Recycled Watch Band Bracelets

*warning: Disney is an akward hand model. Please imagine these on a slender, tan arm with perfectly manicured nails.* :o)

I bought a few old watches at my local thrift store the other day (only $1 each!) so that I could use the faces for jewelry. It left me with the plain stretchy bands afterward, and I hated to throw them away, so I thought that I would try making some bracelets with them! I really like how they turned out :o)

It was really easy to do!

1) (Try not to damage the band when you take off the face.)
Most watches have little spring-loaded pegs that you can remove and replace easily. The watch bands I had used little metal pieces that were bent down to hold the watch head in (see photo), so I just lifted them with my fingernail(yes, I did break a nail!), removed the head, and pressed them back down with pliers.


2) Then you'll need to decide what to put between them. I chose to make a little flower out of lace, by laying two different pieces of lace (13" of each) on top of each other and sewing a long strait stitch, then pulling the top thread to gather.


3) When it was gathered to my satisfaction, I stitched it a few times with my machine to hold it in place.


4) Then I used a needle and thread to attach the loops of my watch band to a small circle of felt. If your watch band doesn't have loops you can just sew tightly all the way around one of the links several times, and it should hold nicely.


5) Then I stitched my flower (hot glue would be just fine, too!) to another felt circle the same size, and glued the circles together with my glue gun. This way the edges of your watch band are tucked neatly between the felt circles.
6) I also glued on a flower and pearl that I rescued from an old piece of costume jewelry that didn't get much wear. A button would be cute, too, or just the plain flower looks lovely!

Of course, you could use any type of watch band, I just happened to have the stretchy kind.

I also made this silver one with a little bit thicker band:


I'm not sure why I used an "S" button, as I don't really know any "S"'s that I could give it to. I think I just really wanted to use one of these buttons for something! Anyone want an "S" bracelet?? I have a few more of those buttons that I could send along with it, too. I'll just send it the first person who emails me (you can find my address on the contact page up top) * EDITED: Wow, I didn't think so many people would want that! And you guys are fast, too! Thanks to Liza, who was my first emailer! I'll have it out to you today!

Comments

  1. Um, I'm an "S". lol, I emailed you, but I can't imagine I'm the first to see this though. I love that you don't waste anything. You should see my stash of things "I know I'll use one day". (=

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  2. i heart the s bracelet and i need an "s". i'll shoot an email your way!

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  3. I don't understand how you keep coming up with so many good ideas! I can see you designing for Anthropologie, or starting your own company.

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  4. Those are both really adorable! You're so clever! I have a few old watchbands sitting in my jewelry box, I'll have to try that!

    I wish I knew what to do with some "S" buttons, but... I don't.

    I love your site!

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  5. Love this It would be a perfect birthday gift for my sister! Hope I was the first to email! Thanks for all your inspiration!

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  6. This makes me want to find an old watch band and try this out. You may need to slow down--I can not keep up with your awesome ideas!Tee Hee:o)

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  7. Oh, I LOVE this idea!! I have three sisters in law and always have a hard time figuring out what to give them for birthdays. I have a hunch they'll all have matching bracelets in a few months. :)

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  8. This is lovely! I have a flower in perfect shape from an old torn up headband that would be great for this! Thanks for sharing :)

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  9. Oh my GOSH! That silver 'S' one is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE! I love love love it! And my last name begins with an 'S'.

    Disney, you are just too creative and lovely to put into words!

    Thanks for posting this. I'm going to look through my old jewelry stuff to see if I have a watch band I can use. :)

    ~Rita~

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  10. this is flippin' fantastic - I am always late to the party as my friend Suellen (with an "S") would've swooned over that bracelet. :)

    clever girl you are.

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  11. I just wanted to say what I've been thinking for ages now... You are amazing. I love everything you make! So inspiring! Now I can't wait to try this out!

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  12. What a brilliant idea! I really love the first one, the gold with the lace make a perfect mix of classy and girly. Thanks for posting this!

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  13. OMG I love them! Now that's inspiration for me to find an old watch band at the thrift store or something and make 1 of these.

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  14. Seriously, you are so creative! I was telling my husband about your blog when I first discovered it and wishing that I could be so original and creative. You inspire!

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  15. great ideas, I made on by myself because I saw smoething like that on Marie Claire´s magazine. Great job.

    www.caprichosdeana.blogspot.com

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  16. So Lovely!
    oooh I work part time in a watch shop so getting bands is an easy task! I had never thought to do this though.
    Just a tip if you find a metal watch band it is a little dirty... Soak in One party cloudy amonia (or dishwashing detergent)and ten parts warm water for about ten min and then scrub with an old toothbrush making sure to stretch the links open and get into to inside of the band. Then polish with a soft cloth.
    I will be definately trying this out!

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  17. I literally want to use your ideas every single day! Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Ingenious! I think I am going to make some of these for the girls for Valentine's Day.
    (~~)
    Julie

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  19. this is SO cool. I run across vintage watches ALL the time thrifting (of course now I said that watch I wont find any LOL ) but Im stoked to find some now!

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  20. Yep, pure genius! I'm not the best at coming up with new ideas, but I can always see something someone else has thought up and make one myself. I get creative with the remake, but the idea itself - you're great!

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  21. Awesome!! You come up with such creative recycle all the time...I love the colors and the tenderness of the first flower band...

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  22. What a great idea!! Thanks so much for sharing - you are so creative!!

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  23. I love the black ribbon bracelet!
    I posted a link to this tutorial on my blog. Its fantastic, thank you!

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  24. So creative and beautiful! Wow-wee!!!
    :-)

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  25. So stinkin' cute! My dad gave me his old watch on Christmas since he got a new one. I was going to use the watch face for a necklace. So nice to know that I can use the band now too! Thanks for the clear instructions.

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  26. Whoa...that is such a great idea! I have TONS of these bands. I bought a big both of broken watches in ebay while back. I wanted all of the tiny watch parts to use in art projects. Now I can make some bracelets! Thanks so much for the creative idea, I'll be linking.

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  27. wow that's a awesome idea; you are wonderful that's for sure.

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  28. Love this!! Will have to try it for the next birthday!

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  29. Hi Disney,
    I just love your blog! You have such cute ideas and the site is so "ruffly". Even though I'm a grown woman (57) I still consider myself a girly girl and love all things frilly and lacy. I really need to start my own blog since I am unemployed and love to create. Keep up all your pretty things!
    Stacia Roble

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  30. I really love this. You always have the greatest ideas!!!!

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  31. I love your style! I get so inspired looking at your blog. :)

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  32. beautiful, i happened to have old, non functioning watch similar to the one with lace, so i bought some white lace and tried... i didnt dare to remove the face so my version is a bit bulkier and my lace seems also a bit bulkier, but all in all i am satisfied. i can always unstich and remove the face or try to rearrange lace.thanks for the idea.

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