Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,544 
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Post by Just T on Mar 17, 2016 14:05:56 GMT
Every year, I make a "souvenir" bracelet for a dinner auction fundraiser for the organization I work for. I make 25 of them, and we sell them for $100. They aren't worth that amount dollar wise, but I use good-quality beads like Swarovski crystals, silver, etc., and they are always sold out quickly. This year, the lady at the bead store who sometimes helps me come up with a design strongly encouraged me to use the clear stretchy elastic type stuff to make them on rather than the jewelry wire and toggle that I have always done in the past. I have never used it, but I bought it, and now, I am second guessing myself. To my mind, a stretchy bracelet seems "cheaper" for some reason, and I'm worried that people will not like them as much for this reason, even though the bracelet is really pretty.
What do you think? Would something seem cheaper to you if it was on elastic rather than wire/toggle? I have only made one, and I can get toggles if necessary.
*UPDATE* 4/8
My fundraiser is tomorrow! I took everyone's advice and made the bracelets with wire and toggles. My coworkers didn't like the stretch idea, either. Here are a few photos. Well, nevermind. Something is being crappy, and I can't seem to get photos to post. I'll keep trying.
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Post by KikiPea on Mar 17, 2016 14:12:42 GMT
If I'm paying $100, I would want wire. To me, elastic, slip-on bracelets are inexpensive.
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Post by KelleeM on Mar 17, 2016 14:14:02 GMT
I'm with you. I would feel like $100 is a LOT of money for a stretchy bracelet. And I'd fear it breaking more easily.
I hope you'll post your design. I remember seeing them in the past. You do beautiful work.
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Post by realm on Mar 17, 2016 14:17:51 GMT
I agree that a bracelet on stretchy elastic would seem cheap to me. I also don't think it is as durable. I also make jewelry as a hobby and have had many of my friends give me their stretchy bracelets to fix as the elastic had snapped. I usually redo them for them but on wire.
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Post by Drew on Mar 17, 2016 14:23:38 GMT
I agree...on wire with silver findings. If they were free, like a party favor, fun stretchy bracelets would work great.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Mar 17, 2016 14:26:13 GMT
Definitely not the elastic.
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Post by mnmloveli on Mar 17, 2016 14:28:37 GMT
Definitely wire. The stretch bracelets tend to expand overtime or become brittle & break. Especially when paying $100, even if it is for charity.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Mar 17, 2016 14:29:26 GMT
I'm going with the crowd. I make jewelry once in a while and I only pull out the stretch cord when the girls want to make something with cheap beads. If I'm using quality beads, I use wire and a clasp.
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Post by Woobster on Mar 17, 2016 14:33:39 GMT
I prefer stretchy bracelets myself, simply because I like the way they fit better. I agree with everyone else though that the perception of quality could be different. I would stick with wire and silver findings.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 8:06:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 14:33:39 GMT
I agree with the rest of the peas. Wire jewelry is more durable and looks nicer. I wouldn't pay $100 for a stretchy elastic bracelet, no matter how pretty the design.
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,258
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Mar 17, 2016 14:36:31 GMT
I hate the stretchy bracelets and don't make them for me or anyone else. They just don't hold up well. I love all the different toggles you can get to make your design even better. Please post a pic of your final design. I LOVE looking at jewelry  |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 8:06:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 15:47:59 GMT
If I'm paying $100, I would want wire. To me, elastic, slip-on bracelets are inexpensive. Agreed! |
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Mar 17, 2016 15:55:05 GMT
Go back and buy the wire. Elastic is cheap, plus, after a few wears it often stretches like crazy, if I were paying $100 for a bracelet I wouldn't want it to fall off my hand in a few weeks.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,842
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Post by peppermintpatty on Mar 17, 2016 16:27:08 GMT
Jewelry designer here. You need to use wire. The elastic will begin to cut from the Swarovski crystals over time. Beading wire won't and if you are charging that much for a bracelet, it better hold up.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Mar 17, 2016 16:37:55 GMT
Another vote against the elastic.
And...I'd love to see pics of your bracelets!
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 8:06:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 17:07:24 GMT
After making tons of bracelets with clasps and beading wire I discovered stretch bracelets and I love them. The reason I decided to make them is because I started looking at what women were wearing. And it was stretch bracelets. Some women are wearing several bracelets at a time and I noticed they were stretch bracelets. I guess because it's easier to but on a bunch of bracelets without a clasp.
