I guess we're really on a jewelry kick this week! That was unintentional, but fun. Here's a very simple bracelet or necklace idea that is great for little girls and bigger girls. The best part is that you can make one out of a pretty small scrap of fabric or a leftover piece of ribbon, so it's cheap, too!

Covered Wooden Bead Bracelet Tutorial

We made two of these--one using a fabric scrap (easy) and one using a piece of ribbon (super easy). That's why you'll see us using the supplies for two different projects.


What you'll need:

*Wooden beads (found at most craft stores with the jewelry supplies)--enough to go around your wrist
*Length of fabric or ribbon that can hold all your beads, plus about six inches extra for the ties (more if you want to tie your ends in a bow)
*Sewing machine (if using fabric)
*Cooordinating thread
*Fray Check (to keep your ribbon or fabric from fraying on the ends)

1. Cut a strip of ribbon or fabric. You will want to be sure it is wide enough to wrap around your beads and long enough to wrap around your wrist with extra length for the ties.


2. If using fabric strip, fold the strip together lengthwise and sew down the long end. (We didn't sew our ribbon and it worked fine.)


3. Using a dowel, turn your sewn strip inside out.


4. Iron the strip.


5. About 5 or 6 inches from one end, wrap a piece of thread or embroidery floss around the tube and tie a knot. Insert your first bead.


6. Using your thread, tie another knot to keep this bead in place. Add another bead. Repeat.


7. Continue repeating until you have enough beads to wrap around your wrist comfortably.


8. When you are done and the bracelet fits your wrist, tie the last bead off with thread. Apply fray check to your ends, and tie them in a knot or a bow. That's it!


Wouldn't it be fun to make a coordinating bracelet for a little girl's dress or skirt with the leftover fabric? Or, try bigger beads to make a long necklace. You could even tie a knot in the fabric between beads if they were a little bigger, making the process even simpler!

I host a monthly crafting group at my home each month for my friends from church. Last month a friend was working on a copy of a gorgeous necklace she saw at Ann Taylor. She graciously offered to let me take pictures so we could share it with you (she knows me too well!). We'll just call it this week's reader submission. It's similar to the covered wooden bead bracelet we posted last summer, with a little twist. Enjoy!

Covered Bead Necklace Tutorial

Supplies
*Chiffon or other fabric
*Plastic or wooden beads
*Needle and coordinating thread
*Decorative beaded chain
*Sewing machine (optional--you could hand sew!)


1. Start with a piece of fabric (she used chiffon) about 36" long (or longer or shorter depending on how long you want your finished piece--remember to leave some to tie a bow) and 2.5" wide, or wide enough to fit your beads plus a 1/4" seam allowance. Fold fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together. Machine stitch or hand sew up long side, leaving ends open. Turn tube right side out.


2. Insert a bead into tube and center. Tie a knot in the tube on either side of the bead. Continue adding beads on either side and tying knots after each to secure, leaving about 12" on either end to tie in a bow.


3. Wind beaded chain around beads. Stitch in place randomly at knots to secure.


To wear, tie around your neck and be prepared to look like the most elegant, and craftiest, girl in the room!

One of the most exciting parts of going back to school is looking good! Here are a few ideas to help all the little princesses out there accessorize their new school clothes, for next to nothing. We were inspired by a simple button bracelet tutorial featured on Martha Stewart and thought, why stop at bracelets? We made rings and hair elastics, too!

First find a few buttons you can stack to make an interesting combination. Glue together using a strong craft glue (we recommend a glass and bead glue, but E6000 also worked for us). Then glue to any ring. We found a package of 50 little adjustable wedding favor rings for $.50!


For hair elastics, first stitch the base button to the elastic using a needle and thread, going through the button's holes and around the elastic. Secure with a sewing knot. Then glue additional buttons on top.


Check out this adorable button flower pin tutorial we found by artsy-crafty babe. You could have an entire matching set--bracelet, ring, hair elastics, and pin! Try a pair of earrings if you're really daring.

Another fun project is fabric-covered headbands. We purchased plain faux-leather headbands for $1 (no teeth, please). Then we cut a piece of fabric long enough to cover the top and wrap under about an inch, and wide enough to wrap around to the middle. Glue on with a fabric glue, then cover the inside seam with a piece of coordinating ribbon. Add an easy bow by making a fabric tube out of matching fabric, turning right-side out, and tying in a knot on the headband. Tuck the tails under the knot and secure with fabric glue. This takes hardly any fabric, so you can use your scraps to make one to match every outfit!


After you're done making a few of these cuties, don't forget to link us on your blog and leave us a comment during Back-to-School week so you can be entered to win a few more!