Jewelry crafts are fun activity to do with one kid or a large group. They allow kids to express themselves creatively, plus they walk away with an accessory to wear — or gift — that they designed themselves. Here are five simple projects you can make with the special young ones in your life. Make a statement, and have fun!
Beaded Safety Pin Bracelet
Materials:
Little glass beads Safety pins Elastic that stretches
Instructions: First, arrange the beads on the pins the way you like them. Over and over again…ok, that part requires a lot of patience. Obviously, depending on how large or small you want the bracelet will determine the number of pins and beads you will need. Slide the pins on to the stretchy elastic to form the bracelet and find a way to close the bracelet — making a small knot is best — to keep it intact. (Try these ideas for knotting a bracelet!) Get the easy-to-follow directions (with pictures!).
Tiny Tassel Bracelet
Stacking bracelets along your arm is always in style. Materials:
Embroidery Thread Scissors Flat Nose Pliers Chain Ribbon Connectors Jump Rings Lobster Clasp Piece of small cardboard
Instructions: Follow the step-by-step directions, courtesy of DIY blogger Maize Hutton:
First, cut a piece of cardboard to wrap your tassel, then cut a length of thread and lay it on the cardboard.
Wrap embroidery thread around the cardboard and cut piece. Using the cut thread that you laid out first, bring it to the top and tie a knot. Cut the tassel at the bottom and remove the cardboard. Insert the top of the tassel in the ribbon connector and use your pliers to flatten it down so secure. Cut another length of thread and wrap it just under the connector. Tie a secure knot. Insert a jump ring at the top of the ribbon connector and attach it to a link on the chain. Repeat for the other tassels. Add your lobster clasp and jump ring to each end.
Bread Clay Bead Jewelry
Courtesy of decorating and crafts guru Martha Stewart, you’ll create a beautiful piece of homemade jewelry from bread. (Yes, bread!) Materials:
Glue Lemon juice Cold cream Paint, straws Mini cutters 18-gauge wires Beading wire or dental floss
If you don’t have wire or mini cutters around the house, they can be purchased online or at your local craft store. Instructions: Follow the instructions, courtesy of Martha Stewart’s site, to make jewelry using traditional white bread. This is a great group project for summer!
To make the clay, kids can remove crusts from 3 slices of white bread. Tear bread into small pieces, and place in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of white craft glue and 3 drops of lemon juice. Mix it with your hands (apply cold cream to hands first) until it forms a workable ball. Add drops of paint to get the color you like; for multicolored beads, make batches of different colors and press gently together. For flat beads, roll or pat clay into a pancake; cut with a drinking straw or mini cutters (blow the beads out of the straw or cutter to keep from mangling them) Shape spherical beads by hand. Let beads dry 1 1/2 to 2 hours, then make holes. For small holes, string beads onto 18-gauge wire, and leave them there until dry. For big holes, pierce beads with a straw. Let beads dry overnight, and then string.
Penne Necklace
This is a very easy project that’s also a bit “old-school” and traditional because it requires good old-fashioned macaroni. Materials:
Penne pasta Nail polish Felt Scissors Simple chain necklace or string Glue gun
Instructions: Get the step-by-step directions, courtesy of the Don’t Mind if I Do blog.
Choose six pieces (for the ombre) and 14 pieces (for the larger necklace) of penne. Choose carefully! Once you have the pasta, paint each one with the nail polish of your choice. This blogger used 2 coats of green on each pasta for the larger necklace. For the ombre, 2 coats of light pink on two pieces, 2 coats of dark pink on another two pieces, and 1 coat of each, light over the dark, on the last two penne. Do what is best for you! While the pasta dries, cut the felt into the hanger shapes for the backing (this is optional). Once dry, lay the pasta pieces down in the shape and design you want. Apply glue to only the back side, carefully gluing each piece to the other. Glue the felt backing, or if not using felt, use generous amount of hot glue to coat the back side String the simple chain necklace through the hanger pieces, and voila!
Tree of Life
Lisa R. Slomin, co-owner of Gather Studio in Patchogue, NY, finds her young students greatly enjoy this project. Materials:
Any size metal ring Beading wire Beads Cutting tools Pliers Crimpers
Instructions Note: To make the Trees of Life, strands of wire are wrapped around a metal ring. This ring can be any size.
These strands of wire are twisted to form roots, a trunk, and branches. Then beads are added onto the “branches”. A loop is added at the top to accommodate a chain or a hook. It’s a project that takes about two hours to complete, and the younger children will need a helping hand from an adult. You can use any type of jewelry wire, and the crimpers are only used if you are turning the Tree of Life into a piece of jewelry…then it’s used to attach a jump ring or maybe a decorative bead.
Images: courtesy Susanne Serres, Martha Stewart online, Lisa Slomin
