14 Before 2014: Numero Uno! A Chan Luu-Inspired Wrap Bracelet!

I have to admit, I have been kinda putting this one off. It seemed daunting and tedious. Plus, it was so hot here in the South (and still is) that every time I would sit cross-legged to do a tedious craft, my knee-pits would get really sweaty and it made me furious! PLUS... last week was full of exams! I know, excuses, excuses.

So. As you might remember, the first thing on my 14 Before 2014 project challenge list is a Chan Luu-inspired wrap bracelet. I love them! Rue La La had some that were cute, but I never found the perfect one. Plus, they were $80. I went looking on Amazon, and found a few I liked also. One of them was this one. $190? Nope. Not at all.

I figured that I would see how hard they were to make. As it turns out, it was doable. Not super easy-looking, but doable.

Now, because I found (and used) this amazing tutorial, I did not make one. I followed her instructions exactly. :)

What I love about making my own wrap bracelet is that I could use stuff from my craft stash that I already had (stash-busting! I have soooo many beads), and I could make it according to what I like. So I made a silver and pearl wrap bracelet, since pearls are my favorite.

Here is my bracelet:

There are two things I would have done differently: although I have seen many of these wrap bracelets using different (and therefore differently-sized) beads, I think I would have used the same beads all the way through, or at least the same size. I am a bit of a perfectionist. Also, I would have made it just a tad shorter. I thought I had measured right, but I was a little off. :) I will still wear it though, it is not terribly big.

Hope you like it. Have you ever seen something you loved but just could not bring yourself to spend the money? Did you try to make one instead? Feel free to comment or share your posts below! <3