How to Make a Pull-Tab Bracelet

Create a cool piece of wearable art! This easy pull-tab bracelet craft is a fun way to recycle aluminum can tabs and create a unique bracelet in just a few minutes. With a handful of pull tabs, some ribbon and a little creativity, you’ll have a stylish accessory that’s perfect for showing off your DIY skills.

Best of all, this budget-friendly project is part of Scout Life‘s 10 Under 10 series, meaning it costs less than $10 and takes less than 10 minutes to make.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A PULL-TAB BRACELET

• 15-20 aluminum soda can pull tabs (clean and with sharp edges filed down)
• About 3 feet of ribbon
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Lighter (optional, to melt ribbon ends and prevent fraying)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Sandpaper, sanding box or nail file
• Sharpie or pen

WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE YOUR BRACELET

STEP 1: Clean your soda tabs, and smooth any sharp edges with a nail file or sandpaper. Lay them all the same side up (bumpy or smooth side up — choose and stay consistent).

STEP 2: Cut a piece of ribbon about 18 inches long. A 1/4-inch-wide ribbon works best, but you can use thinner or wider ribbon depending on the look you want.

STEP 3: Hold the first pull tab horizontally with the flat side facing up. Thread the ribbon up through the bottom hole and down through the top hole.

STEP 4: Place the second tab behind the first tab, slightly overlapping. Use the same threading method from step 3. Repeat this step until you have enough tabs to fit your wrist comfortably.

STEP 5: Once the bracelet fits your wrist, tie the ribbon ends in a secure knot behind the last tab. Leave ribbon tails long enough to tie a bow or knot on your wrist.

Optional, you can add a button or clasp for closure or melt the ribbon tips with a lighter (with adult supervision) to prevent fraying.

Big creativity with a small price tag! The Scout Life 10 Under 10 series features fun crafts that take less than 10 minutes and $10 to create. Find more 10 Under 10 crafts at go.scoutlife.org/10under10.