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DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Mexican Bean Bracelets

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

Materials:

  • toilet paper roll
      
  • construction paper (we used black) or tinfoil
    • tinfoil looks more like silver, but it's a bit more difficult to glue things to it
        
  • dried beans and/or lentils (we used a variety of different ones)
      
  • scissors
      
  • glue
      
  • OPTIONAL:  light blue paint
  • OPTIONAL:  hole punch and ribbon
  • OPTIONAL:  sequins
      

Instructions:

  • OPTIONAL:  Paint some or all of the beans light (turquoise) blue.  Let dry.  We didn't do this to ours.
      
  • Glue construction paper or tinfoil around your toilet paper roll  (or you could paint it if you prefer)
      
  • Slit toilet paper roll so it isn't a roll anymore
      
  • Cut toilet paper roll shorter - it's up to you how wide you want your bracelet (we cut ours into thirds)
      
  • Glue 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.
      
  • let dry.
      
  • OPTIONAL:  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