If you want a friendship bracelet that looks bright, neat, and a little bit magical, the candy stripe pattern is the one I always come back to. It’s the classic diagonal stripe, the one that looks great in school colors, summer brights, or soft pastels, and it’s honestly so satisfying once you see those stripes stack up.

I love this pattern because it’s so brainless and calming to make. You get into a rhythm, your hands stay busy, and the bracelet starts to look “real” pretty fast. Plus, it’s beginner-friendly, so it’s a sweet win if you’re helping a kid learn. In fact, I consider it to be one of the foundational friendship bracelets for beginners, alongside the spiral (Chinese Staircase) friendship bracelet.

In this guide, you’ll get simple options for colors, sizing tips that actually help, and clear instructions to carry you through, from your first knot to your final tie. Keep it relaxed, your first one doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours.

Since the goal of this post is to teach you everything you need to know about making and designing the candy stripe friendship bracelet, it got a big long. So I decided to include a table of contents so that you can find your answers quicker.

What a Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet Is (and Why It’s So Popular)

What is the candy stripe pattern?

The Candy Stripe friendship bracelet pattern is very simple: form diagonal stripes by repeating the same knot direction across the row. You’re knotting stripes – the diagonal line forms naturally, as you knot and the level of the knots go down.

With the candy stripe friendship bracelet, you get a clean, bold look even with simple color choices. It’s really hard to get wrong. It works in 2 colors, rainbow, or ombré color schemes. It’s easier than similar bracelets, like the flip flop friendship bracelet.

Why people love it

The candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern is arguably one of the most common ones for a few reasons:

1. The pattern is easy to memorize – once you get the hang of one line, you don’t need to refer to the instructions anymore.
2. It’s easy to personalize and “theme” by choosing colors that work for a particular subject.
3. Progress is quick, satisfaction comes almost immediately as the stripes form.
4. They come together quite quickly, making them great for gifting, swapping, and summer camp or classroom projects.

Quick Pattern Snapshot (For Busy Readers)

Here’s a quick overview of the pattern that’s skimmable:

• Skill level: Beginner
• Time: About 30 to 90 minutes (depends on length and how fast you knot)
• Best string: Embroidery floss
• Common setup: 6 to 12 strands
• Core idea: Forward knot across each row to form the diagonal stripe

Material Choices for the Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet

Did you know that there are different strings you can use to create friendship bracelets? Here’s a quick overview of the best ones for this candy stripe friendship bracelet.

Embroidery floss

This is my go-to for most friendship bracelets. It comes in so many colors, has a delicate look when knotted, and comes in large affordable variety pack. It’s the correct scale for a bracelet like this. The friction is good and the knots hold well.

Standard embroidery floss is definitely what I’d recommend when doing the candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern with beginners.

Other string options

You don’t have to stick to embroidery floss! Whether you’re looking to upgrade, availability is an issue, or you’re just wanting a change, here are some other options:

• Pearl cotton size 8- this finer embroidery floss gives a much thinner, realer, upgraded look. It’ll be harder to work with and produce smaller results for the same effort, but is a great option for a bracelet that looks more like real jewelry.
• Crochet thread – This is also quite fine, but tends to be cheaper. Get these in big spools in more limited colors rather than big mixed package sizes.
• Nylon cord – This satin-effect cord looks playful on bracelets. It won’t hold its knot as well, so pull tight and glue the finishing knots shut.

Tools that make it easier

While all you really need for friendship bracelet making is the floss you’ll be using and any pair of scissors you have handy, these tools can make things go more smoothly:

• Good fabric-dedicated thread snippers will give you a cleaner cut (with less fraying) than ordinary scissors that are also used for paper.
• Tape, binder clip, safety pin, or clipboard – Bracelet makers come in two types: “secure your bracelet” knotters and “knot in your hand” knotters. I’m the second type. But if you prefer to have your bracelet secured while knotting, use a safety pin to pin it to your pants/skirt, a clipboard, tape on a desk, or a binder clip and folder.
• Measuring tape or a ruler – of course, to get accurate measurements, you’ll want measuring tools.

