Eyes + Eyelets Bracelet

Designer Cynthia Deis

This bracelet makes the most of soft deerskin lacing and brightly colored charms. The deerskin lacing is smooth and supple, but like all leathers, it does stretch a bit so we recommend making the bracelet on the short side or pre-stretching the leather. The Crafted Findings Riveting Tool used to set the eyelets in the ends of the lacing and in the center of the flower charm is simple to use and produces smooth, professional-looking eyelets with very little effort. Take care not to over flare the eyelets on the leather; open them just enough to set them permanently but not so much that they compress the leather significantly.

These bracelets would be fun to layer up on your wrist for a shot of bright color.

Ingredients:

- 7 inches deerskin lacing, 3/16" wide in red, turquoise, or buckskin
- 1 magnetic clasp
- 1 skull bead in white or turquoise
- 2 pewter bead caps
- 2 extra thick brass jump rings, 7mm
- 1 round cabochon setting, 18 mm
- 1 vintage plastic flower
- 2 square jump rings, 1/2 inch
- 5 riveting accents
- 5 eyelets, 1/16th inch x 1/8th inch

Tools:

- Crafted Findings riveting tool with 1/16" eyelet setter
- Flat nose pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Wire cutters or scissors

For more information on how to use the Crafted Findings Riveting Tool punches holes and flares eyelets, please view this video.

1. Fold leather over 1/3 inch. Using your riveting tool, punch a hole in both layers of the folded-over end of the leather. Remove leather from tool. Carefully feed an eyelet through a riveting accent and then through the hole in both layers of the leather. Fit an additional accent onto the eyelet and position in the riveting tool. Use the riveting tool to flare the eyelet. Repeat on other end of leather with 2 accents and 1 eyelet.

2. Using your chain nose pliers open a round jump ring and feed it through the loop on one side of the magnetic clasp and then through the loop on one side of the leather. Close securely. Repeat to attach other half of magnetic clasp to other end of bracelet.

3. Using the riveting tool punch a hole in the center of the cab setting. Feed an eyelet through the hole and then fit a flower and a riveting accent onto the eyelet. Place in riveting tool and flare eyelet.

4. Feed the brass head pin through a bead cap, the skull bead and then another bead cap. Using your round nose pliers create a simple loop on the head pin.

5. Using your chain nose pliers open the square jump rings and attach the skull dangle and flower charm to the bracelet.

Click here for a printable version of this tutorial