How to Make a Paper Bracelet

Co-authored by Joy Cho

Last Updated: October 24, 2024

Simple yet fun crafts are great activities for you to enjoy with your kids. Or maybe you simply have a lot of paper on hand and would like to turn it into a stylish accessory. Making bracelets out of paper requires very few supplies. What's more, it can even be recycled when you're done!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Frilled Cuff

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1
Gather your supplies. You'll be cutting paper into narrow strips and then taping these together in a pattern to create your frilled cuff. You can use different colored paper to make your cuff more colorful, or add designs of your own to it with crayons or markers. It goes without saying that you'll need scissors and paper, but including these, you'll also need:
- Crayons or markers (optional)
- Paper (normal size; 2 sheets)
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Tape
2
Cut your paper for folding. Depending on how long or short you want to make your cuff, you'll need between four and eight strips of paper. Use your ruler to measure your strips equally to give your cuff a polished look, and then cut the strips longways.
- The thicker your strips, the thicker your frilled cuff will be.
- Be careful when working with thin strips; these can tear more easily.
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Take two strips by the ends and layer one over the other. The edges should be even with no overlap and should form an L shape. Now you can use your tape to join the strips together.
4
Fold your paper to add layers. Begin with the bottom paper of the two. Take it and fold it so that it crosses and folds over the layered ends that you've taped together. Crease the fold where it crosses the layered square of your two edges.
- Repeat this motion with your other strip, which should now be sandwiched between your bottom strip of paper.
- Continue this pattern, alternating folds between your strips one at a time.
When you begin to run out of paper you can simply add another strip to the ends of each of your starting strips. Tape the ends of your new strips to your starting strips and continue folding.
6
Check to see your bracelet fits and trim unneeded ends. Stretch your frilled cuff bracelet out at various points throughout the folding process. Hold it against your wrist or lay it on top of your wrist to check its length. When you are satisfied with the length:
- Trim the ends of your bracelet so each lines up evenly.
- Tape the loose ends together so your bracelet doesn't come unfolded.
Bend the bottom squares of each end together to form a circle. Then, using your tape, connect the bottom tabs of both ends to complete your frilled cuff.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Folded Paper Bracelet

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1
Collect your bracelet making tools. Though you will make this bracelet through folding, you'll have to cut strips of paper in a 1:4 size ratio first. This means if you cut strips one inch (3 cm) thick, you'll need the strips to be four inches (12 cm) long. Along with your paper and scissors, you'll also need:
- Binder clip or tape
- Crayons or markers (optional)
- Paper (normal size; multiple sheets)
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
2
Cut your 1:4 size ratio strips. Smaller strips will make a more delicate looking bracelet, while larger strips will be thicker and more sturdy. With your ruler, measure out equal strips from your paper that follow a 1:4 size ratio. For example, ½ inch (1.5 cm) wide strips should be two inches (6 cm) long.
- Depending on how long you want to make your bracelet, you will need between 16 and 22 strips.
- Decorate your strips with your own designs to add your personal flair!^{[1]
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First fold your each of your strips in half longways, then fold each vertically in half down the middle.This will help speed the bracelet making process along. Each strip will lock together using this pre-folded pattern as the base.
Each strip should open at the bend to form a crocodile mouth. Have one of the crocodile mouths clamp down on the other, and slide the clamped strip so that it is even with the bend of the one biting.
The bitten strip will want to get away, so it's going to bend its tail to try and escape. Bend the top, open end of your bitten strip so that its outside edge meets and is even with the closest edge of the biting crocodile mouth. Then fold the tail so that it lies on top of the biting crocodile mouth.^{[2]
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6
Repeat tail folding on the reverse side and fasten. Turn your strips over and fold the bottom outside edge of your bitten crocodile mouth so that it is even with the biting crocodile mouth, then fold it to lie on top the biting croc.
- If you let go, your folded tails will spring apart. Fasten these so they stay on top the biting croc with either a binder clip or tape.^{[3]
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7
Insert a fresh strip and continue to fold. Open end first, slide your new croc strip into the loop until it is about half way through. Then, the same way you folded the bitten croc, fold the bottom and top parts of the "mouth" even with the outside edge of your weave and then on top of it. You should then be able to tuck the ends inside a pocket formed by your first two strips.^{[4]
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- Folding your open ends into the pocket formed by the first two strips will fasten your strips together without another binder clip or piece of tape.
- You may want to leave a little extra space on the fold side of the croc-strip, as more loop space can be easier to work with, especially for children.
8
Continue folding by adding a strip to your new loop. Open side first, slip another strip into your loop. Again, you will fold the outside edges parallel with the horizontal section of your bracelet weave. Then fold that on top of the weave, tucking the loose ends into the pocket formed by the weave of your bracelet.
- Add more strips to your loops until your weave is long enough to fit your wrist.
- The design formed by this weave should be staggered, shaped similarly to stairs.
9
Join the ends of your weave together. When your bracelet is long enough, you should connect the ends together. Do this by carefully removing your clip or tape, using one hand to hold that end together. Thread the open ended side of your last strip into the loop at the very beginning of your weave. Use the same pattern as before:
- Fold the tail so its outside edge is flat to the outer edge of the weave.
- Fold that on top of the weave and tuck the remainder into the pocket.
- Do the same for the other side of the croc mouth.
- Add finishing touches by drawing with markers or crayons.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Woven Paper Bracelet