Optional extras

• Beads – I’ve shared more beaded friendship bracelets in the past, but if you want a little glam in this bracelet too, adding beads is a great way to do it.
• Glue – I like to glue my final knots. It just makes things more secure, protecting my hard work.
• Clasps – I love to add clasps to my friendship bracelets – it really upgrades the bracelet, and helps it last longer by making it easily removable.

Tips for designing and planning your candy stripe friendship bracelet

When you have a friendship bracelet as simple as the candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern, you know that your design choices and plans will make the whole impact.

Choosing Colors That Look Good in Candy Stripe

Color choice will be your biggest deciding factor for how this looks.

Easy color formulas

Here are some basic color approaches I take when choosing colors for the candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern.

• 2-color bold stripe – this high contrast effect chooses two colors with contrast to repeat through the whole design.
• 3-color balanced stripe – a classic and playful approach to color choice with more transition between shades.
• Rainbow stripe – Choose ROYGBIV colors in any shade for a more child-friendly and playful look.
• Monochrome stripe – One of my favorite approaches with any bracelet is to use the same color family in different shades for a gorgeous ombre.
• Themed scheme – Since the bracelet is so simple, choose different colors to fit a theme. Think: yellow, white, and green for a daisy vibe, red, green, and gold for Christmas, school or team colors…

Pastels are great for Spring, brights for Sumer , deep shades for fall…

How to order your strands

When choosing the order of your strands, consider the color wheel. I find that it’s simply the harmonious choice – the way the eye is used to seeing and the brain is used to processing colors.

Sizing and Measuring (So It Fits the First Time)

You want it to fit – adding strings to a bracelet can be annoying – but you also don’t want to be wasteful. These tips for sizing and measuring your bracelet will allow you to get it right the first time.

How long to cut each strand

Since each wrist size is different, the general guideline is to start with your “wingspan” – that is, the size when you spread your arms. Take the end of the string with one hand, then, using the other, unspool it until your arms are stretched and the string is taught. Cut it there.

But there are so many variables at play! Someone who is very short but has a wide wrist may want to add a few inches. 45inches is a very safe zone for cutting, allowing space for knots and extras..

Here are some more factors that will affect.

How wide the bracelet will be

More strands equals a wider bracelet. If you’re using a lot of colors, you may want to add a few inches just to be safe. Keep in mind that you’re also using more strands, so you don’t need that much more.

The same strand count using tighter knots equals a slightly narrower look and will use less string.

Planning for ties

I do have a dedicated post on how to start and finish friendship bracelets, but keep in mind that it’ll affect the length of your starting strings too. If you’re using a knotted loop, you’ll need to choose one color to add a good 6-8 inches to.

What you need to know before making this candy stripe friendship bracelet

Let’s walk you through the details of this bracelet beyond materials.

Setting Up Your Strings for Success

How many strands to use

One of the cool things about the candy stripe friendship bracelet is that there are no rules with how many strings you can use!

The general guidelines are:

• 6 strands for a slim bracelet
• 8 to 12 strands for a classic width (you can double strands for fewer colors

Keep in mind that your bracelet will be one knot narrower than your strand count.

If you go too wide, you may start having curling.

How to fold or not fold

So do you double strings and fold them over or do you use one of each?

The general guideline is: Fold in half for a loop start and don’t fold for a tie start. If you fold, you’ll need half the colors of your strand count, so keep that in mind when planning.

How to anchor your work

You don’t need to anchor your bracelet as you work, but if you prefer to, here are some ideas:

1. Tape it to a table
2. Clip to a clipboard
3. Pin to a pillow or jeans (great for travel)

I usually work in my hands, but I do have a clipboard with storage inside in general for friendship bracelet making.

The Only Knots You Need: the forward knot

One of the cool things about this bracelet is that you only need ONE knot – the forward knot. Here are some tips for beginners.

Forward knot basics

A knot is made of two hitches – so it’s really a “double knot” as we’d know it. In a forward knot, you’re knotting the left string around the right string twice in the same direction. The working string travels from one non-working string to the next horizontally. You work one string across each row until you reach the next, and then start again from the left.

Common knot mistakes and quick fixes

• Knots loosening – if your knots aren’t holding, it could be because the string is too slick. You can wet them and tighten again before you put your work down, but otherwise, just make sure you tighten them back before “locking them in” with the next knot.
• Stripe looks bumpy – your rows should come out smooth. If not, it’s probably that you’re using different tension to knot each one. Tension refers to how tightly you knot and is heavily affected by your energy levels and mood. Consider doing each row in a single sitting.
• Holes near the top – the first row can really be wonky. Your strings aren’t straight yet. Don’t worry about that. Do make sure to pull that first row tight, but regardless, that’s not your core bracelet, so leave it be – you’ll figure that out when you gain some more experience.

Mini practice tip

Muscle memory is your fingers literally knowing what to do because they are used to make a certain motion. It’s what I’m now using to touch type this tutorial, it’s how you make your coffee before actually having coffee (because we know that’s NOT your brain doing it).

Muscle memory can be valuable with friendship bracelet making, and a key to keeping your knots in order and your tension even.

If you want your first bracelet to come out fabulous, consider building muscle memory by practicing the knots on some scraps first.

Taking your candy stripe friendship bracelets to the next level

Ready to upgrade your bracelets? Here are some ways to do this.

Candy Stripe Pattern Explained (How the Stripes Form)

Knowing the “science” behind how the knots form patterns was the key component I used to come up with my own designs – including knotted name bracelets, this open-weave ombre chevron, and more.

The core pattern rule

One working string travels across the row, creating the stripe color. The first hitch creates the top of the stitch. The second secures the bottom. These two create a stitch on the front of the bracelet. Moving along from left to right, you’re knotting (two hitches) around each string, creating a single stitch on the front of each vertical string.

What changes row to row

After each row, the working string moves to the far right.

The next row starts again from the left with the new first string. This “resets” it again, making a stitch in the next color on each string.

How to keep your place

One of the cool things about the candy stripe friendship bracelet is how easy it is to keep track. Keep strands flat and in order and you won’t lose your spot.

Pause at the end of each row, then gently comb strings with fingers to avoid knotting and confusing strings.

Variations and Cute Add-Ons

Ready to make this candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern your own? Here are some quick tips for doing that in a beginner-friendly way.

Stripe width changes

Repeat one color more often for thicker stripes. Meaning, you can do two blues in a row, three pinks, and one orange for a sunsetty-vibe.

Use fewer colors for a bolder look when doing this.

Texture options

Try thicker thread for a chunkier bracelet. You can even mix thick with thin threads (carefully as it’ll heavily affect the final result).

Mix matte and shiny floss for subtle contrast. You can consider a metallic blue and a flat blue to be two different colors for a classy “color on color” look.

Personal touches

Adding beads doesn’t mean you have to add beading throughout. You can add a small bead section near the center for a simple, classy look.

Choose a decorative toggle clasp to add some glam. And you can even use fabric paint for a bold finish, such as vertical color blocking.

How to Make a Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet

As always, here is the step-by-step process for the candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern.

Supplies Needed

• Embroidery floss (6 to 12 strands total, about 36-45 inches each color, 54 inches doubled over on the 6-strand bracelet is perfect.)
• Scissors
• Tape, binder clip, safety pin, or clipboard
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Optional: bead(s), needle for bead threading, clasp set

Watch the Video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step Instructions with Photos

1. Cut and organize your strands

Choose your colors and lay them in the exact order you want the stripes to repeat.

2. Anchor the top

Tie an overhand knot, then tape or clip it down so it won’t move, unless you feel comfortable working in your hands.

3. Separate the strings

Fan them out so they don’t overlap, keep them flat.

4. Make forward knots across the first row

Use the leftmost string as the working string. Tie a forward knot onto the next string. You’re tying left-to-right twice around the same string.

5. Finish the row and reset

Knot the rest of the row, using the working string to make a forward knot around each string. After you knot across, the working string ends on the far right.

Slide knots up gently to keep the row tight and clean (if needed).

6. Start the next row with the new leftmost string

Your new leftmost string becomes the new working string. Repeat the same forward knots across the row again. Keep your tension even so the edges stay straight and your bracelet looks neat.

7. Continue until it fits

Repeat this process, knotting the leftmost string around each string to its right. Check the length around your wrist before you finish.

Stop a little early if you plan on adding any decorative clasps or loop closures.

8. Finish the ends

You can finish so many different ways, but here are a few:

Option A: split your strings into 2 groups and make braided ties.

Option B: Just knot the ends.

Option C: Tie it off and add a ribbon crimp and clasp.

Troubleshooting (Fixes for the Most Common Problems)

Here are some quick fixes in bullet-point format in case you’re still having issues.

• Tension problems
  • Too tight (bracelet curls, strings feel stiff)
  • Too loose (gaps, uneven edges)
  • Fix: adjust tightening motion, keep knots snug but not yanked
• Edge problems
  • Wavy sides
  • Fix: keep the outer strings straight before each knot
• Twisting and curling
  • Why it happens (normal spiral effect plus tension)
    • Fix: flatten as you go, keep tension even, blocking post-crafting
• Wrong stripe order
  • Cause: strand order changed mid-project
  • Fix: stop and re-sort strands before continuing
• String issues
  • Fraying floss
  • Fix: cut a fresh end, avoid over-twisting, knot with smooth motion

FAQs

• How many strings do you need for a candy stripe friendship bracelet?
  • Anywhere between 4-12+ works great, with 8-10 being the sweet spot.
• How long should I cut embroidery floss for a candy stripe bracelet?
  • “Wingspan” – or from fingertips-to-fingertips when arms are spread is great. Or just cut 45 inches.
• What’s the easiest way to start a candy stripe bracelet, loop start or ties?
  • The easiest way to begin is just to knot the ends together, but I do share other ways in this post. My favorite way to start is using a ribbon crimp and clasp.
• Why is my candy stripe bracelet curling or twisting?
  • It’s probably a tension issue, combined with the natural effect of repeated forward knots. Try “blocking” it but wetting it when you’re done and securing it flat.
• How do you keep the edges of a friendship bracelet straight?
  • By keeping your tension even. It IS best to complete the bracelet in one sitting as tension is affected by things like mood and energy levels, but you can also just be conscious of those affects.
• Can you make a candy stripe bracelet with yarn instead of embroidery floss?
  • Yes, but your knots won’t glide as smoothly or be as even. The result will be more childish and less sophisticated. If you need to use yarn for whatever reason, go for a finer yarn if you can, and use fewer colors.
• What knot do you use for the candy stripe friendship bracelet pattern?
  • The only knot you need to know is the forward knot.
• How do you change colors in a candy stripe bracelet?
  • The color change comes naturally by arranging different color strings. f
• How long does it take to make a candy stripe friendship bracelet?
  • Depending on how many colors you’re using, your experience level, and other factors, it can take as quick as half an hour or as long as an hour and a half – or longer.
• What’s the difference between candy stripe and chevron bracelets?
  • Candy stripe bracelets has you knotting from left to right to form a single diagonal. Chevron has you knotting from right to left and left to right to meet in the center and form a V-shape.

Conclusion

Congrats! You’ve officially learned how to make a candy stripe friendship bracelet – and even how to adapt it and make it your own. I hope you’ve found this to be truly helpful, and even a replacement for an in-person workshop.

I recommend that you start simple: go for 2-3 colors and 6 strands, then gradually add more colors and strands. See how wide you can stretch it before deciding on your limits. Craft the basics, then add beads and other embellishments.

Bookmark this post, or print out the steps for when you’re ready to actually start knotting!

The post Foundations: Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet Pattern – Step by Step Tutorial appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Every time I throw a birthday party, especially one that’s craft focused, I try to provide some sort of coloring page or printable activity that’s more open-ended for early finishers. This is usually not something that’s a main craft or that requires direction. It’s something the kids can just do so that they’re not bored.

When we threw A a mock-sleepover themed party, we also made a bit of a bedtime story corner, so bookmarks were just the perfect activity for that.

For A’s 5th un-slumber party (or “sleep under”), I created some really fun bookmarks in a sleepover theme and decided to offer them here as a free download as well. You can download these right here, or scroll to the end of the post to learn more about them, and get some crafting tips.

You’ll have another opportunity to download it at the end of this post, so if you prefer craft direction first, go ahead and read along!

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

Crafting the slumber party bookmarks at a party

Since crafting at a party is not quite the same as crafting this at home with the littles, I figured I’d offer some of my best tips.

We crafted it as part of a structured party setup with preschoolers. If it’s tweens or teens, a smaller slumber party, or a more open-ended craft workshop, it’ll look different. I’ll include as many pointers as I can based on the party style below.

Preparation

Print your bookmarks on good cardstock.

For older kids, coloring pages can just be cut out. Give each kid a sheet to work with. For younger kids – and as a secondary activity – I do recommend pre-cutting them. It’s not hard, and you can use a paper trimmer to keep it neater, or just cut it by hand.

What to put out

This can be just a coloring activity or a bit more of a craft. We used colored pencils, so that the kids felt like they had something a bit more grown-up to color it with, but it’s still affordable, and neat.

You can definitely play it up a few notches by offering stick-on gems or other decorating supplies. I do recommend sticking with things that don’t need dry time – so self-adhesive decorating supplies (as opposed to glue) and fast-drying art supplies.

For older kids, go a bit more sophisticated. My favorite for the tween-and-up age group is gel pens. Quality does matter. For one-time use, you can go with a cheap set, but if you want one that you can pull out again and again, go for gelly rolls. You don’t need to get the full spectrum, but get a good color assortment.

Sending it home

Before each party, I usually prepare a goody bag with each participant’s name, with extra space for the projects. (We do have a few extras that can be labeled on the fly if needed). That way, we can collect the projects we make in their bags as we go along.

When I run craft workshops at other parties, I do the same with a Ziploc bag (or organza bag for jewelry making).

For this particular party, it was even more helpful. The crafts were a big element of the favor bags (specifically the sleep masks that they decorated) so the bags had the basic favors and the crafts were added in along the way.

Bookmarks fit nicely in lolly-sized bags, and can be sent home looking nice – not just like a coloring page – but like a “make-and-take” party favor.

Tips for finishing off and crafting the slumber party bookmarks

Want to take your slumber party bookmarks up a notch? Here are some crafting tips for finishing them off.

Of course, you can also stick to just coloring. If you’re doing this in place of basic coloring/activity pages for early finishers, you really can leave it just at that. But a few little touches can bring this pretty inexpensive craft up a notch and make it look really nice.

Tassels and other finishing touches

We pre-punched holes in our bookmarks before giving them to the kids to take home. Then, we added simple tassels to each. Just thread the loop end through, and pull the tassel end through the loop. It takes a second, doesn’t require glue and is an easy finishing touch that makes it look “real”.

Some other ideas for finishing it off:

• Use a corner punch to round off the edges (do this post laminating if you plant to laminate). This is both practical – it’ll minimize distress – and makes it look much more polished. A corner punch is one of my best craft-room investments – I use it all the time to polish up my prints.
• Let kids reinforce edges by framing them with decorative washi tape. It’s a great activity extension, especially when crafting with teens or tweens.
• For teens and tweens, turn it into more of a substantial craft by letting them craft their own tassels or beaded charms from scratch.

Should you laminate the bookmarks?

If you have a designated helper, you can definitely laminate the bookmarks before sending them home. They will look much nicer and be more durable. Don’t do this for an “early finisher” activity, but if it’s a primary take-home it’ll be a serious upgrade with minimal cost and effort.

Make sure to write names on each bookmark, laminate, and cut out to the edge of the bookmarks. Any finishing touches should be added after (tassels, gems, corner punches…)

Download the free printable slumber party bookmarks

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

I hope you enjoy your FREE printable slumber party bookmarks! Got an early-finisher party tips? Comment below!

The post Free Printable Slumber Party Bookmarks Printable – a fun party activity and craft! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

When I was a kid, I used to take piles of hair ties and loop them together different ways. I made all sorts of things with it – my favorite was actually bracelets. But when I saw braided hair tie headbands all over my social media feeds, I knew it was time to revisit that!

Today I’ll be sharing FOUR fun ways to make these braided hair tie headbands. You’ll see presented in the photos and tutorial and another one in the embedded video tutorial. I just ran out of hair ties so I had to dismantle one to show you the last style!

