Hot Summer Crafts for Teens & Tweens: Braided Bandana Jewerly

Are you looking for some fun summer crafts for teens and tweens? Making their own jewelry never goes out of style with this age group. Tweens and teens love to express themselves with handmade jewelry but this older age group is over the noodle necklaces. What's hot in DIY jewelry crafts this summer? Braided bandana necklaces, bracelets, anklets and hair bands are all the rage.

Braided bandana jewelry is easy to make, inexpensive and appeals to both boys and girls. You can find bandanas for a dollar at dollar stores or craft stores or for even less if purchased in multi-packs. Three bandanas can make up to twelve pieces of jewelry, which makes this a really economical craft project for groups.

Materials:

Bandanas in three colors per project

Scissors

Optional: clip board

Directions:

These jewelry projects require strips of bandana material in three different colors. Cut bandanas into half inch to one-inch strips depending on how thick you'd like your jewelry to be. One bandana can be cut into about 12 strips.

For necklaces or hair bands, cut the bandana strips the length of the bandana.

For bracelets or anklets, cut the strips the length of the bandana and then cut them in half.

Tie the three colors together on one end. Braid the colors just as you would do a braided hairstyle, alternating a crisscross over.

Braided bandanna jewelry making tip:

Once kids tie the first knot they will need some way to secure the end to begin the braiding process.
Some kids have success locking the knot between their knees. A clipboard is really helpful too. Kids simply put the knot under the clip and begin braiding. If you don't have clipboards, kids can work in pairs to hold the ends for each other.

Choosing color combinations:

Choosing three colors is usually the hard part. Here are some popular color combinations.

Yellow, white and black are all the buzz with the boys.

Turquoise, yellow and pink seem to tickle the girls.

Red, white and blue is always a terrific trio for summer.

Kids often like to choose colors based on their own summer league teams, school colors or favorite sport teams.

This DIY jewelry is a great project for birthday parties, Bible school, summer camps or back to school parties. It's a cheap group craft project with no mess. Each piece of jewelry takes less than 10 minutes but kids love to make more than one.