Easy Skinny Leather Bracelet DIY (3 Ways!)

For the longest time I was not a “bracelet person.” They just felt awkward and heavy on my wrist the same way my ears felt when I first got them pierced when I was 13. I loved how a stack of cute bracelets looked on other people, so I figured if I just kept wearing them, eventually they would feel more natural, and I was right! Now my wardrobe feels incomplete without a stack of multi-finger rings and a few bracelets to go along with it. I’ve been really getting into jewelry DIYs lately, and I wanted to find a few ways to make embellished skinny leather bracelets with leather cord. These 3 options are all quick and easy, and they make great gifts as well! Let’s get started!

Check out our How to Make Friendship Bracelets tutorial!

H

Supplies:
–round leather cord*
–end caps with loop
–lobster claw clasps with eyelet
-gold hex nuts (check your local hardware store for these)
–long gold tube beads
-small needle nose pliers
–jewelry glue

*There are lots of different thicknesses of leather cord. I used 2mm for mine, but just make sure whichever you choose, that it matches the size of your other items (like your end caps, hex nuts, and tube beads) so they will all fit together properly.

For the first bracelet, cut your leather cord to size (make sure to leave space for the end caps and lobster claw closure in your measurement). Take your jump rings, slide them onto your leather cord, and use the needle nose pliers to close the jump rings tighter onto the leather cord. Like in the photos above, you can either tighten the jump rings separately with even spacing, or you can tighten one, add a long row of rings, and tighten the last one to keep them all together. Quick and easy!

For the second method, cut your leather cord and slide your long tube bead onto the middle of the leather. Pull the tube bead away from the center placement and place a dot of glue on the leather. Quickly slide the tube bead back into place and allow the glue to dry. This will keep the tube from sliding around your bracelet and lock it into position. Doesn’t get much faster than that!

For the last bracelet, you’ll cut your cord and place a jump ring just left of the center of your cord. Use the needle nose pliers to tighten that ring and place a hex nut right next to the jump ring. Place another jump ring on the other side of the hex nut and tighten that one as well to secure the hex nut in place. Continue the process with 2-3 more sets on each side. Now you’re done and ready to add your closures. 

To finish the bracelets, drop a small drop of glue into the end caps and place the cord into the end cap until the glue dries. Repeat with each end.Use your pliers and jump rings to connect your end caps to the lobster claw closure and eyelet. Mission accomplished!

I love that since these are so simple and quick to make, you can make a lot at once. Once you’ve made a few, you can wear them together and get a pretty good bracelet stack going. Several of these tied together with a bow would also make a really cute gift for any occasion. Anybody else catching the jewelry-making bug lately? xo. Laura

Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Laura Gummerman & Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.