It ain’t easy being “green”.

It’s amazing…the change in people’s attitudes about using (and reusing) our resources in a more Earth friendly way. The “Go Green” theme seems to have successfully taken over the entire country as more and more people are recycling, re-purposing and reusing instead of “refuse”ing.  There are TONS of trash-to-treasure web sites and television shows with great project ideas for reusing just about anything you can imagine.

So, in keeping with that theme, here’s my two cents worth.

Pop Tab Bracelets

	I’ve seen instructions for pop tab jewelry all over the net. Trouble was, I just couldn’t understand what the heck they were saying. After many times of doing it wrong, I finally get it. So, I want to share my version of the instructions, in case there is someone out there who is trying to make their own and needs the “extra simple” explanation, like I did.
	For starters, you need a pile of pop tabs. Most of the tutorials I’ve seen, suggest about 20-22. I have a larger wrist, and my bracelet is made with 26 tabs. You also need elastic cord and scissors. That’s it! No other supplies necessary.
	Step One: Cut cord to approximately 2-1/2 feet. Then loop through the first tab, situating the tab at center of cord.
	Step Two: Hold another tab below your first tab, (make sure your rough edges are always facing each other, smooth side to the outside) overlapping so you can see through openings of both tabs. Thread the cord up from the bottom through both tabs, bringing top cord through top hole and bottom cord through bottom hole.
	Step Three: OK, now get another tab and hold it on top, overlapping as before,and this time, thread the cords through the opposite holes forming an X on top.
	Step Four: Another tab, held at the back and thread those cords through, top cord-top hole, bottom cord-bottom hole.
	Step Five: Another tab, held on top, thread cords through forming that X. Top cord-bottom hole, bottom cord-top hole.
	Step Six: Keep going, repeating step four and step five, alternately, until bracelet can be wrapped around your wrist and ends meet comfortably. You need the last tab to be one placed at the back side. Then, bring ends together and form final X.
	Step Seven: Turn bracelet over and thread cords under cord from previous tab.
	Step Eight: Tie the cords in a knot and trim the ends.
	Step Nine: Turn bracelet back over and slide it on your wrist. There should be just enough stretch to easily go over your hand and then be lightly snug on your wrist.

There’s plenty of ways to embellish these bracelets, too. You can paint the tabs, use colored elastic, add beads, anything you can think of.

Well, I hope my tutorial is clear and you enjoy making your own pop tab bracelet.

Tagged as: green crafts