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[Countries and Cultures]   [Mexico]
  

DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Mexican Bean Bracelets

Mexican jewelry is often made of silver with turquoise, amber and other stone-like decorations. 

Materials:

bullettoilet paper roll
  
bulletconstruction paper (we used black) or tinfoil
bullettinfoil looks more like silver, but it's a bit more difficult to glue things to it
  
bulletdried beans and/or lentils (we used a variety of different ones)
  
bulletscissors
  
bulletglue
  
bulletOPTIONAL:  light blue paint
bulletOPTIONAL:  hole punch and ribbon
bulletOPTIONAL:  sequins
  

Instructions:

bulletOPTIONAL:  Paint some or all of the beans light (turquoise) blue.  Let dry.  We didn't do this to ours.
  
bulletGlue construction paper or tinfoil around your toilet paper roll  (or you could paint it if you prefer)
  
bulletSlit toilet paper roll so it isn't a roll anymore
  
bulletCut toilet paper roll shorter - it's up to you how wide you want your bracelet (we cut ours into thirds)
  
bulletGlue beans onto the bracelet.  Smaller beans don't slide off the wet glue as much as big ones do.  You can also add sequins for extra sparkle if you like.
  
bulletlet dry.
  
bulletOPTIONAL:  punch holes in either side of the bracelet and thread a ribbon through.  Use this to tie the bracelet on when you slip it on your arm so it doesn't fall off as easily.
  
 

 

Printable version of these instructions