Upcycled Pop Tab Bracelets

You guys, I drink pop.  A lot of pop.  Probably too much pop.  (And I staunchly maintain that it’s pop, not soda.)  So I’m never short on pop tabs.  And what better way to use pop tabs than to put them to use in a craft.  I made these pop tab bracelets when I was working for a parks and recreation program and they were so fun, easy, and a great way to use up pop tabs.

Materials for Pop Tab Bracelets

• Pop tabs
• Ribbon, stretchy string, or cord
• Scissors

How to Make Pop Tab Bracelets

This tutorial is going to be fairly in-depth, so bear with me.

To see this tutorial in video form, check out the video below:

First, take a pop tab with the smooth side up.  Thread one side of the ribbon through the top of the pop tab and the other side through the bottom. This will make a loop around the middle of the tab.

Pull the ribbon to the left side of the tab to get it out of the way.

Take another pop tab, flip it upside down and position it behind the first tab, overlapping half of the tab with the starting tab.  The holes of the tab should intersect kind of like a Venn diagram.

Take the top ribbon and thread it through the top intersection of the two tabs.  The ribbon will run straight across the back of the tab and end up on the top of the tabs.  Take the bottom ribbon and thread it through the bottom intersection.  Your finished product will look like this:

Grab another tab and place it face-up right next to the first tab.  The edges of the two tabs should be touching.

Notice the intersection on both the top and the bottom holes.  Take the top ribbon and thread it through the bottom intersection.  Then, take the bottom ribbon and thread it through the top intersection.  Your ribbon will make an “X” on the pop tabs and when pulled tight, the ribbon should secure all of the tabs together.

For the next part you will essentially be repeating the precious steps.  Take a tab, flip it upside down, and thread the ribbon straight across the back of the tabs and up through the intersection.  (Sound familiar?  Good.)

Put a tab facing up directly next to the precious tab facing up.  Thread the ribbon through the intersections, crossing the ribbon to form an “X”.  (Again, we are just repeating the first few steps.)

Continue to repeat the same pattern, creating a chain of pop tabs.  Remember: (1) Every other pop tab is flipped the opposite way.  (2) If you’re threading through the front, your ribbon will cross.  If you’re threading through the back, your ribbon will run straight across.  

End the pattern with a tab facing up, weaving the ribbon like you have been.  Pull the ribbon tight and loop it around the end of the tab to secure the ribbon.

Make your bracelet into a circle.

Cross the ribbon to the hole opposite on the first tab.  The ribbon should run from under to over the first tab.  Depending on the length of your bracelet, you may need to leave some slack or you might be able to close the complete loop without any slack.  (If you don’t need any slack, run your ribbon straight across instead of in an “X”.)

Tie a bow or a knot to secure the bracelet to make it the right size.  (You’ll need to fit it around your wrist to check.)

Trim the ends of the ribbon.

Make one for yourself or make pop tab bracelets for all of your friends and family.

If you’d like more upcycled jewelry, make sure to check out the Clothespin Spring Necklace post.