How to Make Indian Bangles

Brightly-colored, stacked bangles are one of the best known aspects of Indian style.

One of the most well-known qualities of Indian style is the thin, stacked bangles that cover women's forearms. The bangles have a metallic luster and many are ornamented with painted metallic patterns or affixed embellishments. Creating these bangles at home requires only a few simple steps. Which material you use for the bracelet base is your choice, based on your own preference and the availability of materials in your area. You will paint the bracelets with metallic paint so that the bangles will appear metallic whether they are or not.

Things You'll Need

• Undecorated bangles (wood, metal or plastic)
• Metallic colored spray paint
• Metallic paint markers
• Gems or mirrored embellishments (more narrow than the bangle)
• Craft glue or diamond glaze glue
• Tweezers
• Trash bag or newspaper

Instructions

1. Lay the bangles on a trash bag or newspaper. Spread them out so none of the bracelets touch.

2. Follow the manufacturer's instruction for shaking the can of metallic spray paint. You should usually shake the can one to two minutes before using.

3. Spray the bracelets with a generous coat of paint. Look at the bracelets while you spray them to see how quickly the paint become opaque on their surface. You want the paint to be opaque, but not running down the sides of the bracelet.

4. Allow the bracelets to dry. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on drying. Typically, it takes about 30 minutes.

5. Turn the bracelets over.

6. Coat this side with paint as you did the first side. Leave the bracelets to dry.

7. Collect the dry bracelets. If you want unornamented bracelets, you can stop the decorating process now.

8. Use the metallic paint pins to create dots, stripes or flourishes on the bracelets for decoration. Do not use a pen in the same color as the painted bangle because it likely will not be noticeable.

9. Hold a gem or mirrored piece with a pair of tweezers, with the underside facing up.

10. Apply a tiny drop of glue or diamond glaze to the flat back.

11. Position the embellishment with the tweezers and place it on the bracelet.

12. Apply light pressure to the top of the stone with the tweezers. Don't press too hard or the stone will slip off.

13. Apply other embellishments as desired.

14. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying time for the adhesive.

Tips & Warnings

• Use metallic paints that are labeled for metallic accents or decorations. Avoid paints that are designed to make something look like shiny silver or metal. You want the surface to have a metal luster, but you do not want the bracelets to look as if they were forged from actual gold or silver. The bangles that have inspired your creation are inexpensive and not made from precious metals.

References

• Trend Hunter: DIY Bracelet Painting
• Plum and Verdigris: Bangle-icious