Funky Chunky Bracelet Craft

When the long hot days of summer start to set in about the end of July and all the kids are gathered in front of the TV moaning about being bored, having some easy craft ideas to offer them can be a life savior for busy mom's. We had a craft time several times a week when our children were younger. My goal was to use as much recycled materials to keep costs down and to be "green", even though green was 10 years away!

These chunky cardboard and magazine bracelets were a huge hit with my girls. They made these by the zillions, okay, more like by the tens, but I remember lots of chunky fun bracelets floating around one summer!

Materials for your own Funky Chunky Bracelet

Thin cardboard to be cut into inch to 2 inch strips big enough to slide over the wrist of the person wearing the bracelet. Because you add layers of paper machie to the bracelet, make it long enough to circle over your hand to your wrist, with almost an inch to spare.

Tape

Newspapers

Glossy magazine cutouts in various jeweled tone colors. We always gather a stack of old magazines first and cut out greens, reds, purples, etc. and have them stacked in their own piles before we begin the bracelets.

Paper machie water paste made from flour, water.

Steps in making bracelets

Step one: Cut the cardboard strips to the right size, following suggestions above.

Step two: Overlap and tape the strip to form a circle

Step three: Make paper machie paste by mixing 1 part flour to 2 parts water and then adding a tsp of salt. The salt keeps the flour from molding in humid weather and helps the drying process.

Step four: Tear newspaper into ½ to 1 in strips and soak them in paper machie paste.

Step five: Continue dipping and covering the cardboard strip with layers of newspaper, until you have three layers or so.

Step six: Here's where the Funky Chunky part comes in. Take a strip of newspaper and crumple it into a long roll the same length as the bracelet. Tape it to the bracelet running it down the middle length of the bracelet, all around the bracelet. Then begin adding more strips of paper machie to enclose the strip. This strip on the bracelet builds up to make it have a nice geometric shape and adds volume and weight to the bracelet.

Step seven: Cover with several more layers of newpaper and then begin adding the colored paper strips from the shiny glossy magazine pages. Here's where the creativity comes in. You can make strips, solid colors, zig zig designs of color blocks, or just a myriad of jewel colors all blended together. We've even used glossy wrapping paper, or shiny foil wrapping paper.

Step eight: Let dry very thoroughly, several days before wearing. Make one for all your friends. Make two or three of different widths and wear a whole arm full of them.

Have fun crafting.