Cheap And Beautiful Jewelry: Using Stretchy Cord To Make Cute Jewelry
By SweetiePie
Wearing cute jewelry is fun, but making it yourself is a lot cheaper. Why would any one spend thirty dollars for a few glass or plastic beads on a piece of string? I guess if you have millions of dollars to spend without discretion that might be a fine approach, but seriously, you can make cheap and beautiful jewelry for much less. When I was in high school I used to make most of my necklaces, but this hobby fell to the wayside as an adult. I have purchased many necklaces and bracelets over the years, but I am shocked to think about how much money I spent, especially considering that the materials to make these items do not cost very much. One of the easiest items you can make on your own is bracelets, and all you need is a bit of stretchy cord. Making bracelets for all your female family and friends is a wonderful and affordable Christmas present, and you can even use beads you already have lying around the house. When I do buy beads I like to buy several packages that catch my eye, and then mix these all together so I can create an alluring pattern. Take a gander at my hub below to see how you can make cheap and beautiful jewelry for yourself, or as presents for family and friends.
I have written several other Hubs about jewelry making techniques using stretch magic and beading wire, but I will go over the basic steps here. The first thing to do is to cut off enough stretch magic stretchy cord for making a bracelet.
Step One: Make A Knot On One End Of The String
Step Two: Keep Putting Beads On The Stretch Magic Cord
Step Three: Tie The Bracelet Together
Below are two videos where I demonstrate how to make simple and eclectic bracelets using stretch magic cord. The important thing to remember is make a knot at the end of the cord before placing the beads on, or everything will fall off. This may sound simple to remember, but there was even a time as a teenager when I made this mistake. I just like to warn everyone about that. Beads can be used in any pattern, or you can make an eclectic design for fun jewelry. There are no rules when it comes to the pattern of beads, and you can even emulate trendy looks from fashion magazines and movies if you like. Personally I like to make my bracelets according to designs that strike me at the moment of inspiration and usually do not follow the trends very closely.
How To Make An Ecletic Bracelet
Alternative Uses For Stretch Magic
I even made a necklace with stretch magic once, but this may be disconcerting to those who feel they need a more substantial material such a beading wire. One thing I love about my stretch magic necklace is it never gets caught in the back of my hair the way wire on necklaces can, and it is much lighter overall. This was something I just tried one day on the spur of the moment, but do not try this at home unless you are adventurous in the world of jewelry making. Thought us crafters never had a wild side, did you?! Have fun making simple, eclectic, and fashionable jewelry with stretch magic beading cord.
Do you enjoy making your own jewelry?
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Comments
Great hub. I also enjoy making beaded jewelry. A great place to buy kits is Bead Retreat. With them you don't have to stand for hours at a craft store or looking through a magazine to figure out which creative path you go. They have a kit that you buy and then it is up to you to see if you want to follow their pattern or create your own. My daughter goes off and creates some beauitful pieces by mixing kits.
Stretch bands are great for making rings, too.
soni2006,
Thanks for saying so and I appreciate this.
RGraf,
I had not thought about making rings our of stretch brands, but that is a good suggestion. Also I will check out Bead Retreat as it sounds like this website has some great supplies. Thanks for sharing.
Great how-to hub, Sweetie. I wore an awesome looking string of beads (which I did myself, thank you, and was charmed by a real Wiccan!), with an easy to work barrel-clasp, for about five years til one day it broke. Nothing pull it. It just broke! So I saved the beads to re-string it "one of these days."
The coolest looking jewelry I've seen (and purchased) was at Saturday Markets and Import Stores in Eugene.
That sounds like a really cool bracelet you made Constant Walker. You should make about restoring it.
WOW! I never thought we could make our own jewelry. I will surely try this. Once again great information and explanation.
Yes making jewelry is very easy and simple. Thanks for commenting countrywomen, I appreciate it as always.
SweetipPie I love your new necklace you are wearing. The colors together are beautiful and it is very relaxing to watch you make jewelry. I also loved the thought of the jewelry clasp not getting caught in your hair. I've lost count of how many times that has happened to me. I think making jewelry is something that I would enjoy. I voted I might eventually.
Dottie,
Thanks for the compliment and I hope you have fun making jewelry in the future. When I do make necklaces with clasps and wire I noticed the barrell clasps tend to get stuck in the hair less :).
Thanks for the added info about the barrell clasps SweetiePie.
Will have to give it a try :)
Hope what ever type of jewelry you try making is fun.
Looking at all the different hubs about jewelry making and so far your is the best, surpassing all others with good info and depth. C.S.
C.S. Alexis,
Thank you so much for saying so, I had fun making all of these. I am glad to know this one has the most detailed info, which will give me an idea of what I should incorporate into future jewelry making hubs.
Wonderful Jewelry. I love it! It does not cost much to make it too.
Thank you Anamika.
I am trying to figure out how to attach a clasp or finish off the ends of a gorgeous beaded necklace I did, three string of the strechy stuff but cannot figure out how to end it and it be strong enough to wear. Any ideas are appreciated. I just started and the beads just were stunning in the color so I wanted lots of them to twist around each other to make a gorgeous necklace but now am stuck. Keep in mind its the strechy string stuff but not very heavy. thanks deb
If it takes 6 weeks, never mind thanks anyway
Did not mean to take so long to get back to you. If you want you can always attach the three ends to a barrel clasp using a crimp bead. That is what I would do anyway.
Nice information SweetiePie and I appreciate for your good work. Thank you!
Thank you!
very nice! i like it. its very simple but beautiful to wear it. hope to see more design in the future.
OMG - So thrilled to find your hub on making jewlrey! Going to get started now by ordering some products above. Bookmarking your very helpful article for reference. Gosh...thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it vocalcoach!
soni2006 3 years ago
Your hubs have always been helpful sweetiepie and this time you have hit the masses with your hub. This is very helpful hub on jewelery making. Thanks. I will look into your suggestions.