Give-a-Way Watch Tutorial - Frugile Christmas Idea - Make your own beaded watch with interchangeable bands

This give-a-way is closed.


SURPRISE.


Today I have a guest Blogger.
We are doing a BLOG SWAP today.

Be sure to check out the GIVE-A-WAY at the bottom of this post.

I want to introduce you to a new Blog Friend,

Teri from  
Mama Thompson

She is the 3rd child of 8.  She was raised in the Seattle area, went to college in Idaho and Utah, and now resides in Utah. She met her husband on a blind date in 2002, and they were married a year lateron the anniversary of their first date.Mr. T is a civil engineer, and has been running his 

own business doing transportation consulting for the past 3 years. Their first, and only child, Lil D, was born in March of 2007 (when she got to quit working and craft full-time:)

She LOVES to make & create things (paint, scrapbook, cook, decorate my home, 
and make jewelry.) She says she has a VERY crafty mother & loves to tease her all 
the time,that her degree in clothing design has done her a lot of good as a mother of 8 
because she has spent her entire adult life working as an accountant.She believes she 
gets the creative genes from her mom...& she loves them.  She loves to see things & make them herself.  She loves to get inspiration from an idea & make it work for her.
The past few months,  in between making fun holiday decor for her home, she's gotten 
back into making jewelry.  She loves a variety of styles, and loves to see something 
at a store or on-line and then make it herself for so much cheaper.

WE ALL AGREE-DON'T WE?

Teri is doing a tutorial, for you sweet gals (or any of you guys who want to make one for that special gal in your life) on how to make a watch.  It is Frugile Friendly, a great idea for Christmas presents and

my favorite part is, you can make different bands and interchange the bands
to go with whatever you are wearing.
I can't wait to make one.
I used to make mother's bracelets and I still have a bunch of beads
so this will be a great project to work on.  Hmmmm my Christmas list begins.


I will be at her blog today doing some Christmas tutorials so when you get done learning all about how to make these adorable watches come on over and see what I am up to.
Cheri's craft ideas


So without further ado--TAKE IT AWAY TERI




I'm so excited to be doing a blog swap with Its So Very Cheri today. Make sure you head over to my blog to see the great project Cheri is sharing.

Making jewelry is one of my favorite things to do. I love putting together different pieces and color combinations. This past summer I made my first beaded watch and couldn't believe how simple it was...and how inexpensive. I'm not sure if you have ever bought a beaded watch, but they cost a lot. Love when I can make my own for way cheap!

You don't need any special beading tools for a beaded watch...just your beads, spacers, 4 lobster claws, some stretchy cord, G-S hypo cement, and a watch face.

Most bead stores carry watch faces, but you can also find them online. The Virtual Touch carries a huge variety of faces. You need the "ribbon watch face", as it has the long band to attach the lobster claws to. The remaining supplies can be purchased at any craft store.

Couple of things...you want your stretch cord to be .75 or 1 mm thick. It is a thicker cord, but provides much more stability. Unfortunately, because it is so thick, you need to be sure that it will fit through the holes in your beads. Most people use larger beads for these watch bands, but if you like smaller, simpler beads, check the hole sizes (helps with the frustration factor)

I make my watch band on the face. For one, it holds the lobster claws in place making it easier to string the beads. And 2...it makes it easier to measure the length on your wrist as you go.

I then lay out the beads in the pattern that I want. Here is where things get fun. There are countless ways to lay out your beads (just google beaded watch bands and you can find lots of patterns and color ideas). I lay mine out and measure to get the right length.

There is no right or wrong way to lay out the beads, however, you do need to have your beads come together whether through the same bead (like I did above), or by using spacer beads. You need to do this to help stabilize the band.

Putting it all together:

String your cord through one lobster claw, through your beads that run along the ribbon band, and through the other lobster claw. (I prefer the beads along the ribbon band to fill that space perfectly, so the beads and claws don't slide around...but that is all preference). Then pull the cord so you have an even amount of length on either side.

Continue to string your beads onto the cord until you have the length and look you want.

slide one side of the cord through the 3rd claw on the other end, through the beads along the bar, and then through the last claw.

Put the 2 ends together and pull tight.

I put 2 knots in my cord (try it on to ensure fit). Then put a small amount of the G-S hypo cement on either side of the knot (don't use super glue, as it can sometimes crack and break). Let dry then cut off the excess cord.

The finished watch band...

The watch all together...

What I love the most about beaded watches, is that you can buy one face for $5 or $6 dollars and then make countless bands to go with that face. One for every outfit!

Thanks again to It's So Very Cheri for swapping with me today...it was fun to be "somewhere else" for a day! I hope this tutorial was helpful and that you go out and make yourself a new "useful" and gorgeous accessory!


Teri, Thank you so much for sharing this great Tutorial.


NOW FOR THE GIVE-A-WAY

I appreciate each and every one of you gals and really enjoy getting to know you--I really do.  I love having give-a-ways for you and get excited just knowing someone will get to win something.

If you are a shop owner, have an etsy shop, or have a blog with a great tutorial you would like to share and you would like to offer a give-a-way on my blog, you can contact me at

cheri.peoples@live.com

If you are interested in an advertising spot on my side bar you can contact me.  

I have great vendors.

How do you win a watch?

* POST about the Its So Very Cheri Give-a-way

on your blog, include the link in your comments, and you will be entered again

*ADD the "Its So Very Cheri" button 

to your sidebar for another entry-leave a comment letting me know and you'll be entered again.

* Are you a Follower of Its So Very Cheri?

If you are, leave me a comment and that is another entry.

* Are you a Follower of Teri's blog?

If you are leave me a comment for another entry.

*Are you a SUBSCRIBER?

If so be sure to comment about it and I will enter you again.

*Do you Follow me on Twitter?

If so leave me a comment letting me know you follow me on Twitter 

   

*POST on TWITTER about this give-a-way

tell me about your Tweet--and you got it--another chance in the drawing.

*Follow me on FACEBOOK

for another chance -- be sure to tell me in your comment

*Sign up for my Newsletter --
leave me a comment that you signed up for my NEWSLETTER and you get another chance

 I will not overload you will lots of e-mails , this is just my way of letting you know FIRST, that I have BIG news, or a give-a-way going on.  Everyone who had already signed up got an e-mail giving them a heads up, so they will never miss one of my give-a-ways.  It will NOT replace my visits to your blogs.

NOW THAT'S A LOT OF CHANCES

Winner will be announced on Saturday



GOOD LUCK


Now come on over to see my Oil Rubbed Bronze Christmas Ornament

and I will see you  Wed.  for the Celebrate the Holidays party.  I will post my favorites from the Its So Very Creative party  with the Celebrate the Holidays mcklinky party on Wed.

I am leaving you with another of my advertiser's gifted art

I can say that 'cuz  he's my Dad.




Argus remembers, the first time he picked up a pencil and drew something, around 2 years of age, and that he wanted to draw for the rest of his life. Argus graduated with an art degree and worked in the advertising field before moving his family to the Kansas City area, where he began his career at Hallmark Cards. He stayed at Hallmark until his retirement a few years ago. He still continues to do art in his spare time-WHAT, spare time, you say-he's retired. Oh, he means when he's not playing with his grandchildren or fishing.