Sunday, September 5, 2010

Wear your jeans!

Today I made this shabby chic bangle bracelet.  From the inseam of an old pair of Levis.



They can be made with any cute end beads to suit your style.




It was sooo simple.  And I am pretty sure your pre-teen, your teen, and maybe even you will think it's fun to wear.


Cut the inseam from a pair of old jeans...





Take a piece long enough to wrap two-and-a-half  times around your wrist.  I have a large wrist; mine was 18".  Now thread some heavy hardware store wire through it, like so:



That job is the boring part; it doesn't always want to glide right through and you will probably have to coax it along.  Leave an inch or so sticking out both ends.



Thread a cute bead onto either end...



Then secure it by making a loop with the remaining wire end.  A plain loop is fine, or you can fancy it up with one of these swirly deals:





You could also glue the beads on, then trim the excess wire.  To shape your bracelet, wrap the whole thing around a jar...







And wear your jeans!  You can wear it loosey-goosey, like a bangle:




Or a little bit tighter, by forming it around your wrist.








These are infinitely adjustable, and will fit anyone.  Change up the number of beads, the style and color...








However you finish off your cuff, you will end up with a sweet and funky look that's truly easy to wear.  There's nothing more comfortable than an old pair of jeans.  I picture this white version paired with a crisp white shirt, for some casual chic!


(Er, um, I do not own a crisp white shirt - or a crisp anything - so no photo.  But I'm sure at least a few of you own an iron.)  I plan to wear this purple and green one with a jean jacket:





Cute, no?


Okay, that's today's upcycled jewel!  I hope you'll join me here again for some more weirdness.  Next post: wear your trash receptacle!  (I might be kidding...then again, I might not.)

69 comments:

  1. What an original idea. Love it!!! :)

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  2. I love your jeans bangles.. they look really cool and this would be a really fun craft for kids to do :)

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  3. love it Michelle! Isn't it amazing what you can make with those seams? Your cuff is AWESOME!

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  4. Very cool, you have such great creations!

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  5. Now THAT is a really great idea. Simple and so stylish and FUN!!!

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  6. what a great idea! very unique!

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  7. this is such a fun idea! i haven't seen anything like it. great work.

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  8. Okay, your ideas are just wicked good.

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  9. Very cute and very fun! I love recycled crafts. Thanks for sharing ... I've posted a link.

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  10. Nagyon jó a farmer ékszer ötlet! Én is ki fogom próbálni!
    üdvözlettel
    Kriszti

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  11. Hi Michelle,
    I'm visiting from my good blogger pal Sunny's blog.
    You have so many terrific ideas on reusing and recycling everyday objects and transforming them into fabulous.
    I'm now a follower :)

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  12. Oh how very clever! I love these and definitely would wear them with the beads up! They are too cute to be tucked under my wrist. :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by Crafts and Sutch. I'm so glad you found me so I could find you! :)

    Erin :)

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  13. you've done it again! It's late at night and I'm tearing apart my junk drawer (ok, I admit, it's now a room)...I'm tearing through trying to find heavy wire so I can make this RIGHT NOW! Love it!

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  14. Love your cool and cute recycled denim bracelets. Stumbled and reviewed the post for you too. Best wishes and glad I found your blog.

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  15. I recently found this blog and have loved everything I've seen. I went to a yard sale this past weekend and the man looked at me like I was crazy when I bough two plastic, promotional pie servers. The designs on the end of the handles made perfect earrings. :) Thanks for all the great ideas!!!

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  16. What a creative idea, that section of the jeans is always thrown away, most people dont use it in their crafts, I can't wait to make one of these, thanks so much for sharing, it has so many possibilities

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  17. Ooooooooooooooh, now that is seriously cool. I am definitely going to make one of those.

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  18. I really like this! And being short I am always cutting things off bottoms of jeans and being cheap I keep all the cut off parts.

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  19. These are awesome!!!! Can't wait to give them a try. Crafters can get a lot of mileage from an old pair of jeans.
    Mb

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  20. Very fun, and matches everything! Thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's!

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  21. That is so fun and funky. I love it. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. oh my gosh! i love it!

    ~L~
    join my link party
    U could WIN a MONTH LONG sidebar feature!
    http://avidaccents.blogspot.com/2010/09/make-my-style-monday-10.html

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  23. I think this is my favorite creation of yours yet. I love it! Thanks so much for the how-to, I'll be linking.

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  24. So a great idea. I thank you so much! Nice to meet you, I'm Anna :-)

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  25. I love love love this idea! just saw you on One Pretty Thing. Your project would be perfect to link to my "Revamp It" annual party I'm hosting today, I'd love it if you'd come by and add your link so people who visit my blog for the party will find your cool idea!

