Crafty Meets Trendy - Chain Link Bracelets

I don't talk much about fashion on here.  Mostly because I claim to have no idea what I'm doing, but I've got to say that I love a good trend.  Last year, I totally bought into the men's watch trend and invested in this beauty:

Michael Kors Chronograph Gold Dial Watch

Even though it easily takes up the entire width of my wrist, this watch is probably my favorite purchase over the last few years, and it started an unhealthy obsession with gold accessories.   ...which means that I couldn't be happier to see this trend popping up...

Atlantic-Pacific

Pinterest

Men's watch + lots of gold bracelets?  I'm in. 

And then this chain link bracelet DIY popped up in my inbox a few weeks back thanks to Martha Stewart's Craft of the Day email.  Feeling inspired, I picked up a few different styles of chain in various shades of gold and bronze, some jump rings, and some clasps, all for about twenty bucks. 

The construction is about as simple as jewelry making gets.  From each of the chain lengths, I extracted a length (or three) using a bracelet I already owned as my guide. Combine the lengths with two jump rings--one at each end--and a clasp, and you're done.  If you're new to jewelry making, two pairs of small pliers make bending the links and jump rings open and closed super easy.

 
In about a half an hour, I had five bracelets and a necklace (not shown)....for $20.  Can't beat that, right?  (Take note of that sweet velvet background, about which Michael said, "What are you, a 70-year-old jewelry dealer?")

And now, look how freakin' trendy I am!

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