Tutorials for a Mixed Media Soft Cuff Bracelet and Earrings

From paper earrings to biker style wrap bracelet, I'm interested in pearls, gemstones, and metals, too.  So why not combine the hard and the soft and make something to satisfy both sides of my mood.

Here is my take on a beautiful button inspiration from  Incomparable Buttons the company behind Button Mad, the blog.  The company offered my choice of button in exchange for making something using the buttons and writing a tutorial to share the creation.  No money was exchanged.



The buttons are handmade in South Africa, I thought how beautiful the texture and glaze was to look at as well as shiny and smooth to the touch.   These buttons are blue and brown which called out for my copper tone chain and findings.

Keep reading for directions on how to make the bracelet and earrings.


Bracelet Supply List:
Lace Trim
Grosgrain Ribbon
Incomparable Buttons
Buttons
Beads
Small Fabric Scissors
Diagonal Wire Cutters
Bent Nose Pliers with Smooth Jaws
Long Nose Pliers with Smooth Jaws
Ribbon Clamps
Jump Rings
Lobster Claw Clasp
Chain
Embroidery Floss
Sewing Thread
Needles
Ruler

Measure and cut the length of Lace you want to use.  I used approximately 5 inches in length.

Measure the same amount in Grosgrain ribbon.

Weave the ribbon through the Lace.  If the Lace has a repeating pattern that you like, you can use that as your guide to count the openings to weave through.

When you are done weaving the ribbon, even off the ends of both the lace and the ribbon, fold under and Insert the folded end into a Ribbon Clamp making sure it is tucked all the way in.

Click on the collage for a bigger view of the tutorial.

Use your Long Nose Pliers to squeeze the clamp down tightly, securing the lace and ribbon inside.  Do this for the other end of the Lace.  Now you have attached the ribbon clamps you can attach the chains next or sew on the buttons and beads if you prefer.

To attach the chains, measure how long you want your bracelet to be, consider do you want to make an extender or is that not necessary.  It is easy to attach an extender at a later date.  Use the Wire Cutters to cut the length of chain.  Use safety glasses or cover the chain when you are cutting it in case bits fly off, keep the furbabies eyes well away from this step.

Open a Jump Ring with the Bent Nose Pliers in one hand and the Long Nose Pliers in the other hand, or if you have 2 Bent Nose Pliers, use both.  Twist the Jump Ring Open by pulling one end towards you and one end away from you, do this gently.  Do not pull the ends directly away from each other, widely, this may distort the Jump Ring and make it not close well and tight.

Insert one Jump Ring to the loop of each Ribbon Clamp.  Place the chain link into the jump ring and close the jump ring by twisting the ends back together.  Put another Jump Ring on the end of the chain.  To the other chain, add a Jump Ring and a Lobster Claw Clasp.  Sometimes adding an additional Jump Ring of a smaller size makes managing the Clasp easier to grasp and turn.

If you haven't yet sewn the buttons and beads on the lace, do this now.  I used embroidery floss to sew the Incomparable Button on and regular sewing thread to sew on the smaller buttons and beads.  The beads could only take 3 passes of the needle and thread, but that was enough to secure and finish off with the Tailor's Knot.


I like the vintage look and keeping the underside open with chains and not lace, makes it comfortable when resting on a desk or table, driving, etc.
It's a very soft and lightweight bracelet.  

Click on the collage for a larger view.

Now for the Earrings Tutorial:

Earrings Supply List:
Two Incomparable Buttons
Two smaller buttons to coordinate
Two earring Post Back and Clutch sets
Two pieces of Chain measured to fit
Diagonal Wire Cutters
Long Nose Pliers with Smooth Jaws
Surface to work on
Ruler
Glue
Additional as needed:  Paper Plate/Foil/Scrap Paper, Toothpick, Paper Towel

Measure the length of chain necessary to wrap around the outside of the earring and to dangle down as far as you want it to reach;   Cut it carefully so there are no flying bits to get in your eyes or anyone nearby.

Put an appropriate amount (small) of Glue on the back of the button and press the Post Back into the glue.

Give the glue the specified amount of time to dry as stated on your glue's packaging.  I rested my buttons in the plastic lid to dry.

Once the posts are secure, put some glue on a paper plate or other disposable paper if you don't think you can squirt directly on the button.  Take the glue/toothpick or glue tube and put an adequate, but not generous amount of glue on the outside edge of the button.

Working quickly, fold one chain in half and pick it up, put the center of the chain at the top of the button and work your way around the button, pushing gently and firmly set the chain in the glue.  The bottom of the button should have two fairly even dangles of chain, if you want one chain length longer than the other, you should not fold the chain in half, make it more uneven to begin with.  Watch how you set the chain, as the links can turn at angles and not be the same all the way around the button.

Set the buttons on the edge of the lid or some other ridge to dry.  When the chain is set and dry, usually the next day, glue the smaller accent button to the front of the Incomparable button and allow to dry.

That's the end of the tutorials, I hope you enjoyed them, please let me know if you make them,  too.  Since there were 5 buttons on the card and I've used 3, I have in mind a brooch to work the other buttons into, or maybe a ring and a brooch, what do you think?

Thanks very much to Incomparable Buttons for the gift of button inspiration and to Totally Tutorials for telling its readers about the opportunities to participate in exchanges like this one.  It was great designing these pieces. ♥   
Thanks for stopping by!