Shells and Suede Easy Wrap Bracelet

Hey friends!  I just opened up some HAPPY MAIL and I was inspired to whip up today’s easy wrap bracelet design.  It’s a beachy, boho style with shells and suede cord with just a few simple bead charms – great for a day at the beach, or a day you’re just dreaming about it.

This design was inspired by this month’s Blueberry Cove Bead box.  Each month, you can get a new SURPRISE themed box with an assortment of beads, cords, charms, and findings, and this month the theme was nautical.  I don’t get paid to share my bead box with you guys, and the designs I make are all my own ideas – but full disclosure: because I’m such a fan of this subscription service and I love doing the monthly reveal here on the blog, I do get my bead box free each month.  But seriously – who doesn’t love happy mail?  Especially when you open it up to find things like this:

I pulled out the copper end caps, the brown suede cord, and a few of the shell beads and wooden beads to make today’s project.  If you love this collection, there are often a few boxes left to purchase at Blueberry Cove Beads (it may not be listed just yet since the box is brand new), but if you’re just hoping to re-create this design, I’m going to list sizes of the materials below to make a version of your own.

To make this easy wrap bracelet, you will need:

• 20 inches of 3mm suede cord
• 2 glue-on end caps with 3mm opening
• 3 top-drilled shell beads
• 3 3mm wooden beads
• 3 copper finish head pins
• 4 copper finish 6mm jump rings
• copper finish hook clasp (or clasp of your choice)
• round nose pliers
• chain nose pliers
• wire cutters
• jewelry glue

First, create a few simple beaded charms.  Add a wooden bead to your head pin, and thread a shell bead on top of that.  A quick note: because shell beads are natural beads and often hand-drilled, each are different!  I found that some shells slipped quite easily onto the head pins and some could not be threaded onto the wire at all.  If you have difficulty, a bead reamer to expand the inner hole may be useful – or try another bead from the strand, and you may have good luck.

Grip the head pin with your round nose pliers, and bend the wire end around one side, forming a loop.  Then, wrap the tail end of the wire around the pin, between the loop you created and the top of the bead.  Trim any excess wire with your wire cutters.

Next, use a few drops of glue on the inside of the ends caps, and glue the suede cord in securely.  I prefer Super New Glue for attaching leather and suede to metal end caps, but any glue that’s designed for jewelry or lists both metal and fibers on the list of applications will work fine!

Add a jump ring to each charm, and thread the rings onto the suede cord.  Glue the other end cap onto the opposite end of the cord.  Once it dries enough to be tacky (this is usually just a minute or two), use a jump ring to attach your favorite style clasp to one end.

Wrap bracelets, as the name suggests, are intended to wrap several times around the wrist for a layered look – and this design gives you a modest, boho styled bracelet that’s a great casual accessory!

Hope you enjoyed today’s DIY and I’ll see you guys again soon!  Have a great weekend!