Pop Tab Bracelets
Intro: Pop Tab Bracelets
Start raiding those recycling bins!
Turn aluminum can tabs into cool jewelry!
Turn aluminum can tabs into cool jewelry!
STEP 1: Gather Your Supplies
For starters, you need a pile of pop tabs. Somewhere between 20-26, depending on wrist size.
You also need elastic cord and scissors. That's it! No other supplies necessary.
You also need elastic cord and scissors. That's it! No other supplies necessary.
STEP 2: Start Assembling
Cut cord to approximately 2-1/2 feet.
Loop through the first tab, situating the tab at center of cord.
Loop through the first tab, situating the tab at center of cord.
STEP 3: Another Tab
Hold another tab below your first tab, (make sure your rough edges are always facing each other, smooth side to the outside) overlapping so you can see through openings of both tabs.
Thread the cord up from the bottom through both tabs, bringing top cord through top hole and bottom cord through bottom hole.
Thread the cord up from the bottom through both tabs, bringing top cord through top hole and bottom cord through bottom hole.
STEP 4: And Another Tab
OK, now get another tab and hold it on top, overlapping as before,
and this time, thread the cords through the opposite holes forming an X on top.
and this time, thread the cords through the opposite holes forming an X on top.
STEP 5: Keep Going
Another tab, held at the back and thread those cords through,
top cord-top hole, bottom cord-bottom hole.
top cord-top hole, bottom cord-bottom hole.
STEP 6: Don't Give Up
Another tab, held on top, thread cords through forming that X. Top cord-bottom hole, bottom cord-top hole.
STEP 7: Almost Done
Keep going, repeating step five and step six, alternately,
until bracelet can be wrapped around your wrist and ends meet comfortably.
You need the last tab to be one placed at the back side.
Then, bring ends together and form final X.
until bracelet can be wrapped around your wrist and ends meet comfortably.
You need the last tab to be one placed at the back side.
Then, bring ends together and form final X.
STEP 8: It's Finally Done!
Tie the cords in a knot and trim the ends.
STEP 9: Masterpiece!
Turn bracelet back over and slide it on your wrist.
There should be just enough stretch to easily go
over your hand and then be lightly snug on your wrist.
There should be just enough stretch to easily go
over your hand and then be lightly snug on your wrist.
STEP 10: Add Personality.
There's plenty of ways to embellish these bracelets, too.
You can paint the tabs, use colored elastic, add beads,
anything you can think of.
Well, I hope my tutorial is clear
and you enjoy making your own pop tab bracelet.
You can paint the tabs, use colored elastic, add beads,
anything you can think of.
Well, I hope my tutorial is clear
and you enjoy making your own pop tab bracelet.
112 Comments
Karithina 14 years ago
I didn't have any elastic cord lying around but I did have four sets of broken earphones, I used one side of a split earphone cord and had plenty left over. It's a bit of a squeeze without it being elastic but I've left just enough space for it to not be uncomfortable and not too much for it to slip off.
It still needs some painting which I probably should have done before I made it but oh well!
pgd5000 13 years ago
eleanorjane59 6 months ago
Emerald04 4 years ago
stoltare000 4 years ago
andyputra 10 years ago
couldnt find any soda can so i went through my parents garbage can and got enough tabs for like twenty of these things! http://jambhu.blogspot.com/
Savanniepoo 10 years ago
Fabulous :)
Katie B 10 years ago
I loved this idea, but it was too confusing. When I almost finished, the X's made the whole thing unravel into a big tangle. I had to cut the string to get the tabs free. Luckily I found another tutorial on how to do it without the X's. I don't know if anyone else had this problem, or if I just didn't understand the instructions... Well, thanks anyway.
koolbeanz 10 years ago
kat1999 11 years ago
Calyie 12 years ago
tops! It looks cooler and it has color!
anu375teck 12 years ago
SarahKat552 12 years ago
Grr...Fear Me (thats my phone singature to)
War on 45 12 years ago
I can't understand you. Are you sure you can't move your fingers just a _little_ bit more, so that you actually type words instead of numbers? Or do you need typing lessons? I'm sure you can find typing games...
peaceupgg 12 years ago
lbettie 12 years ago
War on 45 12 years ago
It's called a "reversible". You just invert the original bracelet. It won't have the X's from the elastic.
Good job!
ale-8-1 12 years ago
War on 45 12 years ago
Since you probably don't have that, just use a strong emery board.
If you don't know what that is... It's a nail file.
If you do have sandpaper, cut a little piece, attach it to a craft stick using glue and file down the sharp edges. Good job.
zseymour 12 years ago