I love the idea of giving handmade gifts to friends but I don’t do it nearly as often as I’d like to. I make all these plans, especially before Xmas and then life always gets in the way.
Recently, I partnered with Harper Collins to celebrate the launch of Oliver Jeffers’ and Eoin Colfer’s latest kids paperback called Imaginary Fred – a book all about friendship. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make a handmade gift for a friend, especially with Xmas coming up too.
Imaginary Fred is a book about imaginary as well as real friendships. If you know Oliver Jeffers (which parent doesn’t?), this book is yet another engaging, captivating and imaginative book for kids. But there’s plenty to think about for adults too. So to celebrate the launch, I have got these DIY personalised bracelets for you to make and give to your friends.
You can make these DIY personalised bracelets for adults but it’s an especially fun DIY to do with your kids and then let them give the bracelets to their special friends – maybe as a birthday or Xmas gift. Perhaps they’ll even make one for their imaginary friend. Why not? I’ve personalised the bracelets as kids adore things with their names or initials so I’ve embossed the first letter of the child’s name on to the middle bead. Here’s how to make these DIY personalised bracelets.
Materials
For the clay beads:
white oven bake clay
toothpick
letter press cutter (normally used for cookies and cakes)
acrylic paints (in whatever colours you like)
paintbrush
acrylic varnish
For the bracelets:
1.5mm leather cord
2mm cord ends with loop
one drop instant adhesive
4mm jump rings
14mm lobster clasps
Start by making your clay beads. Roll a small piece of clay in to a ball of approx 1.5cms. Take your toothpick and gently push it through the middle of the clay ball. Once the toothpick has gone all the way through, gently twist it a few times to make sure your hole is big enough to string the cord later. It’s a good idea to test your cord by stringing it through the hole at this stage, to make sure it will go through with a bit of spare room.
Make three clay beads per bracelet. On one of them print the initial of the persons name using the letter press cutter. Gently press it in to the centre of the bead. Make sure the beads are laid down so that the holes are to the left and right of the letters, not top and bottom. Bake beads according to the instructions on your clay packet. I baked mine at 130° for 30 minutes.
Once the clay beads have cooled, paint them using acrylic paints. I chose shades of blue and yellow as I was inspired by the colours in Imaginary Fred. Let them dry and re-paint. I found 3 coats to be perfect. The easiest way to paint them is to put them on to a toothpick and paint. Finish with a coat of acrylic varnish.
To make the bracelet, string your beads on to the cord. Add a dot of glue on to the end of the cord and insert in to cord end. Hold it in place for about 15 seconds and it will stick. Leave to dry for 10 minutes.
Cut the cord to the desired length – depending on if you’re making the bracelet for a child or adult. Then stick the other cord end on the other side. Now loop the jump rings to one cord end by opening them slightly and looping them on – use as many as you like. This is a little fiddly but using a pair of tweezers helps! Lastly attach one jump ring to the other cord end and loop the lobster clasp on to this.
These bracelets are fun to make especially to let a friend know you’re thinking of them.
Who will you make these DIY personalised bracelets for?
These bracelets look fab Nomita! We are huge fans of the book too!
Thank you! so glad you like and yes we adore the book xx
My grandson loves The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
My daughter loves the Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows xx
Our favourite book is Giraffe’s can’t dance by Giles Andreae
famous five
Dear Zoo
The Twits
Grans gang by Adrian Townsend
Mr Tickle, Alexander loves it, we have read it lots
our favourite is the witches by Roald Dahl
Hairy Mclary (from Donaldsons Dairy)
My daughter is only 7. She is an early reader and reads everything. Currently reading Harry Potter and I would say is that her favourite book is Matilda by Roald Dahl.
My biggest girl loves the BFG, my younger ones love The Tiger who Came to tea
At the moment it’s Gangsta Granny, my Oliver loves all David Wallams books x
Mine’s is still the Gruffalo. Can’t get enough of it apparently!
Wind in the willows & BFG
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
My daughter is currently loving Astrid Lindgren’s “The Children of Noisy Village” (or “The Bullerby Children” in another printing that we have of it).
My little girls favourite book is Oi Frog by Kes Gray
My son loves reading Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. We read it at least once a day x
The twits
We love Oliver Jeffer’s The Great Paper Caper in our nest. My son would love to hear William Steig stories as well…all of them, we have a lot! What a clever idea with the bracelets and I especially love the the glass with the painted red tiny fish…so adorable!
Thank you! We love Oliver Jeffers too but hadn’t heard of The Great Paper Caper – going to check that out now. Thought we had all his books! Thanks for the recommendation x
the snowman
My youngest loves the gruffalo
What a simple but sweet and pretty idea, love these personalised bracelets and handmade gifts do add that extra special touch, especially for a friend!
Thanks lovely – I love giving handmade gifts and A especially loves it when she can tell her friends I helped make it. xx
This is such a lovely idea, and your new site is a trove of good information.
Thanks Laura – it was fun to make x
My youngest favourite is the hungry caterpillar which I happen to love too xx
At the moment grandsons is anything to do with Horrid Henry
My little girl loves ‘Sugarlump and The Unicorn’ by Julia Donaldson.
Loving your site, I just wish I was better at crafting!
Thank you! Glad you like the site and I promise you anybody can craft – it takes a little patience and time, thats all. If you are interested in learning a bit more, I’ve just started a facebook group called lets chat DIY, where we chat all things craft and DIY and learn from each other.
My daughter’s favourite book is Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’
My daughters favourite book is Tha Cat in The Hat Dr.Seuss
At the moment it is “The book with no pictures” by B.J.Novak
Story time lasts along time with this book we both can’t stop laughing
My daughters favourite book is ‘Dont let the pigeon Drive The Bus’ by Mo Willems such a fun book x Ps lovely blog xx
My daughter loves Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan
At the moment its The Gruffalo
The Stick Man is his favourite!
My son’s favourite book is the Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson
Its the Faraway tree which was my favorite as a child
Our favourite book right now is the smartest giant in town!
We love zog
gangster graanny
The Railway CHildren
my son has been reading David Walliam’s Billionaire Boy
The Gruffalo
My daughter would love the books bundle for xmas! Lovely craft idea and prize xx
The Gruffalo
My son likes Charlies and the Chocolate factory
My granddaughter loves Beetle Boy by M G Leonard
Monkey Puzzle
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Any Thomas the Tank Engine book
My daughters favourite book is Stick Man
Room on the Broom 🙂
The jolly postman is my child’s favourite
As a granddad I love all just William books and famous five series so try to educate the younger offspring of them
harry potter
Vincent the Vain by Sam Lloyd
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
My daughters favourite book is Dr Seuss The Cat in the Hat
The stick man by Julia donaldson
the stick man
Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus
My daughter loves Hairy Mclary from Donaldson’s dairy x
My kids favourite book is we’re going on a bear hunt ? ☺
We love to read the fairytale hairdresser books x
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
my nephew likes cars