Easy $5 Wooden Charm Bracelet

I’m excited to share today 101+ Birthday Gift Ideas for your Friends, including my easy wooden charm bracelet.  I have noticed as I’ve gotten older that my other mom friends don’t celebrate birthdays like we used to and it becomes just another day.  It’s not like that at my house (I LOVE birthdays), and it made me sad to think that my friends weren’t feeling the same joy as I was about their special day.  Today I am joining forces with Kristen Duke in her Birthday Celebration Week along with over 100 talented bloggers sharing lots of inexpensive ideas and free printables! All week long, Kristen is sharing birthday tips and giveaways so be sure to check out her Party.

As for the other creative ideas, a lot of these gifts are versatile for any occasion, and can be a to gift to your friends, family, or even that gal that you’d like to get to know better. Even more fabulous–most gifts are under $5, and have coordinating printables to make it super simple!

{Blog Hop Birthday designs by C {dot} love}

I am a maker. All the way to my core I would rather make something than buy it every single time.  This can be a little frustrating for my sweet hubby, but it’s just who I am.  So of course my gift idea for you today is something so simple anyone can make it!  I have been working on incorporating more fun pieces of jewelry into my outfits (striving for that Pinterest look) and so today I am going to show you how to make a bright and colorful wooden charm bracelet for less than $5!  This project is super simple and can be customized to any color, shape, style that you like. So read on for the full story.

My exact supplies – NOT affiliate links, just helpful resources!

• Suede Cord (4 colors for $4 = $1 per color)
• Wooden Charm – the exact ones I ordered are no longer available (4 for $4 = $1 per charm)
• Fish Hook Earring (8 for $8 = $1 per hook and you can find them cheaper other places)
• Jewelry Wire (I couldn’t find a link, but it was in the $1/$2 bins on the bottom shelf in the jewelry department at Walmart)
• Jump Rings ($2 for 180 = $0.01 each)
• Random other charms I had lying around, check you single earrings or broken jewelry first!

Now to be honest I didn’t actually go out and buy anything for this project, I already had all this stuff left over from other projects like my beaded wrap bracelet and my feather earrings.  So don’t worry if you have to go buy a couple of things, I promise you will find a way to use the extras again and again!

The first step is cutting a length of your cord off, I started off with about 14 inches.  String your cord through one side of your charm leaving the charm at exactly the halfway point.  Fold your cord and wrap your jewelry wire around it 2-3 times to hold it in place.  Because I didn’t want those sharp pokey ends of the jewelry wire scratching anyone I gently hammered them flat with a regular hammer!

The next step (if you want) is picking one or two tiny charms or beads and stringing them through the cord.  If you do more than one I suggest putting one on each side of the cord rather than putting them both on the same side.  If you forget to do this before the next step things get enormously harder or impossible depending on what you are using.  Trust me.

Once you have your charms/beads on you will want to prep your earring hook.  Start by gently pressing the hook part closed so that rather than having a nice open earring hook you have a skinny earring clasp.  Then you will want to add one of your jump rings (the middle size) onto the bottom of the earring (where the earring itself would normally go).  Once you have that part read feed both strands of your cord through the jump ring and fold them over.  This is the tricky part because you will want to measure it on your wrist to get an exact measurement.  Mine is about 6″ long, but if you have smaller or larger wrists you will want to measure yours accordingly.  Once you have determined your length you will wrap the jewelry wire around all four strands of cord (because you have folded it over the earring hook ring) and wrap it tightly so that it doesn’t move.  Again I smoothed out the pokey ends with some gentle hammering.

Cut off any excess cord from the very ends and put that bad boy on to adjust the charms to your liking.  The final step in this process is wrapping it up and giving it away.  Imagine the smile that your friend will have when she realizes that not only did you remember her birthday, but you made her a gift as well!

Are you ready for some inspiration? Join in on the BLOG HOP! Click on each of links below each collage to see the gift idea and printable closer, along with instructions on how to make them, like mine above. I like to open a bunch of new tabs, and Pin my favorites for later. Don’t forget to follow the Birthday Gift Ideas Pinterest Board as well, to save future great ideas.

