« High Fashion Inspired Skull Bracelet »
Monday, October 8, 2012 
Earlier this year I emailed my friend Kim to express my intentions to have her as my jewelry makin' sensei. I broached the subject of beads, tools and the stuff it takes to make jewelry. It was either a happy accident or fate that there show was a bead show in town that weekend.
I researched the show and the stalls online. I tried to figure out what I needed to get started. I made a list of the things I wanted to look for. I printed off coupons for most of the vendors at the show and coupons for the entrance fee.
Once I walked in and paid I forgot about my list. I forgot about my coupons. I just started grabbing stuff.
Long story short, just as any good girl, I love jewelry. That day my love evolved I truly fell in love with the idea of making my own jewelry. But as life would have it, I didn't have a lot of time to take up the new hobby. I've been making an effort the past few weeks and I'm sure you're noticing a new phase I'm going through.
Browsing online this weekend I found a bracelet that I thought was amazing. It was by AlexanderMcQueen and it had the cutest little skulls on a super dainty bangle. However, I am not and probably will never be the kind of gal that can afford a $330 bracelet.
The good news is, while I may not be a rich girl, I am a crafty one. Seeing the images on the screen and sighing over the fact that I can't be spontaneously and independently wealthy it dawned on me. I have some skulls very similar to those in my Halloween stash. On that day, my Alexander McQueen inspired bracelet was born.
Now the real one is way more awesome. Infinitely. Check out the side by side. BUT my knock of cost my $1.50. Um...yeah. Gonna stick with my Alexander McQueen Inspired DIY version. Here's the math... Skeletons $1. Jewelry wire $2. Total $3 but I made two and have lots of wire left over. That equals cool buck and a half a piece!
For this DIY you will need:
- heavy gauge jewelry wire
- hot glue gun
- wire cutters
- Halloween skeleton garland (mine came from Dollar General)
- spray paint
- wood skewers
Remove the heads from two skeletons in your package. I purchased mine for $1 at Dollar general.
Shove the heads onto skewers and spray with your choice of spray paint. Set off to the side and allow to dry.
First measure your wrist. Add an inch and cut three pieces of jewelry wire that length.
Take the wires and firmly roll between your fingers. They will start to wind together. Move your fingers down the length of the wire until you have all three pieces wound into one.
Take your wire and snip off one end. Wrap it around your wrist and snip the other side. You'll want a gap of about 1-2 inches for your skulls to go and you'll want to work the wire to get a nice bangle shape. (mine isn't necessarily a nice bangle shape but it is a close to a nice bangle shape. I'm cool with that.)
First ensure that your wire will fit inside of the hole already available in your skull. Use your skewer to widen the hole if necessary.
Take your hot glue gun and fill the inside of the skull with glue. Shove one end of the bracelet in. Hold, taking care that the skull will become hot, until set enough to hold on its own. Repeat with the other side.
Hope your week is a great one! Come back tomorrow to see the unconventional Shoesday that'll be over at Mom Spark!
Just as a little bonus, here is what the scene looked like behind and around my workspace. A little bit of creative camera handling and Miss Liddy disappears!
Reader Comments (8)
this is fantastic! thanks for sharing! :)
I just discovered your site today posted on craft gossip I sure am glad I did a lot of fun to explore and be dicovered also love your mustache quilt.Thanks Becky
Just found you. Love the ideas
I'm so glad that you both found your way here :)
Actually, i like your version better :)
Thanks much, craftgirl!
Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait to make these! ~Aljan
I'm so glad, Aljan!