Jingle Bell Jewelry Set (Tutorial)
by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved
This jolly jewelry set features clusters of jingle bells on a cha-cha bracelet and earrings.
I used a mid-weight antiqued brass chain as the base for the bracelet and earrings.
The bracelet has lots of movement:
. . . and has a comfortable, pretty drape effect:
The earrings echo the pattern of the bracelet:
. . . and have lots of movement when you turn your head:
For all the pieces in this jewelry set, I’m using jingle bells in three sizes – 15mm, 10mm, and 5mm:
I think having variety of bell sizes makes the design better.
I purchased them in this package at a Hobby Lobby craft store.
The package had 25 of each of the three bell sizes (75 bells total):
From August through the end of December, you should be able to find all kinds, sizes, and colors of jingle bells in craft stores.
(And remember that most of the major craft stores in the U.S. have a weekly coupon for 40% off one item.)
How to Make a
Jingle Bell Cha-Cha Bracelet:
Supplies for the Bracelet:
- Jingle bells in 3 sizes – I used 9 of each size for my bracelet:
15mm size
10mm size
5 mm size. - Chain for the bracelet
Chain length should be the measurement of your wrist plus 1″ (25mm). So for a 7″ wrist measurement, use an 8″ chain.
I used a chain with link size approximately 9mm x 7mm. - Medium to large jump rings that will fit through the loops on the bells.
I used 9 jump rings in 10mm size. - 2 small, sturdy jump rings – one for each end of the bracelet.
I used 5mm size jump rings. - Clasp for the bracelet – I used a 12mm size lobster clasp.
- Flat nose and chain nose pliers for opening and closing jump rings.
Making the Bracelet:
After cutting your chain to bracelet size, it’s time to add the jingle bells.
For my bracelet, I used 9 clusters of bells.
Each cluster has 1 large bell, 1 medium bell, and 1 small bell – all strung onto a 10mm jump ring:
I skipped the first few links of the chain, so that the clasp on the finished bracelet would be easier to fasten without bells getting in the way.
After stringing the first cluster of three bells onto a jump ring, attach the jump ring to the link on your bracelet where you want the bells to start:
Now your bracelet should look like this:
Now skip a link in the chain, and then attach a cluster of 3 bells into the next link in the chain:
Continue adding clusters of bells in every second chain link:
. . . until you have the same number of empty chain links on each end of the bracelet:
Now it’s time to attach the clasp ends.
On one end of the bracelet chain, we’ll attach a small jump ring.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your small jump rings.
Attach the jump ring to one end of your bracelet chain, and use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring shut again:
Then move to the other end of your bracelet chain to attach the clasp.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your small jump rings.
String the clasp onto the jump ring, and then string the jump ring onto the last link of the bracelet chain.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring shut again:
Your finished Jingle Bell cha-cha bracelet should look something like this:
How to Make
Jingle Bell Cha-Cha Earrings:
Supplies for the Earrings:
- Jingle bells in 3 sizes – for this pair of earrings I used:
2 large bells (15mm size)
8 medium bells (10mm size)
8 small bells (5mm size). - 2 pieces of chain, each 5 chain links long.
I used chain with link size about 9mm x 7mm – the same chain I used for the Jingle Bell bracelet. - 12 medium size jump rings that that will fit through the loops on the bells.
I used 8mm size. - A pair of earwires.
I made earwires from my free tutorial, Easy Fancy Earwires (Tutorial). - Flat nose and chain nose pliers for opening and closing jump rings.
Making the Jingle Bell Earrings:
We’ll make one earring at a time.
After cutting your piece of earring chain, it’s time to add a large jingle bell to one end of the earring chain.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your 8mm jump rings, and string one large (15mm) jingle bell onto the jump ring.
Thread the jump ring onto one end of your earring chain.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring closed again:
For the remaining earring chain links, we’ll attach one jingle bell cluster into each link.
Each cluster will have two bells – one medium bell (10mm size) and one small bell (5mm size).
Attach one of these two-bell clusters to the second link in the chain (just above the link that has the big bell):
Attach a two-bell cluster to the third link in the chain:
Attach a two-bell cluster to each of the remaining links in the earring chain:
The big bell is the bottom of the earring.
Now it’s time to attach the earwire to the top of the earring chain.
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open one of your jump rings:
String the opened jump ring through the top link of the earring chain, and then through the earwire’s loop.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring closed again:
The first earring is finished!
Make the second earring the same way.
Your finished Jingle Bell cha-cha earrings may look something like this:
