Instructions on How to Make Your Own Themed Charm Bracelet and Necklace

I love wearing jewelry. When on vacation, pretty earrings and necklaces and bracelets always capture my attention. I have often purchased on impulse jewelery that looks stunning or unique and then find it difficult to match with clothing that I wear. These pieces hangs in my room, worn only on occasion. It is often difficult to find what I'm looking for when trying to match jewelery to my wardrobe so I started learning to make my own pieces to fit my clothing style and preferred colors. I recently discovered an old charm bracelet from my long ago youth and after perusing websites and books on jewelery-making decided to incorporate charms with my favorite colors for a more updated look.

While on vacation in Disney World this past summer, I picked up a number of charms capturing the memories of our time at these parks. I also purchased a silver bracelet with a mickey toggle clasp. Below I've provided the instructions on putting together a themed charm bracelet. Mine uses Disney charms and the color theme red which fits my predominately red/black wardrobe, but you can adapt it to any theme and color scheme.

Step One:

I used a pre-made charm bracelet with a Disney-themed toggle. Gather your charms and bead elements for the bracelet. Mine included the following:

• Four Disney charms with a simple lobster claw attachment;
• three wire-ball beads, 1black, 2copper;
• 2 7mm clear crystal faceted round beads;
• 2 6mm pale amethyst crystal faceted oval beads;
• 2 4mm square red crystal beads;
• 2 silver beads ;
• 4 red beads, 2 of each kind;
• 2 3mm black round beads;
• 2 eye pins;
• 9 head pins
• 11 4mm jump rings;
• 2 3mm jump rings

Step Two:

Gather your tools:

• round nose pliers;
• chain nose pliers;
• wire cutters

Step Three:

On each of the headpins place the beads as follows:

• Add each wire-ball bead to its own head pin;
• Add each of two identical red beads to its own head pin;
• Add a 7mm clear crystal faceted round bead, followed by a silver bead to a head pin;
• Repeat;
• Add a 6mm pale amethyst crystal faceted oval bead followed by a square red crystal bead to a head pin;
• Repeat;
• Add each 3mm black round bead to its own head pin;
• Add the remaining two identical red beads to their own eye pin;

Step Four:

Form a rosary loop for each bead set according to the following instructions.

Most bead work requires loops for attaching beads to wire, chain or other beads. The rosary loop is the simplest of wire loops to make.

1. Put your bead or beads onto a headpin.
2. Using chain-nose pliers, bend the head pin at a 90° angle.
3. Using wire cutters, cut the head pin about ½ inch from the bend.
4. Using the round nose pliers, bend the head pin back around the pliers until it meets itself, forming a loop.
5. Keep in mind that all wire work including these loops take practice. I myself am still in the experimental stage. My loops don't always look perfectly round and you will find yourself modifying instructions you find in books and help sites to match your comfort level.

Step Five:

• The four charms are evenly spaced on the bracelet and are attached using the alligator clasp already attached to the charm. If using charms without alligator clasps, then they are attached using jump rings.
• Attach the small black bead component to the red beads on the eye pins using the smallest jump rings. Jump rings are attached to the rosary loop in the following manner. Using two pliers, grasp the jump ring firmly with both pliers and gently pull apart the jump ring. Once both the rosary loop of the bead component and a link of the chain have been looped gently pull closed the jump ring.
• Attach each of the beaded components in the same manner, frequently checking the layout and placement of beads and charms to make sure all are well spaced and laying the way you desire.
• Once all components are attached, check each jump ring to make sure that the two ends meet exactly so as not to lose beads later while wearing your creation.
• Now, enjoy wearing your own creation!

The charmed necklace pictured is a two-layered necklace made with charms of an astrological theme. I am a Pisces. Two of my sons are Aries and one is a Gemini. I was also born in the year of the dragon and have incorporated Chinese astrology in the form of a Dragon symbol. Again, as I wear lots of black and red, I have incorporated red beads into the design.

Step One:

Gather your charms and bead elements and chain for the necklace. Mine included the following:

• Two lengths of silver-plated small link chain, one cut to 16 in and the other cut two inches shorter (14 in);
• Three Pisces symbol charms (from Swarovski Elements);
• Two Aries charms;
• One Gemini charm;
• One dragon Chinese symbol charm;
• 6 4mm red crystal bicones;
• 14 8mm red beads;
• 3 4mm square crystal beads;
• 10 triangular red Japanese seed beads 8/0;
• 13 red seed beads 6/0;
• 2 wire ball beads;
• 2 eye pins;
• 24 head pins;
• 33 3mm jump rings;
• 2 5mm jump rings;
• alligator clasp.

Step Two:

Gather your tools:

• round nose pliers;
• chain nose pliers;
• wire cutters

  
  

Step Three:

On each of the headpins place the beads as follows:

• 12 of the 8mm red beads is placed on its own head pin;
• 2 of the 8mm red beads are placed on their own head pin followed by three Japanese seed beads;
• on each of two head pins place one square crystal bead followed by two red crystal bicones;
• on each of two head pins place in the following order 1 red seed bead, 2 Japanese seed beads and one red seed bead;
• on each of three head pins place three red seed beads;
• put one red square crystal bead on a head pin;
• on each of the two eye pins, place a wire ball bead;
• on each of the last two head pins place a red crystal bicone bead.

Step Four:

Form a rosary loop for each bead set according to the previous instructions.

Step Five:

• Attach the alligator clasp to one of the 5mm jump rings;
• Join the two lengths of chain with the above jump ring/alligator clasp and the other 5mm jump ring;
• Attach the single red square bead to the 5mm jump ring not attached to the alligator clasp;
• Attach each single crystal red bicone to a wire ball bead using a small jump ring;
• Take a some time to lay out the beads along the two lengths of chain. I centered the charms in the middle of the outside chain and arranged the larger bead components on either side of the charms; I placed the smaller bead components along the inside chain spacing them evenly;
• When you are satisfied with your bead arrangement, attach each component to a chain link using the small jump rings.
• Keep checking your progress to make sure beads and charms are spaced to your liking and charms will lay the way you intend;
• When all components are attached to the chains, check each jump ring to make sure they are all completely closed to avoid losing bead components when wearing your creation.

ENJOY!