A is for...

Back again!  Today I have a super fun tutorial for you guys.  It's a design for turning an alligator clip into a beauteous, embellished badge holder.

Isn't it neato?  This little project came to me like a bolt from the blue, and I love it lots!   

I started with this alligator clip, which has a hole in the middle of the cylinder-shaped body:

I gathered a headpin, some beads, a pretty filigree piece, and a teeny rubber washer or cushioning thingy.

For the cushioning thingy, you could use an O-ring, a piece of craft foam or anything squishy, cut to size.   It's somewhat optional, but it help get the beads secured nice and tight.

Here are the steps:  1.  Put all the beads and the cushioning thingy on the headpin.  2. Thread the headpin up through the hole in the alligator.  3.  Add a final bead, one that will fit tight into the top of the alligator.

4. Make a wrapped loop.  (Wrapped loop step-by-step here.)

There is a bit of a trick here.  You need to be sure everything stays tight, tight, tight while you wrap.  Otherwise the embellishments on the front will end up wobbly.

That's it!  String a cord or chain, clip on your badge, and you're good to go.

 

Design options are endless.

In the shot above, notice the blue/green one does not have a filigree piece.  Just a pretty bead.  I think it looks nice that way, too!

But wait, there's more!  Check this OUT, people.  Clip on a pop top, a simple key ring or anything circular, like so:

What do you get???  I'll tell you what you get!

A glasses holder.

And the crowd goes wild.

Later, crocogators.