Samba Scarlet Smile Bracelet Tutorial

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue

Designer Tips

Links Updated!

Use a nylon hammer to gently flatten the rock & roll oval link before stamping the plain side.
Stamp a practice pattern on paper to make sure your letter placement will fit on the link, and then repeat on the plain side of the link. See Metal Stamping 101:Techniques for Creating a Stamped Metal Charm (PDF).
Wrap bracelet three times around a wrist (or oval bracelet mandrel) to determine best placement of components. Use a permanent marker or sharp pencil to mark spots to punch holes.
Turn the rotary end of the leather hole punch to 2.5mm. Carefully center the punch on the bracelet, and punch holes.
For each component, set the rivet post (bottom) on steel block, add the leather bracelet and metal component, then place the cap onto the post. Place the rounded end of the rivet setter over top of rivet cap. Tap rivet setter with brass hammer 1-3 times. Check rivet to make sure it is securely set.
See the rivet setter illustration or TierraCast YouTube Video - Technique: Setting Compression Rivets & Snaps for details.
For this design, I made sure the placement of the various spacers (yes, technically they are spacer beads, but I used them as rivet accents) looked good together no matter which snap is snapped, and I added a few 8mm twist spacers at the back side of the bracelet.

Suggested Supplies

1 each #51-811-24 Leather Wrap Bracelet, 1/2" - (Triple wrap is available in black, natural and brown. Scarlet leather bracelet is now only available in shorter lengths)
1 pkg of 10 [use 8] #69-981-05-6 TierraCast® Antiqued Brass Plated Leather Rivets, 10 sets per pack, lacquered.
1 pkg of 10 [use 1] #69-982-02-6 TierraCast® Antiqued Brass Plated Rock & Roll Oval Jewelry Links, 10 per pack - Limited Availability.
1 pkg of 10 [use 4] #49-947-54-AG TierraCast® Antiqued Gold Plated Beads, Cast, Spacer Bali-Style 11mm, Cast, 10 per pack.-- Sorry, this item is no longer in production by TierraCast. See alternate rivetable spacer beads.
1 pkg of 10 [use 2] #49-947-37-AG TierraCast® Antiqued Gold Plated Beads, Cast, Spacer Twist 8mm, Cast, 10 per pack.

Tools

Additional Supplies

Permanent marker or sharp pencil
Decorative snap caps are sometimes available to glue over a plain snap -- check your local leather supply (such as Tandy leather) or local craft store for options that fit standard "line 20" or "ligne 20" snaps.

Jan 1st 2021 Polly Nobbs-LaRue