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1
Assemble your bracelet weaving necessities. This paper bracelet uses extra long strips woven together to form a regular shaped band. You'll need scissors and tape to create your extra long strips, as well as:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Piece of ribbon or twist tie
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Tape
2
Cut your paper for weaving. To weave your bracelet, you'll need four thin strips of paper that are ten inches (25 cm) long and ¼ inch (½ cm) wide. First measure out these lengths on your paper with your ruler and mark the outline with your pencil. From there it should be a simple task to cut your strips free with your scissors.
- You might want to use different colored paper to create a unique design in your bracelet.^{[5]
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You'll need to combine two of your strips together to do this. Connect each strip end to end with tape. You might also use glue, but if you do, allow your strips to dry completely before weaving, as weak glue could cause your strips to come apart.^{[6]
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Take one of your 20 inch strips and lay it horizontally in front of you. Take your other strip, and thread it under and around your horizontal strip to create a V shape. Starting left to right, number each strip with your pencil from one to four.
Fold the outside strips, strip one and four, inward so each is parallel to strips two and three. Begin with four, folding it over three and aligning it with strip two. Do the same with strip one: fold it over two and align it with strip three.
6
Weave your strips together. Adjust strip one so that it comes in front of strip four and aligns with strip three. Then fold strip three over strip one so it is parallel with strip four. Take strip two under strip four and then above strip three so it is in line with strip one.
- Your strips should now be arranged in the following order from left to right: four, three, two, one.^{[7]
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7
Continue your weave. Fold your first strip over the second so it is side by side with strip three. Weave strip four under strip three but over strip one so it comes alongside strip two. Repeat this pattern until your bracelet is long enough for your wrist.
- At this stage, your strips should be in the following order: three, one, four two.
8
Tape and fasten loose ends together. When the weave of your bracelet as at the right length for your wrist, you can trim the loose ends to equal lengths and then tape along the end to prevent your weave from coming undone. Then:
- Use a ribbon or a twist tie poked between the strips of your weave to connect the beginning to the ending.^{[8]
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Question

In the third step, can I use paper other than the length of 20 inches?

Kathequeen2006

Community Answer

You could make it bigger or smaller depending on your wrist, but just make sure you make the rest of the bracelet accordingly. If it doesn't work, keep experimenting.

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When making a folded paper bracelet, is it really that important to use the exact measurements?

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You don't have to use exact measurements, but if you don't, then your bracelet might not fit well.

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Can we use any other type of paper for making these?

Community Answer

You could try card stock, or you could boil popsicle sticks for 15 minutes and bend and shape them as you like.

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Tips

You might try these designs with magazine sheets, schoolwork sheets, or light cardboard to give your bracelet a different look.

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After you've finished making your paper bracelet, try making paper earrings to go with it!

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