If you have a large group of family and friends, I’m sure you understand that the holidays can be expensive. We had a grab bag for about a year, and have now gone back to our normal tradition of going broke. I realize I don’t have to buy gifts for each and every one of them, but when it comes time for our holiday party and we’re all exchanging gifts, I can’t help but feel guilty if I bought for one but not the other. I also can’t help but feel cheap if I buy for no one. I’ve found a way to make beautiful, yet cheap gifts for all the jewelry lovers in my life.

You can make any type of jewelry you’d like, but I find bracelets to come out the nicest and be the most appealing. I simply look in the recent fashion magazines and get an idea of what colors are in style, then go from there. All that is required to make these are a bunch of different beads, metal bonding strips, clasps and wire bending pliers. All of these items can be found at your local craft store and you can make 100 bracelets for very little money.

I like to use glass beads because I think they have the nicest design and look best with the finished product. In order to create these bracelets, you just have to place a bead on a mental bonding strip, close both sides in a small C with your pliers and continue around the bracket until each bead is connected to the next with the metal strips. Once you are done, just attach a clasp on the first and last bonding strip and your good to go. These end beautifully and you can creative unique designs with each bracelet.