Friendship Bracelet

This craft project is available for the following age groups:

• Juniors & Primaries
• Pre-Primaries and Toddlers

Juniors & Primaries

Materials ††

• One color pony beads, 9 per child* ††
• Second color pony beads, 9 per child* ††
• 2mm black elastic cording, 30 in. per child* ††
• Cross beads, 1 per child ††
• Zippered baggies, 1 per child

*Older kids may enjoy making a “double-wide” bracelet by stringing 2 beads side-by-side all the way down. This, however, will require 36 beads and 42 in. of elastic cord per child. It will take a few minutes longer as well.

Tools and Basic Supplies ††

• Scissors

Pre-Prep

1. Cut elastic cord into 30-in. lengths, one per child.
2. Collate 9 beads of one color and 9 of another color. Then place the beads, along with a piece of elastic cord, into a zippered baggy for each child.

Teaching Tie-In

Show the sample craft and say:

Today we’re making friendship bracelets. Make one for yourself or for a friend! And remember, choose friends wisely! Of course, the very best friend you can have is Jesus. In Proverbs 18:24, we read that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When Jesus came to earth 1,000 years after that proverb was written, He said a friend shows great love when he lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13–15)! That friend who sticks closer than a brother and who lays down His life is Jesus! Even though you can’t see Him, He’s always with you if you are His child. He’s your best friend, and He can make you wise as you study His words—the Bible!

Class Time Directions

1. Thread the cross bead first and slide it to the center of the elastic cord. Then, carefully tie it off with a double knot, making sure that the two strands are of equal length. You may need to adjust the location of the knot a couple times to get it right.
2. Thread the left strand of elastic cord through the left side of a bead. Then thread the right strand through the right side of the same bead so that the two strands criss-cross each other through the hole.
3. Repeat this criss-cross procedure with the other color bead. Then, gently pull on the strands so that the beads are fairly snug against each other.
4. Continue to alternate bead colors all the way to the last bead.
5. To create a bracelet, bring the last bead around and place it between the first bead and the cross bead. Then take the left and right elastic strands and tie it off with a double knot.
6. Finish by trimming away any excess elastic cord.

Tip Corner

• Make a second bracelet to give to a friend.
• Kids with smaller wrists may not need as many beads.

Super Simple Idea

Try one of the following Oriental Trading Company craft kits. (Call 1-800-875-8480 or visit www.orientaltrading.com.)

• Sideways Cross Bracelet Craft Kit (IN-13626132)—Manufacturer does not recommend this for children under 3 years.

Pre-Primaries and Toddlers

Materials ††

• Colored rings cereal, about 1/4 cup per child ††
• Chenille stems, one per child ††
• Zippered baggies, one per child

Tools and Basic Supplies ††

• Scissors

Pre-Prep

1. Place 1/4 cup of cereal into a zippered baggy for each child.

Teaching Tie-In

Show the sample craft and say:

Today we’re making friendship bracelets. Make one for yourself or for a friend! And remember, choose friends wisely! Of course, the very best friend you can choose is Jesus. Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. That friend is Jesus! Even though you can’t see Him, He’s always with you if you are His child. He’s your best friend, and He can make you wise as you study His words—the Bible!

Class Time Directions

1. Wrap the chenille stem loosely around your wrist and twist the ends together with one twist only.
2. Then untwist the ends, remove it from your wrist, and thread the cereal onto the chenille stem.
3. When the loop is full, place it on your wrist again and twist the ends together—2 or 3 twists this time.
4. Use scissors to cut away any excess chenille stem.

Tip Corner

• Be sure to provide excess cereal for munching!
• Make a second bracelet to give to a friend.
• Older children can use pony beads instead of cereal.

Super Simple Idea

Try the following Oriental Trading Company craft kit. (Call 1-800-875-8480 or visit www.orientaltrading.com.)

• Paper Plate Mountain Climber Kit (IN-13596859)—Manufacturer does not recommend this for children under 3 years.