please help me figure out pandora style bracelets.

[ToothlesstheDragon]

My DM would like a pandora style bracelet for christmas this year... well I suggested it and she loved the idea so much she's really looking forward to it.

My plan is to buy a bracelet and maybe 3 beads to start her off with it.

I know some of you may find pandora bracelets tacky, but if you could help me out that would be great.

What do I need to actually get as well as the bracelet and 3 beads. Do I need to buy things to secure the beads together so they dont slip and slide round the bracelet? I was hoping just to get 3 lampwork type beads. Im so confused

My budget is £20 as well. I figure i'll get the most confusing present first.

£20? Right so you're looking at the imitation ones, I think I saw some in Dorothy Perkins the other day?

You just need the bracelet, and any beads. With Pandora, you can get a 'safety chain', these are just an extra safety net so you don't loose £500 odd quid's worth of silver when you're out and about, so wouldn't worry if you're not getting Pandora ones.

I have a Pandora bracelet, know some people hate them, but I like it!

I love my Pandora bracelet - each bead was a gift and means something to me.

At a budget of £20 you should maybe look at Truth or Troll versions. I will try to find a link.

Truth Bracelets are still quite expensive. Is there anyone in your family who would be relieved to club together on the gift with you eg sibling of yours, sibling of hers, your Dad etc? Then you might manage the bracelet and a bead or two.

You could only get something plated for that kind of budget.

You could have a look on Amazon, just an example, but worth hunting.

Agree about the clubbing together thing, anything for £20 is going to look quite naff, sorry.

I must sound like an absolute cheapskate :( but I found bracelets in pandora style for about £5 and nice beads for £3-£5 each from amazon and avon

this is the one from avon here

You don't sound a cheapskate at all Toothless - we all have our budgets and it is important to stick to them.

If you have found a bracelet then the things you need to know are:

What length is it? They come in a variety of lengths and you need to factor in a few cm for once it is full of beads as they take up some of the length.

What sort of beads fit it? Not all beads fit every bracelet. A lot may fit but not all.

Does your dmum have a preferred colour palette? If you are buying silver beads this isn't a problem but if you get glass beads some people like all their coloured beads to tone with each other.

You can add safety chains and clips to stop beads slipping but you don't need these for the bracelets to look fab.

What a lovely gift to give your dmum.

The one you have linked to is a good length. Does the avon site sell beads?

You don't sound cheapskate at all! If you did have heart set on original type, you can get beads secondhand on ebay etc for around £15, or you could club together?

But i think the one you linked to is very nice, they seem to do lots of different beads/charms.

The things is with original ones, is you're spending hundreds on something which is going to go out of fashion very quickly indeed.

You don't sound like a cheapskate in the slightest and that's not what I was implying

I just didn't want you to buy the cheap stuff and then be disapointed when it came, they are often well photographed but look shit in RL.

What about getting her a leather bracelet and a single glass bead from Meesmerel on Etsy. It would put you slightly over budget, but would be a million time nicer than anything you will get on amazon or from avon.

(If you llok through her shop there are lots of other bead and other coloured bracelets, I have bought from her before and she is lovely).

There are also lots of other similar sellers on Etsy.

yep, avon does sell beads, they are quite nice but i do worry about it looking a bit shit. Had a look at etsy wherethewildthingswere. I'll speak to her tonight, but leather might not be her thing. she likes her metals :)

Dorothy Perkins sell them by the till.

i got one ready made from next and the website charms 4 u do the plain bracelet then you select beads to add to it - got one for my dd last year as i didn't want her losing on with loads of expensive charms on it and it was lovely

I bought my sister one from amazon last year (was about £14) and then some loose beads from DP's (so she could mix and match the colours) - was nice, came in a nice velvet gift bag and sister liked it

Get to Dorothy perkins the bracelet is about £6 and you can get 3 v pretty beads for £2 then really you need a screw on one to stop the beads slipping off I got one of ebay for 3 its like a safety chain.

ive got some from dorothy perkins i can put a pic on my profile if u like?

only if you've got one handy nickschick. Don't want you to go to too much bother :) will have a look on dp website and see if i can see any on there

I have beads and charms from M&S and Hobbycraft. The Hobbycraft ones were nice, you can buy sets of about five co-ordinating beads, etc. for about a fiver. Can make a whole bracelet for about the price you were looking to spend!

just looked at the DP ones, they are gorgeous and just what i'm looking to spend. We have a hobbycraft opening up sometime very soon (website says autumn) so will check them out as well

Yay! Mumsnet rules!

for further evidence that mumsnet rules, on the etsy site that wherethewildthingswere i found a fully completed one that my MIL will absolutely love, for only £10!

MIL present

thought i'd let you guys know. I went into DP today and got a bracelet and 3 charms. Total price - £5.25. They have a special offer going on the bracelets and beads! Now have extra pennies to get her something else. Thank you all!

oh thats fab what colours did you go for?