DIY Football Team Colors Bracelet Craft: Heishi Bead Spirit Wear 🏈🟢

Polymer Heishi Bead Football Team Colors Bracelet

beaded football team colors bracelet craft

Make this football team bracelet craft to easily show spirit for your favorite professional football team, college team, or a youth sports team!

This jewelry-making activity is fun, highly customizable, and results in a wearable accessory perfect for game day or gifting.

The bracelet is constructed using popular flat polymer clay heishi beads in your team’s colors, along with novelty football-shaped beads for a sporty flair.

This is a great group activity that kids and adults can enjoy together, requiring only basic supplies and no specialized jewelry-making skills!

Key Materials: Heishi Beads and Elastic Thread 🧵

Selecting the right materials is essential for creating a comfortable, durable stretchy bracelet.

About Polymer Clay Heishi Beads

Definition: Heishi (pronounced hee-shee) beads are flat, disc-shaped beads. The common ones used for DIY crafts are made from polymer clay and come in every color imaginable to match any team.
Sizing: Typical polymer heishi beads are about 6mm wide by 1mm thick with a 2mm hole, making them easy to string.
Team Colors: The beads are readily available in strands, loose packages, or kits, making it simple to find the exact colors of your favorite team.

Elastic Beading Thread

The Right Thickness: For these beads, a thicker elastic thread (.7mm to 1mm) is recommended. This is stronger and more durable than the thin thread used for seed beads, providing a sturdier bracelet.
Tip: If you only have thin elastic, you can double it up to ensure the bracelet is strong enough to last.

Sizing and Securing Your Bracelet 📏🔒

A few simple techniques ensure your bracelet fits well and stays together.

Measuring for Fit

General Guide: A standard women’s bracelet is typically 6.5 to 7.5 inches, while a child’s bracelet is 5.5 to 6.5 inches.
Best Practice: Measure the wrist of the intended wearer and add 1/4 inch to that measurement for the final length. The bracelet should rest comfortably and stretch easily to slide on and off.

Tying the Best Knot

Avoid Crimp Beads: Crimp beads are not recommended for elastic thread as they can cut and break the material.
The Surgical Knot: The best way to secure stretchy bracelets is with a very secure knot, such as a surgical knot, which involves looping the thread through an extra time compared to a regular knot.
Concealment: The instructions suggest starting and ending the beading with a football or sports ball bead so you can tuck the finished knot inside the bead to hide it!

Where to Buy Jewelry Supplies Online

AliExpress has a huge selection of jewelry making supplies at super low prices – incredibly low prices. Plan ahead when you order, since shipping can take longer than US based companies.
Amazon also has a good selection of supplies and shipping can be very fast.

🏈🟢 DIY Football Team Colors Craft Checklist

🖌️ Materials

Flat Polymer Clay Heishi Beads in Team Colors 🔴🔵
3 Football Beads (or other sports-themed beads)
Elastic Beading Thread (.7mm to 1mm recommended)

🥄 Supplies

Tape Measure or Ruler
Tape (to secure the thread while beading)
Scissors

📝 Instructions

Prep Thread: Determine the desired size of the bracelet. Cut a piece of elastic thread that is several inches longer than the finished length.
Secure: Use a piece of tape to secure one end of the elastic thread to your work surface. This prevents the beads from sliding off.
Plan: Decide on the pattern for your team colors (e.g., alternating colors or blocks of color).
String Beads: Start with a football bead (to hide the knot later). Continue adding the heishi beads and any remaining football beads until the bracelet reaches the desired length.
Knot: Once complete, remove the tape and tie the ends together using a secure knot (like a surgical knot). Carefully trim the excess thread.
Tuck: Tug the thread ends until the knot pops inside the nearby football bead, concealing it.
Wear: Your custom football team bracelet is ready to wear and show off your spirit!

Ready to Show Your Team Spirit? ⬇️

This simple jewelry craft is the perfect way to wear your passion for the game, or to create personalized gifts for fellow fans!

Which football team is your favorite?

What colors will you use for your bracelet?

DIY Football Team Colors Bracelet Craft: Heishi Bead Spirit Wear 🏈🟢

Polymer Heishi Bead Football Team Colors Bracelet