Beaded Grown Up Friendship Bracelets

Remember those childhood friendship bracelets you used to make? Every sleepover, every camp, every birthday; there always seemed to be a bracelet making station. This childhood staple has been getting an elevated upgrade and popping up everywhere from Urban Outfitters, to Madewell, to Anthropologie. But why pay $15+ when you can easily DIY a piece that’s special to you. Pick a name, mantra, or inside joke, you’ll want to make these with friends and keep a few for your everyday stack.

We actually made these during a COVID Craft night (where everyone was 6ft apart and we all wore masks). It was fun to see what phrases everyone came up with. Instead of paying for one Anthropolige bracelet, you and your friends can make a whole stack ✌️

You’ll Need
colorful seed beads
letter beads
stretch elastic cord*
assorted accent beads (pearls, thin puka shells, gold beads)
painter’s tape (optional)

*Note: Double check your cord size to make sure it fits whichever seed beads you choose!

Measure your wrist size and mark onto a piece of painter’s tape. Lay your beads along the painter’s tape to make sure your design will fit your wrist. It helps to do this in a shoebox lid, a ruler, or anything with a ridge to keep the beads from sliding around.
Start sliding your beads onto the elastic cord. This is a complete preference, but I like leaving the cord attached to the roll to prevent double knotting later. You can always pre-cut the cord, just be sure to give your self plenty of extra length to knot at the end.
Once all the beads are on, grab both ends of the cord and tie off like a water balloon. Give two quick tugs and the cord should stay put! Trim the ends and, if your beads are large enough, you can slide a bead over the knot to hide it.

That’s it! I can’t believe these are the first bracelet DIYs on the blog, but I love them! These look great in a stack (in fact, I made all the bracelets in these photos 😉). What will your bracelet say?