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Overview
Purchasing ready-made silicone bracelets is so yesterday. In today's style scene, it's all about wearing accessories that stop traffic long enough to give you an opportunity to brag about how you made your own bracelets and your own fashion statement. Silicone bracelets are fun and trendy--some even send social messages. Once you master the art of the silicone bracelet, you can fashion custom gifts for friends and family. Start with some inspiration, a mold and the right raw materials, then let your imagination take flight.
How to make a basic bracelet
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Step 1
Purchase a basic bracelet mold from your favorite craft store or see "Additional Resources," below, for help. These are relatively inexpensive and can be used repeatedly, so they are well worth the initial investment. -
Step 2
Don a dust mask and make sure the area in which you are making the bracelets is well ventilated. You'll be working with a medium that has a very unpleasant odor--it's sticky, too, so you will want to wear rubber gloves. -
Step 3
Read the directions on the package of the silicone modeling mix you've chosen to make your bracelets. Make certain the product includes the hardener (also called catalyst) required to bond the raw materials together. -
Step 4
Pour a layer of the prepared silicone modeling mix into the mold and allow it to harden per package instructions. When the silicone is hard, peel off the mold. That's all you have to do to make clear, embellishment-free bracelets.
Unique designs for your bracelets
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Step 1
To fashion bangles with clusters of faux gems and/or adornments scattered across the top of the bracelet, place the trim into the mold first, then pour silicone modeling mix over the trim. Tap lightly on a table to discourage bubbles that may have formed around the adornments. Allow the bauble to harden before peeling off the mold. -
Step 2
Challenge yourself to make a bracelet with "floating elements" by sandwiching them between two layers of pourable silicone modeling mix. Pour layer one into the mold and let it settle for half an hour. Carefully add adornments. Slide a second layer of resin over them and fill the mold to the top. The middle layer of stones or embellishments will "float" inside the bracelet. -
Step 3
Design a bracelet resembling a rainbow of layers by dyeing small batches of prepared silicone modeling mix, then layer them in, one color at a time. Each time you add a color, tap the mold, then give that color time to settle in so the color lines are crisp and clear. Repeat color layers until the bracelet mold is filled. Allow to set, then remove the bracelet after it has hardened.
- Skill: Moderately Easy
- Ingredients:
- Bracelet mold(s)
- Silicone modeling mix
- Catalyst
- Rubber gloves and face mask
- Acetone (for cleanup)
- Faux gems and embellishments (optional)
- Paint (optional)
- Tip: If you are designing a bracelet with embedded elements, immerse them into the catalyzed silicone mixture facedown to avoid air bubbles forming around them.
- Tip: Always use protective eye wear and plastic disposable gloves to protect your skin and eyes while you are preparing and pouring batches of silicone modeling mix.
- Tip: Keep acetone handy for spills and cleanups.
- Warning:
- For faster drying results, use a gel promoter to set the silicone materials in a matter of minutes.
- Silicone modeling-mix compounds and catalysts have finite shelf lives, so keep raw materials in a cool location and use within the recommended time listed on packages.
- Unless you're producing massive quantities of bracelets, buy small quantities of silicone mix to maintain freshness.