Mine are made using gemstone beads and some glass beads. While I normally use Swarovski crystals I don't use them or pearls on the stretch bracelets because I think the gemstones look better. I love adding the charms to dangle. I use a metal bead with a loop to hang the charm or tassel from. Usually the metal bead has a bigger hole so when you tie off the eleastic cord you can tuck the knot in the metal bead which gives it a finished appearance.
However having said all this I think you should make what you feel comfortable with. Or maybe this year try a combination of both styles.
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Post by myshelly on Mar 17, 2016 17:16:21 GMT
I would want wire.
I hate the stretchy bracelets. If I find one I really like (and it's cheap) I will buy it and remake it with wire.
But I could not bring myself to pay $100 for a stretchy bracelet.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Mar 17, 2016 17:47:20 GMT
No to the stretch elastic!
I make jewelry and absolutely will not use the elastic. IMO it screams cheap.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Mar 17, 2016 17:54:25 GMT
I've done a lot of beading and I wouldn't use the elastic either.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 8:06:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 17:54:26 GMT
TO me the stretch seems cheap. But, if stretch is the current trend, maybe make 2 or 3 on stretch to see what the response toward them is.
Could you do the 25 you know will sell on wire, and two extras on stretch just to gauge the response from you normal buyers?
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Post by deshacrafts on Mar 17, 2016 18:00:01 GMT
I agree with those who said use the wire. I've broken to many of those bracelets with the elastic when I was in a hurry to put them on. If I'm spending $100 for it, I would rather have wire.
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Post by Lexica on Mar 17, 2016 18:10:35 GMT
I think of the plastic stretchy ones as for children, not adults. I do have a couple of them that I picked up at this yearly tag sale I attend, but they were only $0.50 a piece. And I only wear them with something super casual.
And please, post your pictures! I would love to see the current and any past bracelets that you have made for the charity.
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Post by anniefb on Mar 17, 2016 19:21:59 GMT
If I'm paying $100, I would want wire. To me, elastic, slip-on bracelets are inexpensive. Yeah that. To me elastic is the sort of thing used for kids' bracelets. |
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,544
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Post by Just T on Mar 17, 2016 23:02:34 GMT
Sorry for just getting back to this. I had a busy day at work.
Okay, so I wasn't just overthinking this. I am definitely going to go for toggles/wire. I'm pretty surprised she was so adamant that I should use elastic. She said that is what everyone is using now. She also makes bracelets for another organization who does a similar thing, and she said that is what she does for them. But, when she was ringing me up, she told me they keep their cost way low and only sell their bracelets for $35. I don't think she knows or realizes how much we sell mine for.
I'll see if I can find some photos from past years to post. I will take pictures of this year's when I finish them. Off to order some toggles!  Thanks for your responses! |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 8:06:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 0:18:39 GMT
Glad your going for the toggle clasp and wire. I'd love to see pictures too!
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sharlag
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I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Mar 18, 2016 2:39:13 GMT
I agree that the wire seems to be higher quality, but here's another perspective: I can't wear most wire bracelets because the 'pretty side' slides around to the bottom of my wrist or the bracelet is too large.
I'd be more apt to buy an elastic bracelet for those reasons.
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Post by alexa11 on Mar 18, 2016 2:51:10 GMT
I would use the wire. I've made jewelry before and always worried about the elastic- I spent more time on the few pieces that I made to ensure they didn't come apart. Wire and toggles are so much easier to me. Making 100 of them, I would definitely stick with something you're comfortable with.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Mar 18, 2016 10:03:36 GMT
If I'm paying $100, I would want wire. To me, elastic, slip-on bracelets are inexpensive. This. Elastic wears out eventually, and snaps. It also can easily get snagged on something and break. Go with the wire for sure. |
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,544
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Post by Just T on Apr 8, 2016 23:03:07 GMT
BTT for update and photos
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Apr 8, 2016 23:10:39 GMT
They are pretty and just want to say that I LOVE this idea for a fundraiser! Get a couple girls to do it and then everyone caves to peer pressure. lol.
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Thanks for your responses!
