How to make a birthstone BFF bracelet
Before you start creating your bracelet, you will need to gather a few simple supplies. The most important thing is the beads. You will want to find beads in the colors of your birthstones and your friend’s birthstones. Some months have really bright colors like January’s garnet which is a deep red, or May’s emerald which is a gorgeous green. Others are softer like June’s pearl which is white or opal with many colors, and December has turquoise which is a dreamy blue-green. You can choose glass beads, plastic beads, or even little gemstone beads that feel really fancy. You will also need some stretchy elastic cord, which comes in clear or black, and a pair of scissors. If you want to add an extra charm like a tiny heart or a star, grab that too. It is also fun to have a small tray or a piece of felt to keep your beads from rolling all over the floor, because nobody wants to search under the couch for a tiny bead.
Now that your supplies are ready, it is time to think about the design. A great way to make a birthstone BFF bracelet is to alternate your birthstone bead with your friend’s birthstone bead all the way around. That way, every bead reminds you of both of you together. For example, if you are an August baby with bright green peridot and your friend is a February baby with beautiful purple amethyst, you can string one green bead, then one purple bead, then repeat. That pattern looks so cute and shows that your friendship is a perfect mix of two awesome personalities. If you want to make it even more special, you can add a small metal spacer bead between each birthstone bead to give it a little sparkle, or you can put a tiny alphabet bead with your initials in the middle. The choice is totally yours, so have fun playing with different patterns before you actually start stringing them.
Once you have decided on your pattern, measure the elastic cord around your wrist and add about four extra inches so you have enough room to tie a knot. Cut the cord and then start sliding your beads on. This is the easiest part because all you have to do is pick up each bead and push it onto the cord. But here is a little tip that will save you from big frustration, fold a small piece of tape around the end of the cord so that the beads do not slide off while you are working. That little trick works like a charm. As you string your beads, keep checking the length on your wrist to make sure you like how it fits. You want the bracelet to be snug enough to stay on but loose enough to slide over your hand. Once you have all your beads on the cord, take the two ends and tie them together with a double knot. Pull it tight, but not too tight that the cord snaps. After you tie the knot, add a tiny drop of clear nail polish or craft glue to the knot to keep it from coming undone, and then trim the extra cord with your scissors.
The last step is the most exciting part because you get to make one bracelet for yourself and one for your best friend. If you are making matching bracelets, just repeat the same pattern and length for both of you. But if you want to be extra creative, you can make each bracelet slightly different. For example, you can put your friend’s birthstone bead in the center of her bracelet and your birthstone bead in the center of yours, so that when you stand next to each other, the bracelets look like they are connected. Or you could make one bracelet with your birthstones alternating and the other with a little heart charm in the middle. The point is that these bracelets represent your unique friendship, so let your personality shine through. When you give the bracelet to your friend, you can even tell her what the colors mean and why you chose that special pattern.
Wearing a birthstone BFF bracelet is a wonderful feeling because it is like carrying a little secret message with you everywhere you go. Every time you look down at your wrist, you will remember all the fun sleepovers, inside jokes, and crazy adventures you have shared with your best friend. And when she wears her bracelet, she will think of you too, which makes you feel close even when you are not in the same room. These bracelets are also amazing for school because they are easy to make in different colors to match your outfits. You can make a new one for every season or for special occasions like birthdays and holidays. The possibilities are endless, and every bracelet you make together becomes a tiny treasure in your friendship story. So grab your bead stash, pick out your favorite birthstone colors, and start creating something beautiful that you and your best friend will love to wear for a long, long time.