Happy Octopus Bangle Bracelet Tutorial

Created by: Mollie Valente

Designer Tips

• For a step-by-step tutorial with images for this project, see the blog post: How to Make an Expandable Wire Bangle Bracelet.
• Use heavy-duty cutters to cut a piece of memory wire that is one-and-a-half loops in length (approximately 10"). Measure the widest part of your hand to make sure you cut a long enough piece.
• Use memory-wire bending pliers to form an outward facing loop on one end. Grasp the loop with flat-nose pliers and make a 90- degree bend.

• String one 3mm round corrugated metal bead on the wire; this bead is sized larger than the end loop and will hold the beads in place.
• String the bead-cocktail beads randomly or in your desired pattern (approximately 6 inches). End with a second 3mm corrugated metal bead.
• Optional: Make a wire-wrapped pearl charm, using either a genuine freshwater pearl or a 6mm crystal pearl and a silver-plated ball-end head pin.
• Add jump rings to each of the charm adornments: use a 6mm jump ring for the crystal heart and 5mm jump rings for the octopus charm and crystal pearl charm.
• Use the heavy-duty cutters to cut the memory wire so it is half-an-inch longer than the beaded portion of the bracelet. String the cut end through the first memory-wire loop. String the three charms onto the open wire end. Use the memory-wire bending pliers to form an inward-facing loop on the unfinished end, leaving the loop slightly open.
• Grasp the loop with flat-nose pliers and make a 90-degree bend that faces the opposite direction of the first loop. Link the loop over the bracelet wire and close the loop.
• To open the bracelet, grasp the two 3mm corrugated metal beads and pull the wire to expand the opening. To close the bracelet, gently squeeze the sides.

• Jewelry Basics 101 (PDF)
• Blog post: How to Make an Expandable Wire Bangle Bracelet

Suggested Supplies

• 1 pkg of 10 [use 1] #49-948-70 Antiqued Pewter Plated Charm, Cast, Octopus
• 1 ounce [use 10"] #61-167 Beadalon® Stainless Steel Memory Wire Coil, Anklet, 0.025", 1oz, 53-75 loops per oz.
• 1 ounce [use 2] #37-136-3 Silver Plated Jump Ring, Round, 5mm, Approx. 460 per pack.
• 1 ounce [use 1] #37-145-3 Silver Plated Jump Ring, Round, 6mm, Approx. 310 per pack.
• 1 each #06-228-10-28 Swarovski Crystal Pendant Heart 10mm
• 1 pkg of 50 grams [use 6"] #20-002-3222 TOHO Seed Bead Cocktails™, Emerald Isle, Approx. 1,950 per pack.
• 1 gross [use 2] #26-463-1 White Plated Beads, 3mm Round, Corrugated, 144 per pack.

Tools

• #65-701 Beadalon Pliers, Memory Wire Bending
• #69-057 The BeadSmith Heavy-Duty Economy Cutter
• #69-271-99 Tool, Glitter, Four-Piece Set