That’s what’s so cool about theses hair tie headbands. There’s no gluing – it’s just looping. They are addictive and relaxing to make. They are inexpensive and look so cute with the different braids you can assemble. And you can even repurpose the hair ties a limited number of times (they do stretch out eventually).

Trying different methods of making braided hair tie headbands

I played with a few different methods of looping these. I wanted to show you just how much you can do with just two supplies. Yes, that is all you need. Two supplies and you have some really cool headbands with literally nothing else – not even glue!

1. The basic braid – front and top

The basic braid is the one that you may have seen the most. It requires a very basic looping method, where each hair tie is looped through the one next to it. You can make the braid portion (that’s formed by the looping hair ties) face forward or face up. We turned ours upward but I actually think it looks pretty cute facing forward, especially on hair that has more texture or volume.

2. The Cobra Braid – 2 Color

The Cobra braid looks like the classic cobra knot that I showed on these Gimp bracelets. They form the “braid” on both the front on the back, and on top you have a zipper-type look just like a Cobra knot would form. I like doing it with two colors – and specifically two shades of a single color – but you can definitely bring in more colors!

3. The Three Color Layered Braid

This method works best with three colors. You want an odd number so that you can cross over to the other side and get that criss-cross effect. And more than three will need to stretch too far.

Do it by looping each one with the next color, positioned on the opposite side of the headband.

4. The 3 Color ZigZag Braid

This one is pictured in the video only – I didn’t have enough ponies and wanted to try the style above as well so I did dismantle this one.

It’s accomplished by placing the ponies in two directions and looping each one over the next consecutive one on the other side for a zigzag braided effect. I did it with three colors but it can be done with any numer.

The best supplies to use for braided hair tie headbands

While there is some flexibility in the materials you use to make braided hair tie headbands, here are some pointers and key features for success.

Your pony holders

Your ideal pony holder is a no-crease small sized cotton pony holder that’s thick. This gives you good coverage while allowing for a tight “braid”.

While you CAN play with others (especially for the layered braid) you’ll want it to have these qualities.

The base headband

The base headband should be a rigid headband with a bit of width. While you can use metal headbands for this, you’ll need to go for a nice, wide one. My ideal headband for this is a rigid plastic one. You can also use satin covered ones.

I don’t recommend using one with teeth. It’ll be harder to move things around if you need to, and you’re anyway covering the teeth.

How to make braided hair tie headbands step by step tutorials

Supplies needed

• 32-35 hair ties per headband
• Rigid headbands

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos. The video shows four ways, the photos show three.

Process Breakdown

Method 1: Basic Braided hair tie headband

1. Wrap your hair tie around the headband in the spot where you want your braid to start. The headband should not go through the hole – you’re folding the hair tie in half over the headband.

2. Pull one side through the loop formed at the other side.

3. Pull through till it’s tight.

4. Continue adding hair ties this way until you reach the end of where you want the braid to be. All hair ties should be in the same direction for this style.

5. Start “braiding.” Pull your second hair tie through the loop of the first.

6. Grab the third and pull it through the loop of the second.

7. Continue doing this until you pull the last one through the loop of the second to last.

8. Pull that one over the end of the headband to sit next to the rest of that pony. Your “braid” is complete.

9. I find that when I make this style, I naturally make it along the side of the headband. This can look cute – it’ll face front when worn. But you can also turn it to sit on top of the headband.

Your basic braided hair tie headband is complete!

Method 2: two-color Cobra braided headband

1. Start looping ponies onto the headband in the same way. Only this time you’re alternating between two colors and alternating directions.

2. Keep going until you’ve covered the area you want your “braid” to cover.

3. You’ll be connecting the loops the same way you did above, only this time you’ll be doing it one side/one color at a time.

Finish it off the same way too.

Your cobra-style braided hair tie headband is complete!

Method 3: The Three Color Layered Braid

1. On this one, you’re alternating directions again, but alternating between three colors.

2. Work one color at a time and loop only the same colors together, zigzagging across the headband. Keep in mind that the first color you “braid” will show the least, and the last one will show the most, so choose which colors you want to be the most and least dominant.

