BEAD BAR

Make your own stretchy bracelets

You get: pre-cut stretch cord, plus knot glue
Time: about 15 to 20 minutes per bracelet

[IMAGE: Example silicone bead bracelet]
[IMAGE: Example pony bead bracelet]
[IMAGE: Example mixed bracelet]

OUR BEADS

Silicone beads: big, soft, and chunky (15mm)
Pony beads: smaller and colorful, including glow-in-the-dark

HOW MANY BEADS TO GRAB

Per adult bracelet, grab one of these:
About 12 silicone beads
About 30 pony beads
A mix: each silicone bead takes the place of about 2 to 3 pony beads

Kids’ bracelets use a little less: about 9 to 10 silicone beads or about 24 pony beads.

1 bracelet: up to 12 silicone beads, or about 30 pony beads
2 bracelets: up to 24 silicone beads, or about 60 pony beads
4 bracelets: up to 48 silicone beads, or about 120 pony beads

Grab beads from the bead bins at the art bar and bring them to your table. Any you don’t use go back in their matching bin when you’re done.

Beads are small parts and are not safe for children under 3.

[IMAGE: Bead bins at the bead bar]
[IMAGE: 12 silicone beads next to 30 pony beads, same length]

STEP 1: MEASURE YOUR WRIST WITH TAPE

1. Wrap a piece of masking tape snugly around your wrist, just below the wrist bone. Snug against your skin, not tight.

2. Mark where the end of the tape overlaps the start with a pen or pencil.

3. Peel the tape off and stick it flat on your table, sticky side down.

4. Cut or tear the tape at your mark. This strip is your wrist size.

Making a bracelet for someone else? Use their wrist if they’re here. If not, a typical adult wrist is about 6.5 inches and a kid’s is about 5.5 inches.

[IMAGE: Wrapping tape around the wrist]
[IMAGE: Marking the overlap]
[IMAGE: Tape strip stuck flat on the table]

STEP 2: LAY OUT YOUR BEADS

1. Line your beads up along the tape strip in the order you want them.

2. Keep going until the beads reach the end of the tape, then add a little extra so the bracelet is comfortable:
   Silicone beads: add 1 more bead
   Pony beads: add 2 more beads

3. Want it looser? Add a bead. Want it snugger? Take one away.

[IMAGE: Beads lined up along the tape strip]

STEP 3: STRETCH AND STRING

1. Gently pull your cord a few inches at a time along its whole length. Pre-stretching keeps gaps from forming later.

2. Tape one end of the cord to the table so beads can’t slide off.

3. String your beads in order.

4. Leave about 2 inches of cord free on each end for tying.

[IMAGE: Cord taped to the table]
[IMAGE: Stringing beads]

STEP 4: CHECK THE FIT

1. Untape the end and hold both ends together around your wrist.

2. It should sit close without pinching. Add or remove a bead if needed.

STEP 5: TIE A SURGEON’S KNOT

1. Cross the two ends and tie a simple knot, like the first step of tying a shoe, but pass the end through twice instead of once.

2. Pull it snug so the beads sit together with a little tension. Don’t pull so hard the cord loses its stretch.

3. Tie one more simple knot on top to lock it.

4. Tug the bracelet gently in a few directions to test the knot.

[IMAGE: Surgeon’s knot, step 1]
[IMAGE: Pulling the knot snug]

STEP 6: GLUE AND FINISH

1. Add a tiny dot of knot glue right on the knot.

2. Let it dry about 10 minutes.

3. Trim the extra cord, leaving a tiny tail.

4. Gently slide the knot inside a bead to hide it. Pony beads have large holes, so they hide knots easily.

[IMAGE: Dot of glue on the knot]
[IMAGE: Finished bracelet with knot hidden]

CLEANUP

Leave unused beads and supplies at your table. We will bus these for you. Check out with us at your table or at the register and enjoy your new bracelets!

Want to make more? Extra blanks are available for purchase at the register. Just ask a staff member.

Questions? Ask anyone at the register.