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06/26/2017

Beginner Jewelry Tutorial | DIY Double-Stretch Opal Bracelet

Hey friends!  I’ve got a pretty beginner jewelry tutorial to share with you today featuring beads from today’s post sponsor, Happy Mango Beads.  These faceted opal beads give you the earthy look of stone with a touch of bling, and I’ll show you a way to finish off the knots in stretch cord to make your bracelet look boutique-worthy and not just homemade.  This is a DIY accessory that can go with just about any look, straddling that line between casual and dressy.

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

I got these gorgeous beads at Happy Mango Beads, which is my go-to online store for stone beads, ethnic beads, and unusual jewelry components.  You can follow the affiliate links below to shop for supplies!  Here’s what you’ll need to make this double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet:

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

  • 6mm Faceted Opal Beads, 16″ Strand (Or your favorite faceted 6mm beads)
  • 5 – 12mm Double Hole Pewter Spacer Beads
  • .8mm Stretch Cord
  • 2 – 2mm Crimp Beads
  • 2 – 3mm Crimp Covers
  • Crimp Pliers
  • Scissors
  • Bead Stoppers

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

Start out by cutting two lengths of stretch cord, about 12″ each.  This is longer than you need, but having longer “tails” at each end will make it easier to tie off when you go to finish your bracelet.  I like to use a bead stopper for multi-strand bracelets like this because you can move them on and off the strands you need pretty easily (just pinch the ends to separate the coils, and add as many strands between coils as you need to).  If you don’t have bead stoppers, you can also tie a seed bead or large knot in the end of each cord to be sure your beads don’t slide off the end as you string them on.

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

The pattern I used was 8 opal beads on each strand, then add the 2-hole pewter bead onto both strands.  Depending on the 6mm beads you choose, you may want more or fewer beads between pewter beads – there are no rules here!  I added 7.5 inches of beads for my bracelet.  This can be easily adjusted smaller or larger to fit your wrist.

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

When you have your length, secure one strand of beads with knots or stoppers so that you don’t spill them off the cord while you finish the other strand.  Slip a crimp bead onto one strand, and then tie a square knot (a double knot) to finish the bracelet.  After you finish the knot, slide the crimp bead over the knot, and crimp it gently but firmly.  You want it to hold the knot in place, but you don’t want to crimp it SO tightly that the bead cuts into the cord.

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

Next, add a crimp cover over the crimp bead, and gently crimp that in place.  This is purely decorative!  But crimp beads aren’t that pretty, so this helps give your piece a more finished look.  Tie off the other cord, and trim away the excess cords with scissors.

A beginner jewelry tutorial for making a double strand opal DIY stretch bracelet at happyhourprojects.com

The end result is a secure, simple, and classy DIY stretch bracelet you can wear anywhere!  Thanks for joining me for today’s project, and I’ll see you all again soon!

Adrianne Surian

 

 

Filed Under: Bracelets, Fashion, Jewelry, Tutorials Tagged With: accessories, beads, beginner, bracelet, DIY, easy, fashion, Happy Mango Beads, jewelry, opal, stone

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I love it when you love my work! All tutorials and photos published at Happy Hour Projects are copyrighted. If you would like to feature my tutorial on your website or share it on your social media you may use one photo to feature, as long as you provide a link back to the original post.

If you feature a photo, it may not be accompanied by the project tutorial or recipe, whether in my own words as it originally appears or paraphrased by you. This also includes personal sharing on social media and Pinterest. Publishing multiple photos from a project, or including instructions with an accompanying photo are not permitted and you will be asked to remove them.

I love to share my projects, and my tutorials, recipes, and e-books are ALL free for your personal use. However, photos and ideas that are published to this site are my protected intellectual property. You may print them at home, but please do not copy or distribute them. I also allow all designs to be made and sold at fundraisers, craft fairs, etc. If you are selling a piece made from one or more of my free tutorials in your online shop, I require that you use your own, original photography, and include a link back to my website to credit me as the designer.

I hope you enjoy what you read here, and please be fair when you share!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather L. Guzman says

    02/27/2021 at 8:06 am

    The bracelet is beautiful! I love the detailed explanation, you make it easy to understand. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. run 3 says

    09/10/2018 at 2:42 am

    The bracelet you make is very beautiful, and sophisticated, you are really smart.

    Reply
  3. RL says

    08/24/2018 at 8:57 pm

    Beautiful

    Reply
  4. Carolyn Koloni says

    08/21/2018 at 4:38 pm

    Really Gorgeous. thank you for this and other great tutorials.

    Reply
  5. kanchipuram sarees says

    08/16/2018 at 7:23 am

    nice post

    Reply
  6. golu dolls says

    08/16/2018 at 7:22 am

    looking good

    Reply
  7. Leigh Anne Weissmueller says

    04/04/2018 at 9:31 am

    CAn you tell me where you found the pewter spacers?

    Reply

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    06/27/2017 at 4:23 am

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Hello, and welcome! I'm Adrianne, an artist, author, designer, and blogger in mid Michigan. I work from home, chase my two kids, and this once-city-girl is learning how to care for chickens and adjusting to life out in the country. I have a compulsion for daily creativity... sometimes it's jewelry-making, paper crafting, metal stamping, mixing and baking, or giving new life to recycled items. But with 2 young kids, time is short! My goal here at Happy Hour Projects is to share projects and tips that you can do in an hour or less. The ideas you find here are designed to add a little creativity in your day, no matter how much (or how little) time you have!

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