>>>>>>>Important info! Blog Hops often have glitches the first day. If the link has an ERROR, simply click on the HOME button for each site, or google the blog name next to the link, and you should see their gift post there. Links will be updated as soon as possible.<<<<<<<<<<<<

1. Birthday Balloon Gift + matching free Print by Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke
2. Stamped Cocktail Napkin + Printable by Delineate Your Dwelling
3. Buckets of Fun gift idea+Free Printable by Craftiness is Not Optional
4. 7 Candy Bar Love Notes to say “Happy Birthday” by The Dating Divas
5. Have a Flippin’ Awesome Birthday by Dessert Now Dinner Later
6. Fishtail Loom Bracelet by I Should Be Mopping the Floor
7. Lemonade Lip Balm by Pretty Handy Girl
8. Hair Tie Birthday Gift & Printable Tag by Wait Til Your Father Gets Home
9. Gift of Sunshine Idea + Free Printable by Sweet Charli
10. I hope your birthday is a whole “lotto” fun by C.R.A.F.T.
11. Chicken Spice Rub w/ Printable Tags by Over the Big Moon
12. Birthday in a Bag Gift Idea by Seven Thirty Three
13. Quick Note for your Birthday Printable by Liz on Call
14. Otter Pop Gift with Printable Gift Tag by Somewhat Simple
15. {you} Series Magnets Printable by Ruffles and Rain Boots
16. Tea Cup Succulent by Your Homebased Mom
17. Pretty Pincushion + Printable by Let’s Eat Grandpa
18. Lemon Bath Salts & Free Printable by See Vanessa Craft
19. Diet Coke Birthday Kit by Pink Peppermint Prints
20. Chocolate Filled Insulated Tumbler Gift by The Girl Who Ate Everything

21. Easy Funfetti Cake Balls with Printable by Salt and Pepper Moms
22. Hands Down Best Friend Around by Eighteen25
23. Berry Happy Birthday Printable by Stuffed Suitcase
24. Whisk Birthday Gift with Free Printable by Cupcake Diaries
25. Paper Plate Gift Idea by Crafting in the Rain
26. Popcorn Gift Printable by Breezy Bakes
27. Life Saver: Birthday Gift in a Jar by Here Comes the Sun
28. Decoupage Wooden Pendant by Twin Dragonfly Designs
29. Have a coffee on me: Funky Coasters by Funky Junk Interiors
30. Swanky Black & Gold Cosmetic Bag by A Prudent Life
31. DIY cocktail napkins by kojodesigns
32. Nail Polish Gift by Southern Hospitality
33. Banana Cake by Whats Cooking with Ruthie
34. Paparazzi – the PERFECT friend gift by Sugar Bee Crafts
35. “latte” fun birthday gift by Our Thrifty Ideas
36. Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes + Printable by Tastes Better from Scratch
37. Pearls are Always Appropriate by Mommy Envy
38. Girls Just Want to Have Fun Birthday Gift by A Little Tipsy
39. Manicure Kit Birthday Gift with Printable by Blooming Homestead
40. Orange you Glad Cup by Artsy Fartsy Mama

41. Donut Gift Tag by Pretty Providence
42. Rainbow Inspired Birthday Gift + Printable by Thirty Handmade Days
43. Drink Topper and Tag by LandeeLu
44. DIY Bath Salts using Essential Oils by Unskinny Boppy
45. Friends are Like Chocolate Chips by Delightful Deets
46. Paint Can Succulent Planters by East Coast Creative
47. A Bundt Cake Gift & Printable by Dukes and Duchesses
48. Jam Birthday Gift & Printable by Happiness is Homemade
49. Jazzed up Frames by House for Five
50. Favorite Things Gift Ideas by inkhappi
51. Toe-tally Cool Nail Polish Gift Idea + Free Printable by Simply Designing with Ashley
52. Quote Book by Reasons to Skip the Housework
53. Iron On T-Shirt Gift by Becoming Martha
54. DIY Humorous Girlfriend Gift by Brassy Apple
55. Tea-riffic Birthday Gift Idea & Printable by Mom Endeavors
56. Turn Today Into A Celebration by Dolen Diaries
57. You’re A Lifesaver Printable by Live Laugh Rowe
58. Happy Birthday Jar {free printable} by Kiki and Company
59. Mason Jar Flower Vase + Printable by R & R Workshop
60. Easy $5 Wooden Charm Bracelet by Craftily Ever After