Your layered braided hair tie headband is complete!

I really hope you enjoyed watching how to make braided hair tie headbands using these three easy methods! It’s such a fun addictive craft – perfect for sleepover parties, birthday parties (no dry time!) and just everyday accessory making.

If you enjoyed this, you can check out this DIY tiara headband tutorial too!

The post Braided Hair Tie Headbands – 4 ways! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

A’s big brothers often have sleepovers, so when we were looking for a theme for A’s fifth birthday, a “sleepover” theme was the perfect choice! This unslumber party (or “sleepunder” party) was an absolute hit and such an adorable party.

The primary activity as well as party favor was sleep mask decorating with kids – we made this easy sleep mask craft that doubled as a party favor too.

This is a hit both as a party craft but also as something for kids to make at home, at sleepaway camp, or anytime this is a fit!

The kids absolutely loved it. It was very engaging, and they spent much longer on it than anticipated. In fact, they spent so long on it that I didn’t even have time to do all the planned activities!

And they wore them for the rest of the party, and some kids even wore them to school the next day (the kids ranged from 4-5 years old).

In this post, I’ll be sharing with you how to make this sleep mask craft (which isn’t much of a tutorial – it’s self explanatory) but also my tips for decorating them with kids and setting it up as a party activity.

Tips for sleep mask decorating with kids at a party

This makes such a good party activity because:

• There’s no dry time
• It’s open-ended – kids can really be creative
• It’s special – it requires specific supplies that are more affordable in bulk and isn’t just another thing they can make at home any time
• It doubles as a part favor.

Activity Setup and Guidelines

I decided to get a stick-on varsity initial to make it special and personalized for each kid. Make sure to get enough letters for each participant (I needed two packs of initials). You can purchase letters individually.

I also got a big pack of stick-on gems. These stuck really well and did make for a semi-permanent application (kids can pull them off but they won’t come off on their own.)

When the kids arrived, they each had a plate set up with their name, a mask, and the initial on it. The gem sheets were scattered across the table. Be generous with your gems – I regret not getting two packs. They’re great for other crafts too and inexpensive, and that way kids have more choices.

I find that having an open-ended (unguided) craftivity set up for kids right when they arrive is a great way to warm them up for an at-home birthday party. It helps them jump right in when they’re stil feeling a little shy and makes them excited about what’s to come.

Since everything is effectively a sticker, the kids just jumped right in and got VERY busy. They did not need any instruction at all. They were hypnotized by the activity, dedicating themselves fully to blinging their sleep mask crafts.

Just a quick seating tip: I seated the two friends who weren’t in her class next to A and the classmates together, just to make things less intimidating for those two.

Make sure to have a sample on the table for kids to follow (the upside down w “M” one you see was my sample).

Sending them home as favors

Especially when the activity doubles as a favor like by this Dog Man party – but even when it’s just a craft-heavy party – I like to have bags prepared in advance with the kids’ names.

That way, as they complete their crafts, I can simply slip it into their bags. Most of the kids wore their masks after but I did get bags for them regardless. The masks came in bags, but most of them tore when I took the masks out so I recommend getting separate bags.

Each bag was prepared with this laser heart keychain, and two scrunchies, and had plenty of space for the sleep mask crafts and the bookmarks they created (which I’ll share at a later date).

When they finished decorating the masks, they went to the reading corner (again, I’m going to share all the details in a later post) and I collected any masks that were left behind to put in their labeled bags.

The sticker was a Canva design (the same one I used for the invitation), printed on sticker paper.

You can see that the favor bags and labels were really inexpensive. While the sleep mask craft was a bit pricier, it was balanced out by savings in other areas, AND it was both the primary entertainment and the primary favor.

More tips for making a sleep mask craft

Whether you’re crafting this at home, at camp, at a party, or for any other occasion, I figured I’d share some tips and tricks for making this.

Embellishments and ideas

The only embellishments we provided were:

• An adhesive initial per person
• Sheets of adhesive gems.

That WAS enough, but if you’d like to offer more, here are some more ideas. Some are suitable for parties, and some should only be done in a one-on-one crafting scenario.

