Mile High Momday: DIY Wrap Watch

For this week's Momday....errrr...Thursday, I made a wrap watch with a built in bracelet.  I've been lusting over wrap watch bracelets on Pinterest, that are selling for up to $180, for a while now.  I figured it couldn't be that hard to make, and it really wasn't. Seriously you guys, this one is super easy!  Plus, read all the way to the end and I'll tell you how to enter to win one.  Yep!  I'm giving this away!!!

For this project, you'll need:

*A watch face.  It could be an old watch that you don't use anymore or a new one.  I bought this one at Joann Fabrics.  It was $12.99, then I had a 50% off coupon.

* "leather".  I use quotes around leather because it certainly doesn't have to be real leather.  I got my leather from an old jacket that my mom got me for $15, and I literally never wore it.  (Sorry Mom!)  It could be leather from a purse you don't wear, a belt, clothing, whatever.  I'm all about re-purposing things.

*A variety of chains.  I got all of mine at Joann's too.  Just make sure they are chain linked so you can open them up and make them whatever length you want.  You could use some of your old unused chains for this too. 

* 2 Jump rings.  I wouldn't skimp on these since you are going to be putting quite a bit of heavy chain on them.  I got mine at a bead shop, and they are Snapeez brand.

* 2 sets of pliers.  

*Either fabric/leather glue, a needle and thread or a sewing machine.  

*A watch buckle.  You could cut one off of a watch you don't use anymore, or buy just a replacement strap with a buckle.  I got one at Walmart for $4.

 

First you cut out a strip of leather from whatever you are using.  I cut the sleeve out of the jacket.

 

 Then you cut out your strap.  This will vary depending on the width of your watch face and how big your wrist is.  My strap ended up being about 24 inches long.  You can always trim it down when you are done, so make it longer than you think.

 

Slide the strap under one side of the watch and back up the other side.

 

Next, you make your chains about half the length of your strap.  Use two sets of pliers and just open up a link where you want the length to end.

Then you attach the strap buckle.  Poke a small hole using a nail, or anything sharp, in the middle of the strap about an inch from the end and put the buckle poker thing (that's the official name for those things) through the hole.  Wrap the end of the strap around and attach it on the back side.  You can use glue, hand stitch it, or use a sewing machine.  I machine sewed mine.  

Here is my very high tech diagram illustrating what I just tried to say. 

Then take your jump rings and attach all of the chains together, then attach to the watch.

And attach the other end to the buckle.

 

Now you are going to want to put it on.  Wrap it around your wrist and and make a mark where the hole needs to be to attach to the buckle.  Punch a small hole using a nail.  I punched a few holes.  One on my mark, one a little above it and one a little below it.  Depending on how your wrap it around your wrist, the size you need it to be can change.  You can cut off any excess strap at the end now too. 

You could stop here and make it a solid leather band, but I thought it looked a little too chunky, so I slid the watch face off and made a slit right down the center of the strap, stopping a couple inches short of the buckle and holes on the ends.  You'll want to wait and do this at the end as well, so you don't accidentally cut the slit too far and cut into where your holes or buckle need to be. 

 

If you want to add a small loop to tuck your extra strap into, just cut a small piece of leather and glue or sew it together and slide it on on the strap.

So what do you guys think?  I'm totally loving mine!  You could get really creative and add colorful beads to it.  I'm thinking of making some strands of beads and putting clasps on the ends so I can easily clip them on and off of the strap and buckle and make them interchangeable.

Now here's the part where you get multiple chances to win it.  Because I'm so psyched about this project, (and maybe because I just started a Facebook page and Twitter account for my blog tonight and I don't have any followers yet) you can enter to win up to SIX times!  Here's how:

1) Leave a comment below

2) "Like" my Facebook page (using the button on the right of my blog page).

3) Follow me on Twitter (using the button on the right of my blog page).

4) Tweet about this giveaway with a link to my blog.  (You can do this as many times as you want, but you'll only be entered to win once.  You'll need to be a follower of me to do this, so I can follow you, and I'll know you tweeted it)

5) Become a "member" of my blog by signing up on the right of my page, below all of the buttons.

6) Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog.  (Be sure you tell me you did this, so I can enter you)

For each one of these things you do, you'll be entered to win one time, for a maximum of six entries.  The contest will end on October 20, 2011.  I'll post the winner after that.  

Good luck!