Retired - The Rainbow Road Bracelet

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Begin by using a pair of flush cutters to cut four 10" lengths of medium Soft Flex Extreme sterling silver plated beading wire.
2. Attach each strand of wire to one loop on a sterling silver plated four strand reducer using a sterling silver plated wire protector and a sterling silver micro crimp bead as follows: You will want to add a crimp bead to the wire, thread the wire into the loops on a wire protector, and then put the wire protector through the loop on the strand reducer. Pinch the wire protector closed. Then thread the loose end back through the crimp bead, with about 1/2" coming through the crimp bead. Use a crimp tool to secure the crimp bead.
3. Once all four strands of wire are attached to the strand reducer and the excess of the short end of the wire trimmed from the crimp beads, you are ready to string your beads.
4. You will need fifteen 23.5 x 5mm Austrian Crystal 2-hole column beads and twenty-eight 19 x 5mm Austrian Crystal 2-hole column beads in an assortment of colors. Lay out your beads before you string them to determine the color pattern you wish to use. If you like, follow along with the color pattern in the photos, or put then in whatever color pattern you like.
5. Lay your beads out with a row of one large column bead followed by a row of two small column beads, with the inner holes of the small beads lined up with the holes of the large bead. Continue this pattern, ending with a large bead. See photo for reference.
6. Now, string your beads onto the four strands of wire that you've attached to the strand reducer. Add two 2.5mm Austrian Crystal bicone beads to the beginning of the 1st and 4th strand before your first column beads. As you string your column beads, add two bicone beads between the ends of each small column bead on the 1st and 4th strands. After the last small column beads have been strung, string two bicone beads after each.
7. After the end of your strung beads, use wire protectors and crimp beads to attach the wires to another strand reducer in the same manner as before. Be sure that the wire strands are pulled snugly enough that your column beads don't move around too much, but not so tight that your bracelet will not lay flat.
8. Open a 3mm, 22 gauge sterling silver plated jump ring and use it to attach one side of an 11mm sterling silver plated sleek wrap toggle clasp to one of the strand reducers. Repeat with the other side of the toggle clasp and the other strand reducer.

• FCL-03011 - Sterling Silver Sleek Wrap Toggle Clasp 11mm (1)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• FCR-01152 - Sterling Silver Micro Crimp Beads 1.5mm x 2mm (50)
  Project uses 8 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FCR-4148 - Sterling Silver Wire & Thread Protectors .021 Inch Loops (20)
  Project uses 8 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-03030 - Sterling Silver Open Jump Rings 3mm 22 Gauge (20)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWBB-1000 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 2.5mm, 20 Pieces, Crystal
  Project uses 60 pieces. You will need 3 packages.


• SWBB-8900 -
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8901 -
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8909 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 19x5mm, 1 Piece, Indicolite
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8913 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 19x5mm, 1 Piece, Light Topaz
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8914 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 19x5mm, 1 Piece, Peridot
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8915 -
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8916 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 19x5mm, 1 Piece, Rosaline
  Project uses 4 pieces. You will need 4 packages.


• SWBB-8930 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 23.5x5mm, 1 Piece, Amethyst
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWBB-8931 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 23.5x5mm, 1 Piece, Aquamarine
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWBB-8939 -
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWBB-8943 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 23.5x5mm, 1 Piece, Light Topaz
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWBB-8944 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 23.5x5mm, 1 Piece, Peridot
  Project uses 3 pieces. You will need 3 packages.


• SWBB-8945 -
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• SWBB-8946 - Austrian Crystal, 5535 2-Hole Column Bead 23.5x5mm, 1 Piece, Rosaline
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• XCR-5293 - Soft Flex, Extreme Flex 19 Strand Medium Beading Wire .019 Inch, 30 Feet, Sterling Silver Plated
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5230 - Double Notch Crimping Pliers - Works on 2mm And 3mm Crimps