Rubber Band Wrist and Ankle Jewelry for Girls

Most of us have scene the wide, rubber band bracelets, supporting everything from our troops to breast cancer. The rubber bands are generally colorful and sometimes have an engraving, stating what the wearer is supporting. The wide, rubber band bracelets, though, can be made in a totally different fashion, simply by adding various embellishments.

You'll find just the right rubber band type at a discount department store, and most office supply retailers. The perfect rubber band comes in colors of pink, blue, white or other shades. The rubber band should also be about a half-inch wide. This will allow enough room on the rubber band to add different craft items.

It'll be much easier to design the rubber band bracelet if you wrap it around something that is similar in size to your wrist, such as a potato chip can. Weight the can, if need be, to keep it steady while you glue on trinkets and such.

There are any number of craft items that can be attached to the rubber band bracelet or anklet. Sequin, beads, ribbon, buttons, hearts, tiny rocks, silk flowers, silk leaves, tiny shells, charms, stickers, faux jewels, pom-poms, and many other effects. Use ordinary white glue to affix the embellishments, or use spray adhesive. Do not use hot glue for the rubber band project.

Spell out your name with stickers, on the rubber band, then add faux jewels around the remainder of the bracelet. Or, glue on a rhinestone, then tie a ribbon, then another stone, and so forth. There's so many different combinations that you could make a different one each day of the year.

The jewelry-making department at a craft store has everything you need to make spectacular jeweled bracelets and anklets. From tiny seed beads to bubble letters, the stores carry literally zillions of items you can use to make the rubber band bracelets or anklets.

Another place you can look for bracelet embellishments is the scrapbook supply aisle. Foil messages, unique lettering, and other supplies give you even more creativity options. Still another aisle is the paint and pen aisle. Paint pens allow you to draw directly onto the rubber band bracelet, and they now come in metallic or pearl colors, among many others.

Fun Foam is a craft item that gives you hundreds of choices for decorating the bracelets. The foam comes in sheets of assorted colors and sizes. Cut out leaf and flower images, fun bugs, pet shapes, letters and numbers, sea creatures, and other shapes. Glue the shapes directly onto the rubber band.

Keep in mind that there needs to be some spacing on the bracelet. In other words, if the rubber band is completely covered with objects, it will no longer stretch. Leave tiny gaps all the way around the bracelet, while adding the embellishments. Since the rubber bands come in colors, the gaps will simply look like part of the design.

Girls can have a bracelet making party, during a birthday, or anytime. Just lay assorted craft items on the table and let them dig in! They'll love creating the bracelets for themselves and for others. The project can keep girls busy for hours and they'll be so pleased with what they created. Or, Mom, you can start making some of the rubber band bracelets and anklets now, then you'll have them on hand as surprises for good behavior, or even for a coming holiday!