Tutorial : Colorful Stackable Bracelet Bangles

The warmer days are coming up in the bay area, and everyone is happy and cheerful, why not make some easy DIY bangle bracelets to match the mood of spring/summer? You can make these using leftover beads, crystals, anything you like and basically stack them up according to your style and preference. These are bracelets that are made from memory wire. Here is a peek at some that I made recently and have been wearing all the time!

Stackable Easy to Make Memory Wire Bracelets

Okay, now for how to make these cuties, you will need:

• Standard bracelet size stainless steel silver plated memory wire (I got mine from Fire Mountain Gems)
• Memory wire cutters (NEVER use any other cutters to cut memory wire, the steel wire will damage  regular cutters)
• Round nose pliers (for making loops at the ends)
• Beads/crystals of your choice (here, I used enough blue crystal bead assortment to complete three  full circles/coils)
•  some bead dangles/charms for the ends (optional)
• 2 jump rings for dangling the charms at the ends.

Supplies for this project

Now, memory wire is a snug coil wire made of tempered steel that holds it shape and fits any wrist. You simply coil the bracelet layer after layer and wear it that way. Here, I am making a bracelet with three full coils.

Step1: Cut approximately three full coils from the memory wire coil using memory wire cutters. These cutters are specially designed to cut memory wire only, hence use these and not your regular wire cutters. I got my memory cutters from Fire Mountain Gems.

Three coils removed using memory wire cutters from the main coil stock.

Step 2 : Make a simple loop at one end of the cut memory wire using round nose pliers.

loop at one end of the wire

Step 3: Start adding beads of your choice through the non-loop end of the wire. Here, I used a mix of blue-green crystals to make a bohemian themed bracelet.

add beads of choice

Step 4: When there is about a half inch of free wire left at the end, make the second loop with round nose pliers, similar to the one you make earlier. Now you have a two opposite ended looped  bracelet with beads!

Stop adding beads when you have half inch left of the wire

make a loop at this end similar to the previously made loop

Step 5: Add Charms/Dangles to the looped ends. This step is optional, you can go ahead and wear the bracelet without charms but if you like some playful ends to the bracelet, it is fun to add clusters of beads or charms for a cuter finish.

The finished Bracelet with Three Coils & Dangles at the ends

Voila! The bracelet is ready to wear - accessorize these for parties, events or stacking several up for a stylish look! This is also a great way to use up leftover beads from a crafting project or making kids bracelets in several colors.

Crushed Coin Disc Necklace

This is my current favorite design: I keep wearing this on weekend dinner events, and those times I want to dress up just a little bit. I like that the necklace is light and sparkly without going over the top. If you like this design, I have it up for sale in my Shop.

Crushed Disc Coin Necklace in Gold

A delicate accessory for your neck!

Floral

Weather has started to warm up nice and cosy, I am looking forward to spring already! Here is a spring romance inspired necklace - NEW!! from Sparkle Chains - in lariat style that gives an incredibly elegant decorative overall look to your neck, sitting pretty at your collarbone.

Spring Romance Necklace

Since I was thinking flowers and spring all this time, here is my new spring/floral inspired collection of goodies from our fabulous Etsians!

Spring Flower Treasury

My Fave Etsy Picks this Week

Time to list my top 3 Etsy Faves this week!

1. Hand-painted vintage bowl "somewhat angular", black and white, from RoomforEmptiness, $20.29 USD

Hand Painted Bowl

This bowl is beautiful in its simplicity and hand painted floral ring design. With a monochromatic color palette and stunning photography, this bowl has warmed its way into my heart. The seller also has several other glassware in the same style - modern with vintage fusion.

2. Blue and Green Dots Clutch with Applique by MiCasaBella, $55.00

Gorgeous Blue-Green Clutch

A stylish clutch purse for the Spring-Summer Parties. Love the polka dots in fresh blue-green tones with the cute little knob in blue as a pretty detail that makes this clutch truly stand out. I think this is a great gifting purse.

3. Black Bud Ring. Sterling Silver from lachicadelosanillos, $65.00

Sterling Silver Black Bud Ring

All handcrafted, the sterling silver ring with buds embellishment on top is beautiful and stylish with handmade beauty. This seller also has other gorgeous rings that would surely have you shopping here again and again!

Cross Necklaces

Wearing a simple cross around your neck makes for an all day everyday faith inspired necklace. Here are the two designs available at Sparkle Chains, more to come!

Little Gold Cross Charm Pendant Necklace

Sideways Cross Silver Necklace

Copper and Silver Necklace

Shimmering Copper Necklace with Sterling Silver Chain

Copper Ball Necklace with Sterling Silver Link Chain

I personally adore the metallic contrast of copper and silver. The vintage colors of the copper stands out against the modern hues of sterling silver. The Copper Ball Necklace and Shimmering Copper Necklace are both similar in design, except that one is more simple with a single copper ball and the other is perfect for evening dance with three copper balls.

Storage Ideas for your Jewelry

If you are a jewelry designer like me, you will soon end up accumulating tons and tons of beautiful supplies - headpins, jump rings, beads, crystals, chains, links, crimps, pearls, findings, clasps and what not. Not taking proper storage measures to neatly organize these little building blocks of jewelry can be the perfect recipe for clutter and chaos later on. From my experience, it is always a good idea to start right from the beginning, when you start to slowly accumulate these supplies. Start with a few stackable storage boxes and build up depending on how much your supply collection grows.

Here are some great ways to store your jewelry supplies or finished jewelry

 Divided Clear Boxes with multiple compartments

13-1/8" x 9" Clear 24-Compartment Box from The Container Store

 This compartment storage box closes tight, is easy to see whats inside without opening and has numerous little divided spaces that can each store your small jewelry beads and findings. You can also label each compartment as the dividing bars are quite tall. Or you can buy several of these boxes and stack them up for a cohesive feel to your supplies shelf. I label each box with a number, and then label each separate space with whats inside. To refer back later, I have a separate inventory book that tells me what each box (identified by its number) contains. This system takes some time and lot of patience to start, but once it is set up, you will thank the world for this system saving valuable time that you would otherwise spend trying to find that headpin or jumpring.

Non-jewelry makers can also find this box a big help : you can sort and separate all your earrings and store them in these little spaces, this way it is easy to find what you are looking for when in a hurry and the gold earrings wont mix up with the silver ones. Closing the box reduces chances of tarnishing as well.

Multi Drawer Small Cabinets

Multi-Drawer Cabinets from The Container Store

The best thing about these cabinets is that they can either be wall mounted or stored on table top. The Container Store has these efficient organizers in a variety of shapes and sizes that is worth checking out. You simply pull out each mini-drawer and store your supplies or jewelry.  These are also perfect  for storing any craft or art supplies, scrapbooking stuff or small tools.

Anti-Tarnish Bags

Pro-Tectant Anti-Tarnish Anti-Rust Plastic Bags from Rio Grande

Sometimes, you don't want to leave chain or findings made of precious metals (sterling silver or 14K gold) exposed to air in the stackable drawers. For such instances, you can add another level of security by storing them in these anti tarnish bags that are self sealed and prevent tarnish or rust formation for about 12 months/bag. I label each bags with what is inside and store several such bags in small storage bins.

What methods do you use to store your jewelry supplies? Share with me!