Celebrate Green Blog

by Lynn

If you use packaging tape, you may toss the cardboard cores into the recycling bin. Maybe you’ll stop doing that after you see how easy it is to make this cute gift that will cost you absolutely nothing.

Teen girls are the perfect recipient for these bracelets although anyone who likes to live on the funky side will appreciate them.

Note: Tape cores vary in size. Choose one that is large enough to fit the recipient’s hand through, but not so big that it will fall off every time she puts her arm down.

Cost: $0

Time to make: 15 minutes plus drying time for decoupage medium

Supplies

1 cardboard core from packing tape

1 piece of paper for outside (or several) about 5×7″ (thinner papers work better for this project)

1 piece of paper for “lining” (lighter color if you plan to stamp on it)

glue stick

scissors

stamp and stamp pad

white glue or decoupage medium

How to

1. Rip paper into odd-shaped pieces, but each should be long enough to cover the outside and lap over the edges.

2. Using the glue stick, rub glue on one piece of paper.

3. Take the first piece with the glue on it and wrap it around the outside of the “bracelet,” and over both edges. Make sure the paper is flat and smooth. If it’s not glued down properly, take it off and try again.

4. Keep adding pieces, overlapping each until the entire outside of the bracelet is covered.

5. Cut second piece of paper the width of the bracelet minus 1/4″ and long enough to go around it with a one inch overlap. This is the “lining.”

6. Stamp something meaningful on the lining. (If you are going to finish off with a protective medium be sure to use permanent stamp ink.) If you don’t have letter stamps, cut out words from a newspaper or magazine and glue on.

7. Spread glue over the wrong side of the lining, then place the beginning inside the bracelet. Smooth the lining slowly along the entire length, ensuring it sticks to the inside wall.

8. Use several coats of thinned white glue or decoupage medium inside and out.

Feel free to glue on additional elements like “jewels,” buttons, ribbon etc. if you think it fits with your recipient’s style.

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Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.