The last vestiges of Christmas... Wrapping Paper Bracelet

Mostly over Christmas I was wearing a combination of my Autumn bracelets and some suitably placed skulls, with a dash of Winter Snow thrown in when I was feeling seasonal!

Generally I go for a very minimal festive look at home and on my wrist during Christmas... as for me, much like Skulls are not just for Halloween; fairy lights are not just for Christmas either.  There is always a set of lights somewhere in the house and all I need to do for Christmas is just turn them on... as normal, and with some Christmas Cards on the mantel piece, my normal all year round fairy lights suddenly look Christmassy!

The other part of Christmas I quite enjoy decoration wise that a lot of people seem to dread is wrapping presents, but as we go for a pared down festive break I don't get to do as much of that as I'd like, perhaps I should hire myself out at this time of year and offer to wrap other people's presents??

Anyhoo, first post of the year and I'm already rambling, but I decided to make a really Christmassy bracelet, not one that I would particularly wear but something a bit different to my usual fare.

Inspired by a lovely set of beads I'd bought from Luccicare (for another project) I set to work to make a Wrapping Paper Bracelet.

Luccicare Beads

I teamed my red and gold Luccicare set with a beautiful green glitter Trollbeads mini-set that I've acquired over the last couple of months... the beads have all found me one-by-one but I was so delighted to find a match for my first unique and when I got the opportunity to buy the middle one (in a draw on facebook) I was over the moon... expect to see these on a bangle soon!

Trollbeads green glitter uniques I've been collecting

For my wrapping paper bracelet I decided to go with a busy red, green and gold theme teamed with actual silver and gold.  I incorporated some stars and planets to add to the sparkly effect - the Mexican lock was a perfect match and my silver and gold planet matched the gold bumpy beads perfectly; wish I had two of these!  Throw in an Elfbead on the end as I needed another gold bead and taa-daa!  My Christmas Wrapping Paper Bracelet was conceived!

Sadly I only wore it once to decide that although I liked it as a bracelet, I didn't have a need for such a sparkly busy bracelet during the festive period... the beads have now gone back into the box waiting for their next projects to happen... I may be some time!!

What strange inspiration in the past have you taken for decoration or jewellery?

Red leather bracelet with a very special bead - 2 tone Planet

Initially starting out as just an enabler for others in the July sales, I soon ended up joining in myself, I just couldn't resist those bargain prices!

Despite 2 failed attempts, six months apart, to buy Daisy, (the 2 tone bead I have been trying to source at a rock bottom price), I had better luck with my 2nd choice of 2 tone bead in the recent sales - Silver and Gold Planet.

Now I had it though, I wasn't 100% sure what to do with it, it's still quite hot in the UK so I really didn't fancy wearing a full silver bracelet and I wasn't getting any inspiration (yet) on a bangle combo.

I really enjoy looking at different ways to wear my leather bracelets and as I'd picked up a red leather recently in the same sale I thought I'd try to do something a bit different with it to showcase my new bead. 

I decided to try wearing my bracelet with a ribbon necklace I picked up at a craft fair earlier this month, it has 3 ribbon strands with a simple clasp and will wrap around my wrist 3 times if I'm careful.

Red leather and ribbon bracelet: includes Snow, Silver and Gold Planet, Sparkling Stars
Endless, Brew of the Moor, Taurus

I love the look with red leather and ribbons and I think the different reds really show off the gold in the bead without it being too in your face.  I've seen a really great combination using 2 tone Planet and Space showcased by Trollbeads Studio so I think I know what other 2 tone bead I'd like next!

I haven't forgotten you though Daisy, you will be mine one day! 3rd time lucky?