Chain and Ribbon Charm Bracelet- A Tutorial of Sorts.

Welcome to Handmade Monday! This week I have been making chain and ribbon bracelets, it’s a new technique for me and I thought I would write a sort of tutorial to show you what I did and leave myself a record to look back on. It is really easy and I think it is quite effective, I have lots of different ideas using different coloured ribbon and chain, I think I will be visiting my local haberdashery shop very soon!

You will need..

A length of chain (enough to go around your wrist) Make sure the links are big enough to pass the ribbon through.

A length of ribbon. I used a piece a good few inches bigger than the chain.

A clasp of your choosing.

Jump rings

Charms

The usual jewellery making tools ( I used  flat and chain nosed pliers and memory wire cutters)

Method

1.

Cut a length of chain long enough that it will fit around your wrist. I found when making the bracelets that the chain seemed to bunch up a little as I threaded the ribbon through so you may want to add a cm or so extra but don't forget that you will be adding a clasp. It may be better to add the ribbon until you get to your desired length then cut the chain. Do whatever you find easiest. I used memory wire cutters to cut the chain.

2

Tie the ribbon to one end of the chain. You can add a dot of glue to the knot when you have finished the bracelet to make it extra secure. I didn't have any glue so used clear nail varnish which seemed to work just as well.

3

Start to weave the ribbon through the links of the chain. You may find it easier to thread the ribbon onto a needle ( a darning needle would be ideal) just make sure the eye can pass through the links. I spent ages looking all over the house for my big needle only to realise that it wouldn't fit. Frustrating!


4

After all that threading, have a rest and a cup of tea. When you have finished your brew, tie the ribbon to the end of the chain.


5

Add your clasp, I had a nature theme in mind so chose a clasp with a flower and leaf design.

6

Set your charms out where you think they would look good. I think this is much easier than adding them as you go and then realising you don't like the look, but use your own preferred way of working.

7

Try not to drop your bag of jump rings.There are a good few hundred in there and I am still picking them out of the carpet. Rarrrrr!


8

Add the charms to the bracelet using the jump rings and there is is- the finished bracelet. There are loads of different colours you could use and different charms too.

Have a great week!

Blinged up Button

Warning! This is a very boring "c.f" centric post, including a picture of Benedict (a.k.a my gastrostomy  button)

It has been a month since me and Benedict got together in the xray room of a Manchester hospital early one Wednesday morning and we are getting on wonderfully with only a few teething troubles along the way. His impact on my life has been immense, I've put on so much weight that my B.M.I is a fab 23. I haven't had to use a belt to prevent bum flashing disasters and, as my mum put it, I'm getting a bit chunky around the edges. I'm probably going to have to start some toning exercises as I am getting a bit of a beer belly (without the beer) and I have the start of bingo wings.( I wonder how many people have stumbled upon this blog and, reading my joy at putting on weight, have thought "what a cow!" Actually that reminds me, when I was at school someone told me they wished they had c.f as I could eat what I wanted and stay slim, cue a look of disbelief from me and epic unspoken swearing (I was quite restrained back then) )  I love it though, seeing my body slowly change. ( I sound a bit weird don't I?)
I'm not sure what effect the extra weight has had on my lung function, it was about 36% last time I had it checked. To be honest I doubt there has been a massive improvement but I have been getting more exercise ( well sort of, does a walk around the block count as exercise?) so maybe.. just maybe..
The cold I wrote about a few blog posts ago did, in the end, start to make it's presence felt on my chest so I started some back up antibiotics that I keep in my draw of drugs and stuff. I feel ok now apart from being sleepy in the day and having insomnia at night. I have also been having the most vivid dreams and have been feeling really creative. Every cloud eh?
Here is a picture of my button with added shiny crystal snowflake ( sadly the N.H.S doesn't provide shiny accessories and the crafter in my just couldn't leave it plain)

There isn't a scale to judge it against but it is about 3cm long.

Have a great weekend !

Blue and White Treasury

I can see blue sky! It has actually stopped raining, my garden is full of water but nothing on the same scale of the poor people who have had their houses flooded.

I haven't been getting many views on my Etsy shop, today I have had a massive 1 view, I'm not quite sure what I can do to increase views and hopefully get some sales... to Google for tips I think!

Here is the weekly Crafty Folk Etsy Team featured seller treasury, this week the lucky winner is Uniquely Yours

I went for a Blue and White theme, I was probably that shocked by seeing some blue sky and white clouds that it subconsciously helped me choose.

As ever, click on the photos to be taken to the shops.

Friday.

I can't believe it is Friday already, just where has the week gone? Honestly, it only feels like 5 mins ago I was writing my Handmade Monday post and setting myself up for a week of listing on Etsy. The week has been fairly productive, I have been advertising my new Facebook business page  and have 29 likes, yey! I have listed a few new bracelets and have played with a new technique (more of that on Monday :) )  It has also been a bit frustrating.. I intended to order some bracelet sized memory wire... when it was delivered I realised I had ordered necklace sized (happy accident really as I now have some new necklaces waiting to be photographed and put on Etsy) so I ordered some bracelet sized and when that came I realised I had only ordered 1 separate bracelet and not a continuous lot with tonnes of coils.. ahhhhh!

I thought I would show some of the items from the Crafty Folk daily listing club Click on the picture to be taken to the shop :)

Hungry Like The Wolf

A treasury for this weeks Crafty Folk featured seller Amys Moving Castle

Click on the photo to be taken to the shop.