What everyday objects can I turn into nifty bracelets?

May 19, 2009 6:19 PM

My girlfriend really likes bracelets made from ordinary objects. She has a fork bracelet and a bike chain bracelet already. What are other objects that I could turn into bracelets for her? Or, alternatively, what are some cool Etsy shops that make cool bracelets out of everyday stuff?

She likes them to be thick enough to cover a (fairly small) scar on her wrist, so nothing that only wraps partially around (or that's super thin).

posted by NoraReed to clothing, beauty, & fashion (29 comments total)

knitting needles (if that's her sort of thing), or maybe a spoon to go with the fork?
posted by Holy foxy moxie batman! at 6:22 PM on May 19

A big nail.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:22 PM on May 19

Electronics!
posted by exogenous at 6:22 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Typewriter keys.
posted by fire&wings at 6:23 PM on May 19 [4 favorites has favorites]

My daughter made a few bracelets out of safety pins and beads that are kinda cool. Similar to these.
posted by chococat at 6:26 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

You can mold a toothbrush under hot water!
posted by yellowbinder at 6:28 PM on May 19 [2 favorites has favorites]

Also, camera lenses.
posted by fire&wings at 6:31 PM on May 19

You know what I think would be really cool? A little dictaphone cassette somehow suspended on a leather cord or bracelet.
posted by lottie at 6:33 PM on May 19

I also had the electronics idea.... multiple coloured wires attached to a small alligator clip that would work as the fastener....like little jumper cables around her wrist :o)
posted by Weaslegirl at 6:36 PM on May 19

Shains are very cool, designed with kids in mind, made from recycled stuff! You can put different messages on them.

She might be inspired by this bottle cap bracelet, these plastic bag bracelets and these cool charm bracelets made from "retro" stuff.
posted by misha at 6:46 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Strip down some flex from a power cord - nice braided copper core and you can expose the outer, inner, and copper layers as you please to create something nice.
posted by rodgerd at 6:47 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

In a slightly different vein, Green Kangaroo makes resin jewelry with all sorts of fun stuff in it...like sprinkles!
posted by radioamy at 6:53 PM on May 19

I know it only wraps partly around, but my GF has a penny bracelet like this that I think is pretty cool.
posted by now i'm piste at 6:55 PM on May 19

I made a soda can tab belt a few years ago - you could easily make a shorter version for a bracelet, perhaps with stretchy cord so it slips over the wrist.
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:59 PM on May 19

I've seen belts made from old seat belts. Maybe a thick wrist cuff done the same could work? I don't think it would be much more uncomfortable than a large watch.
posted by Kellydamnit at 7:02 PM on May 19

all the strings from a guitar wrapped around each other
posted by nadawi at 7:19 PM on May 19

BUTTONS! More buttons!
posted by cachondeo45 at 7:32 PM on May 19

To piggy back on nadawi's suggestion, I've always loved these guitar string bracelets used by rockstars. A little pricey, but the money goes to a good cause, at least in part.
posted by piedmont at 7:38 PM on May 19

In college, back in the olden days of the mid-80s, we made bracelets out of fishing lures.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 7:44 PM on May 19

Check out Individual Icons. I have one of her ruler bracelets and love it. She might like some of the earrings and necklaces there too, if she likes all kinds of jewelery made from everyday objects.
posted by min at 7:47 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

dominoes
Scrabble tiles
mah jongg tiles
Lego
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:48 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Seconding yellowbinder; when I was in junior high I scoured the kid`s toothbrushes at Walmart for some super cute ones with Sesame Street characters on them, yanked out the bristles with pliers, and dunked them in boiling water. Then you just bend them to fit your wrist size. Very durable too.
posted by fan_of_all_things_small at 9:19 PM on May 19

Toothbrush bracelets are fun to make.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:03 PM on May 19

Vinyl record cuffs
posted by lannanh at 10:30 PM on May 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

tea-cups or mugs! cut them into slices, then you have bangles.
posted by indienial at 1:54 AM on May 20

Measuring tape
posted by 1f2frfbf at 6:20 AM on May 20

Cassette tape!

I think this was posted somewhere on MetaFilter not long ago...
posted by orme at 10:15 AM on May 20

Barbie pieces!

She's also on Etsy.
posted by carolr at 7:57 PM on May 20

Excellent suggestions all! I marked the ones that I thought were coolest/most possible for me to make.
posted by NoraReed at 3:46 PM on May 26