making your own Italian charms you can tell your story

The difference between an Italian charm bracelet and a traditional charm bracelet is that the Italian version is linked together with the charm in the link rather than charms being hung from a chain. Each link has an image so the bracelet can tell a symbolic story and each link hooks onto the loop of the next link to create a strap style bracelet, rather than a looser chain.

Things You'll Need

• Photos
• Charm links blank
• Adhesive
• Glossy photo paper
• Clear varnish
• Baubles (optional)
• Text image (optional)

Instructions

1. Reduce your favorite photo to fit the blank charm link using photo editing software. Make it slightly smaller than the link so it fits easily. Print on photo paper. If you are doing several photos, leave enough room to cut around them. Check the size of your baubles and text, too, if applicable.

2. Glue your photo, text or bauble into the charm link. Smooth photos and text images so there are no bumps.

3. Coat the photo, text or bauble with clear varnish and let it dry.

4. Link the charm into the bracelet using the hook on the link and putting it through the loop on the next link and so on. You can buy a tool to assist putting a bracelet together (see Resources). The links can also be bought from the same supplier.

Tips & Warnings

• Creating the charm can be quite tricky and take some patience

References

• Italian Charm Bracelet Charms
• Nomination: Collection Peace and Love

Resources

• Italian Charms: Charms
• Italian Charms