I’m a big fan of handmade accessories. They’re a quick and inexpensive way to update your look, which is why I make a lot of them. Recently I acquired some leather laces and cord, and decided to turn the cord into a bunch of easy bangle bracelets. With the addition of little charms, you can mimic the look of luxe leather wrap bracelets.

Here’s how to make your own.

Materials:
Leather cord (I used 1.5mm round cord in mint, turquoise, and lilac)
Metal tube beads (here are some that are similar to the ones I used)
Scissors
Marker
Measuring tape
Glue (I used E6000)
Toothpick
Optional:
Needle-nose pliers
Jump rings
Small charm

Methods:
1. Use the measuring tape to measure around your wrist, making sure that you can slip it over your hand. Or you can just measure the circumference of bangle bracelets that you already own. I used a measurement of 8.75 inches.

2. Measure and cut a piece of leather cord to the length you just determined.

3. Ready your tube bead. Take your leather cord and coat the ends (about 0.5 to 1 inch) in glue. You can use the toothpick to help spread it around.


4. Now insert the glue-coated ends of the leather cord in the tube bead until they meet in the center. Wipe off any excess glue. Lay flat and leave to dry.

5. Make a bunch!

6. [Optional] After the glue dries, you can attach two or three of the bangles together and add a charm. Open up a jump ring and insert the bangles across the bracelet from the tube bead. You want a nice snug fit, so you might need to try different sizes of jump rings. Slip a charm onto the jump ring, then close it up with the pliers.

I used a little bird charm on this turquoise one. There’s a “put a bird on it” joke in here somewhere.