61. Polka Dot Mason Jar Vase by The Cards We Drew
62. Free Printable Mini Notes by Confetti Sunshine
63. Bath Bomb Easy Birthday Gifts by Tried and True
64. Ball Jar Printable Tags by The Country Chic Cottage
65. Eat More Cake Birthday Gift Idea and Printable by Play. Party. Pin.
66. Have a “berry” happy birthday by The Contractor Chronicles
67. Merci Chocolates + Hey Birthday Girl french girl printable by Handmade in the Heartland
68. Five Minute Leather Necklace Tutorial + Birthday printables by Delia Creates
69. Ah-Mason Birthday Gift Idea by Lolly Jane
70. Simple Dangle Earring Tutorial by Bombshell Bling
71. Symphony Bar Brownies by Among the Young
72. Wishing you an E “straw” diary Birthday by Ginger Snap Crafts
73. DIY Washi Tape Cacti by Fry Sauce and Grits
74. State Pride Cheese Board by Addicted to DIY
75. Reusable Monogrammed Solo Cup by Mom 4 Real
76. go-to gift…EARRINGS! by A Girl and A Glue Gun
77. Embroidered Mixed Media Bookmarkers by The Creative Goddess
78. Beyond Measure Birthday Printable by Like Mother Like Daughter
79. Birthday Facial Kit Gift by The Benson Street
80. DIY Jewelry Bookmark by Design Dazzle

81. Birthday in a Jar – Birthday Printable Tags by A Pumpkin and a Princess
82. Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Party Cookies by Crazy Little Projects
83. You are the Bee’s Knees by Love the Day
84. Birthday Candy Jar by Inside BruCrew Life
85. “Hip Hip Hooray, today is your birthday!” printables by The Crafted Sparrow
86. Treat Yo Self Printable by Girl Loves Glam
87. Chocolate Facial with printable by TidyMom
88. Happy Birthday Sweets by A Night Owl
89. Quick & Easy Hydrangea Cake by Sweet C’s Designs
90. Sweets for the Sweet by Simply Kierste
91. Citrus Whipped Honey Butter Jars by Sand and Sisal
92. Diet Coke Gift for a Friend with Printable by Sweet Treats and More
93. A Latte for Two + printables by One Krieger Chick
94. Cookie Monster Birthday Gift Tag by I’m Topsy Turvy
95. Root Beer Float Cake in a Jar by Giggles Galore
96. Treat Yo’Self Printable Watercoloring Box by Persia Lou
97. Fruity Body Scrub with Printable by Mad in Crafts
98. Magnetic Necklace Charm by Sowdering About
99. Happy Bee Day with Printable by Just Another Day in Paradise
100. Manicure in a Jar by That’s What {Che} Said…
101. UBER lucky to have you in my Life by Maybe I Will
102. Free Happy Birthday Printable by NoBiggie
103. DIY Wine Bag & Charms Gift by Sypsie Designs
104. Crispy Crunch-y Pie with Printable by Just Rhonda
105. “You’re the Silver Lining” Friendship Nail Polish Gift by The Happy Housie
106. Tie One On for Your Birthday (Hair Tie Gift Free Printable) by illistyle

Did you have a gift idea that stuck out to you? Go ahead and visit your favorites and let them know you love it!

Follow the Pinterest Gift Board now!

Follow Capturing Joy with Kristen’s board Birthday Gift Ideas on Pinterest.