Trend Watch: Statement Accessories!

One of my favorite trends of late has got to be statement accessories and jewelry. If you are not familiar with the trend, statement accessories are bold, large, and colorful pieces of jewelry. Check out a few examples:

http://www.page-thirteen.com/2012/04/loving-statement-necklaces.html

These types of accessories really add a jolt of awesomeness to any outfit! I have purchased my share of statement pieces over the past few months. (Groopdealz is going to be the financial end of me!)
However, I have struggled a bit finding statement bracelets that fit my wrist. I tend to have to wear elastic bracelets in order for the bracelet to not dangle like a handcuff. Sometimes a statement necklace is not what an outfit needs, but a bracelet would do just the trick. While putting outfits together with my style partner in crime, Holly, she kept coming up with these stellar statement bracelets that added a simple finishing touch to her outfits. I begged her to tell me where she got them. Well lo and behold the little crafty gal MADE them. We immediately set up a necklace making playdate so I could have my own set of ready to wear statement bracelets. We even took pictures of our little escapade! Now you can make your own statement bracelets too and join the statement jewelry bandwagon!

Materials:

scissors--various statement beads in various colors--accent beads--stretch jewelry cord**--

**Do not make the same mistake we did. At first we went with elastic jewelry thread but it was nearly impossible to get it to stay tied in a knot. We finally found what we needed (and what Holly had used before) at JoAnn's. It is in the picture below.

1. Measure about 10 inches of the cord. We doubled ours for strength and durability. Elastic bracelet sizing is really up to the individual wrist size. 10 inches allows you plenty of cord to work with. You will then adjust, tighten, and tie it off to fit your wrist. It may take a few tries to get it just right, but you will! 

2. Lay your beads out in the pattern and number you would like in front of you. Thread the first bead to the end and tie a knot around it too hold it in place and to keep all the beads from slipping off the end and going EVERYWHERE. (Yes, this happened once. Or twice)

3. String the beads onto the cords in your pattern order.

4.  When you have strung all your beads, untie the bead at the end and carefully hold both ends. Gingerly slip your wrist through to determine the size you need your bracelet to be to slide on easily and stay put on your wrist. Once you have the size you want, tie the two ends (this is tricky because your cord is doubled so there are several strings in play here!) and cinch the bracelet down until it is completely rounded and the size you want. Secure this tie with a double knot. 

This mint is my fave. Swoon!

5. Once your are completely satisfied with the sizing, you can trim any excess cord. Rearrange the beads a bit so the knot is hidden inside a bead or two. Now put that bracelet on and work it!

See how many you can make in one sitting! Holly and I cranked out 12! We spent about $50.00 in supplies for our 12 bracelets. We still have plenty of cord left to make many more. Less than 4 bucks a piece and the exact colors and designs that we wanted!

We were so excited about our new bangles that we were wearing some when we took this pic! Ha!