Sunday, March 1, 2015

sherbet pearl bracelets



Fun, fruity hues of strawberry pink, lemon yellow and kiwi green plus the soft sheen of classy pearls mix here to make bright and bold stacking bracelets. These are the perfect bracelets for both kids and adults - I think the sophistication of the bead caps and pearls contrasted by the more playful color schemes makes for an all-ages accessory!



I love the detail of these Pandahall toggles and Cousin bead caps, which contrast nicely against the smooth glass jade and pearl beads. I was inspired to make these after looking on Instagram at tropical beach photos (who wouldn't when there is six inches of snow outside?!). I saw tropical sorbet and sherbet pictures, complete with fruit toppings and set against the sandy beaches of some oceanside getaway. So, why not try to replicate that color and mood in a bracelet?



You can layer these up, or wear alone. I think the more the merrier. The toggle clasp makes for easy wearing as well, so you don't have to mess with lobster clasps. I also like that they are lighter weight, and are great for upcoming spring wardrobes.
Let's get started with the tutorial!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are 6mm colored pearls by PandaHall, .3mm silver beading wire (mine from Cousin), silver crimps and jump rings, metal bead caps (mine from Cousin), toggle clasps from PandaHall, and pliers.
I also used these glass jade beads from PandaHall and crimp covers (which are not pictured here).



Cut two lengths of beading wire that are 1.5 times the length of your wrist. Thread both wires through a crimp, around a jumpring, back through the crimp and crimp shut. Cut off that excess wire. Take a pearl, thread it onto one wire, doing the same with the other. Now, thread on a bead cap, jade bead, and another bead cap through both wires - it should look like the rightmost picture.
I kept with one color scheme per bracelet, to keep the look more streamlined. Feel free to mix up colors for a less monochromatic look!



Keep repeating, until it's the length you need to wrap around your wrist. With the end, simply thread on a crimp, through jumpring, then back through crimp. Crimp shut and cut excess. Add the toggle ends to the jump rings. Finish off the crimps by covering with crimp covers for a clean look.



Simple, right?! You can whip up a lot of these in no time, and can change up the beads for different looks. Try using 6mm turquoise beads and then larger bronze crystals (in place of the glass jade beads) for a Southwestern look.  Or, go with all white pearls and black crystals for a Chanel-inspired scheme!



I would style these with something casual, yet chic; a sharp white blouse, leather leggings or denim skinny jeans, and black ankle booties would do the trick. Also, for summer, pair with a flowy maxi dress and strappy sandals for a more bohemian look!



Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you make these bracelets, post to Instagram and tag @quietlioncreations - I will repost you!




COPYRIGHT
Because I take all photos for my blog, the images within this post are all copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations. If you'd like permission to use a photo, email me at allison@quietlioncreations.com

4 comments:

  1. soooooooooo cute!!!! I love the candy colors! :)

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  2. Such fun pretty bracelets. Perfect for spring! I love the smiley faces :)

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  3. Love these. Unfortunately Panda Hall no longer carries the glass jade beads. Where else would these be available? Thanks.

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  4. Finally found something that is Easter looking! Yes! It is beautiful! Can't wait to try it. Thank you for sharing your idea!

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