Happy Hour Bracelet

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me by going out to vote.  I am done asking for favors for a while, LOL.

Meanwhile, I’m recovering from trying to make such big projects. :) So today is a really simple one – made using a combination of tutorials I have shown you before.

I’m feeling rather happy about my little blog after getting yesterday’s news – so I made a fun bracelet to wear to celebrate.

First, I stamped a silver washer.  If you have a new metal stamp set you don’t quite know what to do with, or you have been considering buying one, you can read my tips on getting started with metal stamping.  I didn’t take photos of stamping this washer (it’s already nearly midnight as I’m getting this post ready for the morning without the additional photos, so you will have to forgive me on this one), just the final finished piece:

Stamping on washers does take a little getting used to, but it’s almost easier than trying to stamp straight – since you just center your stamp vertically between the inner and outer edges.  Plus, going around is a little more forgiving if it’s not 100% straight.  If you haven’t tried washers – they are certainly worth a test run to see how you like them!

When I stamped it, I left room in the text to attach the cords to each side.  I made it up really similarly to the 10-minute bracelets I posted last week, although instead of leaving it to tie on, I attached end caps with some jewelry glue.  I also used waxed cotton instead of hemp for this bracelet.  There was no special reason I did it this way – just that I had waxed cotton in black, but no black hemp. :)

To add the end caps, I tied knots where I wanted the bracelet to end, so it wouldn’t unravel.  I turned out I didn’t need to do this – it didn’t unravel, so in hindsight I wish I had skipped the knots.  Oh well. :)  I trimmed the ends to about the same length as the end cap was deep.  I added a drop or two of jewelry glue inside the cap, and added it to the ends of my bracelet (I’m sure superglue would work as well!).

This pack of end caps also came with an “S” clasp, so that’s the closure I used.  This way, I can take it off for showers and if I’m getting sweaty to help protect the silver and to keep the cotton cord from wearing out so quickly.

Really simple, just a twist on something I’ve already shown you, but I think I will wear this one a lot!  It’s “me” in a way that not a lot of my other pieces are.  I love truly personalized jewelry, don’t you?

Hope you’re having a great Thursday!!

I link up to these great parties!
~ Adrianne