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 aluminum foil
  • aluminum foil 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 aluminum foil 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.
   

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