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  26. I love this!! This is a genius project and so very chic. I will definitely be creating one of these in the future.

    Thanks so much!
    Nancy

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  27. A most clever and original idea for a bracelet! Very cool!

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  28. Adore your revamp! You should go into business! These are cool!!
    Thanks for the tutorial~
    Constance

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  29. how creative, have never seen anything quite like that before, thanks for sharing your idea for revamping

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  30. now that's a winner for sure...would love to do a reblog of this on my magazine if you allow!!!

    http://cre8tivecompass.com/mag/

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  31. Wow, what a clever idea, I would never think of that! Tamara x

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  32. Really cute! I will be trying these for my granddaughters!
    grandmabsimpleliving.blogspot.com

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  33. Yes, these are the things I was looking for..
    Great idea's you have.

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  34. What a cute design! I am a crafter myself and I would love to feature your designs at
    http://www.handmade-jewelry-club.com/

    Hope this is okay with you?

    Thanks!
    diylessonsassistant
    http://diylessons.org/

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  35. I love this bracelet! Made one for me and here it is if you want to check it out:)
    http://vickiesscrapbookingandtidbits.blogspot.com/2010/11/casual-bracelet.html

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  36. This is so cute, and I just happened to find a roll of memory wire in the clearance section today. I know what I'm making tomorrow! I am including this in my Friday Favorites this week!

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  37. Love this! I'm making this for my friend's daughter :-)

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  38. Hello! I've made a few :-)
    http://greenissuessingapore.blogspot.com/2011/03/old-jeans-into-jean-bangles.html

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  39. This I love! Gotta try it!
    Thanks for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Nancy

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  40. Hello again!
    Just to let you know that I made a few of these today...take a look.
    www.nancarts.blogspot.com

    Thanks again and more Blessings,
    Nancy

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  41. Love the bracelet!! I'm always looking for new ideas to do with recycled denim. Check out my denim creations at http://casualdaydesigns.blogspot.com

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  42. Love this!! I've got some old jeans that I was waiting for a project. thanks.

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  43. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!! SO want to try it!

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  44. Very nice and original idea!
    Linda

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  45. Looks beautiful, great idea!
    grt, Helmi

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  46. Very clever and cute! I will make it soon !
    Love from teh Netherlands ♥RINI♥

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  47. So cute will have to make a few of these for my daughter and her friends!

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  48. Really? Way too cool. Love the result... *smile*

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  49. Great idea!

    Best wishes from Germany!
    Steffie

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  50. Wow so very cute and very clever, my 13 year old will love this, i have pinned for future use and will post when I've made this! Thanks so much for the tute.

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  51. Michelle, I made it!!!
    My daughter and I got around to it last weekend and it was so simple and turned out great we will be making more!
    Check mine out here if you like

    http://michellescraft.blogspot.com/2011/11/bracelet-fun.html

    Thanks again for the inspiration :)

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  52. wowwwwww dats a great idea!!!!! thanks a lot:)

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  53. This is such an awesome idea and what a great way to repurpose! I am having a Homemade Year in 2012 on my blog Blissful and Domestic and would love for you to link up to my Homemade Year linky Party:>

    http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/p/my-homemade-year-linky-party.html

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  54. This is awesome-I have been looking for ways to upcycle some old jeans I have stashed. Just wondered if memory wire would work for this, I am going to give it a try! Thanks!

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  55. Great bracelets, will definitely have to give this a try!

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  56. Hi Michelle!

    I did it! http://steffieshexenhaus.blogspot.de/2012/03/ich-musste-es-einfach-tun.html

    Thank you for this great idea!
    Best wishes from Germany!
    Steffie

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  57. Thanks for sharing this idea! I also made my own version:
    http://www.kiertoidea.blogspot.com/2012/04/rannekoru-farkun-saumoista-bangles-from.html

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  58. Thanks for this, simple but really impressive use of something even I have thought was scrap!!

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  59. Perfect for my nieces!
    Thanks!
    Vicky

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  60. Really nice :) Marie

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  61. YAY! Another amazing way to use the part of the jeans I usually give up on and throw away!

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  62. What a creativity, i really love your blog, thanks for sharing.
    Bangle bracelets

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  63. I was wondering what gauge/kind of wire you recommend?
    I really like this, btw! Thank you for sharing

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    1. Hi, Nicole! Glad you like! You could use a wide range of wire gauges, depending on how stiff you want the bracelet, and how comfortable you are with turning the coiled ends. I prefer 18 or 20, but anything between 16 and 22 gauge would work. 24 is probably too delicate, it would not hold its coil around your wrist. Hope that helps!

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  64. my 13 yr old fashionista will love this!

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  65. wondering if memory wire would work for this project. i think it would. such a clever way to upcycle.
    thanks for the idea.
    jd in st louis

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