First Frost Charm Bracelet
Designed by Kristin Burgess
The first snowfall is sure to happen any day now! So if you are looking for a festive Holiday project and would rather stay warm inside, try our latest bauble bracelet! Our new snowflake pewter bead makes a great dangle off the clasp. The moonglow style lucite seems to glow from within. Our Vintage chain section offers chain that is not only affordable but surprising strong! This bracelets' color scheme works even after Santa's come and gone and you are ready to ring in the New Year. This is the second in a series of bracelets soon to come...
This project requires both open linking. To learn how to form a simple open loop or coiled loop please refer to the book
ALL WIRED UP by Mark Lareau offered in our book and magazine section. The Beadin' Path also offers a
Wireworks I class if you are able to make it to the store to take a class. Preregistration is necessary and can be done online or over the phone. Our classes are always posted online if you are looking for a fun vacation destination! Come see our newly expanded storefront!
Step 1:This bracelet measures 7 and 1/4 inches long. The size can easily be made longer by cutting a longer piece of chain. Cut 6 and 3/4 inches of chain (the claw adds 1/2 inch of length after it is attached). Now cut the end off one head pin as we will use the wire to form a coiled link attaching the lobster claw to the chain. One bead, the smallest lucite bead should be included in this link. There is no need for the other side of the clasp to be made as the lobster can clip onto any link in the chain.
Step 2: Making a charm bracelet can be challenging in that there are many movable beads/parts going on. I find it easier to add all of one bead (lets start with the large blue bead lucite) to the bracelet then adding the next bead type throughout and so on. The metal headpins work great to make the lucite beads 'charm ready' and are necessary to get the lucite beads properly attached to the chain. Add one blue lucite bead to the headpin and form a medium size (half way down round nose tool) open loop. To attach the bead with loop to the chain use the chain nose or flat nose pliers and careful swing the loop to the side slightly (don't pry open as you will lose the round shape). Thread the loop onto the chain link that is 2 links in from the lobster claw end. Be sure your loop, that has the blue lucite on it, has no gaps and is completely shut after attachment. Make 8 links total. The next blue one will be added 4 links from the first added. The third is added four links after the last one added. The fourth is added four links after that. The fifth is added four links after that. The sixth is added four links after that until all eight are added.
Step 3: 
This same process is repeated for all the lucite beads. The next one to make is the white moonglow lucite bead links and there are 8 of them needed. They are each added to the chain in this order... starting again on the clasp side of the chain add your first one on the link after the big blue bead. All of the moonglow links will be added to the chain link after each blue bead until all eight of them are attached. Create eight of the links using the smallest white lucite bead (same one near lobster claw). Each one of these links will be added on the chain link after the white moonglow beads. Lastly the matte grey/blue lucite bead which there are also eight of and each of these will be added individually to the last of the empty links (the link right before the large blue bead).
Step 4: With all of the lucite attached you are ready to add the pewter snowflake bead! Using your headpin attach the bead with a coiled link to the far end (with out the lobster claw) of the bracelet.
Note: This same recipe can be used and or reapplyed using a lucite color palatte of your choice! Similar sized beads will produce a similar effect. Larger beads will make the piece seem fuller. Next week will feature a different color scheme and new ideas....
