Make a bingo bangle bracelet

Unique craft supplies can be found right under your nose. Recently I uncovered some great game pieces in a pile of vintage board games. These games had been replaced by newer versions, or their electronic counterparts, so they were basically fair game.

My favorite pieces were the old wooden bingo numbers. Their vintage color and patina worked up beautifully into a bingo bangle bracelet. One game provides enough numbers to make one bracelet for yourself and several as gifts to have on hand for unexpected occasions.

The additional supplies needed for this project are pretty basic and inexpensive. You may already have everything you need, as I did not purchase or use any jewelry findings to complete this bracelet.

Things You Will Need:

Wood scrap

7 wooden bingo numbers

Drill and 1/16-inch drill bit

1mm hemp cord

Ruler

Scissors

7 beads

Craft glue

Step 1

Place a scrap of wood on your work surface to protect it. Stand a round, wooden bingo number on its side edge. Place the tip of a 1/16-inch bit on the side edge that is facing up. Drill straight down and completely through the wooden game piece. This transforms the bingo number into a bead. Repeat on six more numbers for a total of seven game beads.

Step 2

Cut a 20-inch length of 1mm hemp cord. This length will make the bracelet large enough to be slipped over the hand like a bangle, plus a little bit extra for ease of construction.

Step 3

Tie a knot 3 inches from one end of the hemp cord. Thread a bead on the other end of the cord. The size of the bead is up to you, but it must have a hole big enough for the cord to slide through, but small enough to be stopped by the knots. Mine were 9mm metallic rosebud beads. Slide the bead down to the knot.

Step 4

While holding the bead against the knot, tie a knot on the other side of the bead. Thread a bingo number on the cord and slide it down to the knot above the first bead. Hold the bead against the knot and tie another knot on the other side of the number. Repeat the pattern of adding beads, knots and numbers until you have a total of seven beads and seven numbers. End with a number and a knot.

Step 5

Bring the two ends of the hemp cord together and tie in a knot above the first and last knots on the cord. Trim the ends of the cord to 1 inch. Apply a small dab of craft glue over the knot to secure.