Sugar Skull Stretch Bracelet

The Sparkle Factory

Posted by Running Press

About

One of my favorite holidays is Día de los Muer- tos, the Mexican Day of the Dead. My favorite place to get inspired for this special holiday
is Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. In Octo- ber and November, the tiled walkways of this vibrant street become a kaleidoscopic shrine to the afterlife and celebrations of loved ones departed and eternal love. Everywhere you look there are colorful Calav- eras, sugar skulls, and marigolds, all symbolic of this delightful holiday.

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You Will Need (15 things)

  • 30mm large skull bead Bead
  • 2 4128 10mm x 8mm Swarovski Crystals stones (Fuchsia) – for large skull eyes
  • 11⁄2" length x 1⁄8" Wide flat cording Trim – for large skull headband embellishment
  • 11 2028 SS9 Swarovski Flatback Crystals (Rose) – 5 for large skull headband embellishment and 6 for small skull eyes
  • 2 Mini embroidered rose Embellishments
  • 2 10mm Plastic Flowers
  • 10 2028 Swarovski flatback Crystals (SS16 Silver Shade, SS12 Topaz, and SS30 Light Rose AB) – for medium skull eyes 12" length 1mm jelly cord (such as Stretch Magic)
  • 5 17mm medium skull Bead(s)
  • 3 12mm small skull Bead(s)
  • 28mm Heart Bead
  • 16 mmRose Bead
  • 2 5mm x 6mm blue donut or Rondelle beads
  • E6000 Glue
  • Magic Wand
  • Scissors

Steps (11 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    First, dress up the skull beads. Start by putting a small pearl drop of glue in the eye sockets of the large skull bead.

  2. 2

    Using the Magic Wand, place the oval Swarovski crystals into the skull’s eye sockets.

  3. 3

    Now make the skull a headband by dotting glue along the flat cording trim.

  4. 4

    Press it over the crown of the skull to create the band.

  5. 5

    Add the mini embroidered rose embellishments.

  6. 6

    Dot the headband with five of the SS9 crystals.

  7. 7

    Finish embellishing the smaller skull beads with the rest of the SS9 crystals.

  8. 8

    And the plastic flowers.

  9. 9

    Thread the beads onto the jelly cord in a random but deliberate pattern. Nothing is an accident; even a random pattern has to be thought out so that the beads create a story. Make sure you fin- ish and knot the cord near the largest bead hole you can find so it can be tucked inside.

  10. 10

    Knot the jelly cord no less than four times for security, trim the excess away, and pull the knot into the hole.

  11. 11

    Finish with a micro pearl drop of E6000 glue.