A bracelet can often be the final touch that brings your entire outfit together. Bracelets are reliable accessories, always ready to complement whatever else you’re wearing. Making your own can be even more special.
Making bracelets is a great way to wear your creativity. It’s also a great group activity with friends, kids, a partner, or anyone else who might enjoy it with you. Furthermore, you can make and sell bracelets on the side, if that’s your thing.
Keep reading if the idea of creating bangles and bracelets excites you. Below are three ways you can get started.
- Metal Casting
Starting off this list is potentially the most fulfilling and premium method. Metal casting refers to pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing it to harden. It might sound intimidating, but small-scale metal casting is easier than you may expect. As long as you use the right tools and follow safety precautions, this is an excellent way to make bangles and bracelets.
There are a few basic steps to casting. The first is to prepare a mold in which to pour the metal. This is usually done by carving your jewelry design into wax, and then using sand or plaster to form a mold around it. The wax carving step is where you get to let your creativity take control. You might start with a simple, open bangle, and eventually progress to making something more complex, like a tennis bracelet.
After a mold is prepared, you’d use tools to melt your metal of choice and pour it into the mold and leave it until it cools. The most common metals used for at-home jewelry casting are bronze, silver, and sterling silver—they’re easy to obtain and easy to work with. Your specific steps will depend on the method, tools, and materials you choose.
Remember that this is only a basic overview of the process. Working with hot metal can be dangerous—you should do more research on casting methods and safety procedures before you start metal casting.
- Beads
This is, perhaps, the quickest and easiest method on this list. Beaded bracelets and other beaded accessories can almost be considered classic jewelry-making projects. They’re an excellent option if it’s your first time making a bracelet and you’re looking for a simple starting point. However, there are a plethora of beautiful advanced beaded bracelet projects to try as you get more experience.
You have lots of options when it comes to materials. Beads are made in different shapes and sizes. You can find them made from things like plastic, metal, glass, acrylic, ceramic, semi-precious stones, and wood. All you need in the beginning is a few beads of your choice and something to thread them onto, like beading elastic or beading wire. Some basic tools, like jewelry pliers, cutters, and a bead tray, will be useful.
Once you’ve got your materials, there are many ways to make beaded bracelets. Everything you need to start crafting can be found online with relative ease. Furthermore, there’s no shortage of online tutorials that’ll help you get started.
- Epoxy Resin
There’s a good reason epoxy resin art has recently gained a lot of popularity across social media. It’s a versatile art medium and can be used to create almost anything you can imagine. Aside from making a resin bangle, you might even make custom beads from resin and use those to make a bracelet.
In simple terms, epoxy resin is a clear liquid you cast into a mold and leave to harden. It’s generally sold as two separate liquids. When mixed in a fixed ratio, these liquids create a chemically reactive solution that starts slowly solidifying. Resin will take the shape of whichever mold it’s left in. Additionally, you can add various resin pigments to your solution to create interesting effects.
Like with metal casting, you’ll need to create a mold to cast your resin in. Molds can be formed through various methods, but the most common is creating silicone molds. These are easier to reuse, giving epoxy resin an advantage over metal casting.
Of course, epoxy resin casting extends much further than wrist accessories. It’s inexpensive, will form to any mold, and is an easy craft to start. These qualities make resin art an excellent option for anyone who’s fascinated by the idea of making custom accessories for any occasion.
Conclusion
Bracelets and bangles are essential accessories that every wardrobe should include. Making them yourself can be an excellent use of your free time. The three methods discussed in this article should cover a wide variety of jewelry-making desires.
Beading is the obvious choice if you’re looking for a simple hobby, especially if children are involved. Epoxy resin and metal casting are more advanced and demand more work and precautions. That said, they’re versatile and can help you make premium-looking pieces.