• Adhesive shapes – many initial sets come with more chenille style stick-ons. Those can be fun too, but you’ll still only want 1-2 per person.
• Adhesive patches – again, unless doing this at home, stick with adhesive, but you can get loads of embroidered patches for a cool look.
• Glue-on gems – you can do larger glue-ons but again, you’ll need more supervision with this and it’s best for when you’re just crafting at home.
• Buttons – bigger kids can sew on fun buttons.
• Paint markers or fabric markers – kids can color and decorate their sleep masks. Just test the markers in advance of the activity.

Favorite occasions and themes to make this craft

IF you spotted this craft not for a specific occasion, but just while browsing, here are some fun times to make them, besides for an unslumber party!

• An actual sleepover party
• A sleepover with one or two friends – you can get more detailed if you have an adult handling the hot glue gun.
• A take-home activity at a larger gathering, such as a school event
• This is so cool as a get-to-know-you icebreaker at sleepover camp
• Or if you’re having an overnight for day camp
• It’s cool for pajama day at any school or camp

How to assemble this sleep mask craft

The assembly process is very basic, but you’ll enjoy seeing the kids actually putting theirs together!

Pay close attention to my guidelines for the materials to use.

You’ll need

• Sleep masks: good quality satin ones make a big difference, especially if it’s a party favor. HOWEVER, the ones I got were adult sizes and too big for preschoolers. I did run them through the sewing machine for a second to take in the elastic at the back. You can also get adjustable ones.
• Gems: get enough gems in a good mix of shapes to go around – at least 2-3 sheets per kid. You’ll have extras for another project, but you want the kids to be able to choose.
• Initials: one for each kid. Double names still got one.

Tutorial

1. Stick the initial in the center of the mask.

2. Decorate with gems.

That is all! No dry time, just stickers. The kids had a blast! I hope you enjoyed!

The post Sleep Mask Craft – Decorating with Kids appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

“Mommy, I really want a pickle necklace. A sour pickle necklace! Sour pickles are yummy. They’re not really sour. They’re yum.” is an unconventional request coming from a four-and-a-half year old, but…. challenge accepted!

My kids rarely ask me to make anything – besides for Cricut shirts, that they ask for all the time – and so if my child will present me with the ultimate challenge, how can I say no?

The cool thing about making a polymer clay pickle necklace is that it’s incredibly simple, and you don’t really need to have much experience working with clay to get it to look really good.

I did debate making this from air dry clay – but I wanted to have it done in one session (no drying time.) I will, though, share a basic air dry clay adaptation. If you’re more of an air dry clay person, check out my list of things to make with air drying clay.

One of the coolest things about this beginner polymer clay craft is that it really doesn’t require specialty equipment! It requires just polymer clay and basic hand tools for clay (which can really be improvised with things around the house of the correct shape.) Any clay tool that I recommend in the supplies list can be replaced if you really don’t want to invest in it.

Two ways to make a sour pickle necklace

My original idea was to make a cartoonish pickle necklace, with a “sour face”. And while it did come out quite cute, it’s not perfect (my technique isn’t 100% with working with tiny parts yet) and so I decided to try it again, but in simple. It also feels like not the thing I want my sweet little daughter to wear – and the simple pickle is just so much cuter.

I did include instructions for making both, though. You also have the choice of whether to add the “tail” or not. Again, I REALLY prefer the simple one.

It also lends itself to adding more realistic touches if you’d like, with finishes like chalk pastels. It can be mixed with classier jewelry for a quirky little touch without being overly tacky.

Tips for beginners making this pickle necklace

One of my things I always like to share before approaching a tutorial that I’m not an expert in is: I have a general expertise in crafting. I have done many different craft types in the past, and am at an intermediate level with most.

One of the advantages of teaching from this perspective is the ability to understand what the beginner needs to be taught, rather than what might be thought of as “understood” or a given with a teacher who’s deeper into the journey.

I do my best to do due diligence and not mis-teach anything. However, if you see a bigger expert than me teach something that contradicts my advice (especially since this is mostly about idea sharing, not technique sharing) definitely go with theirs – or at least try both!

However, as someone with a high level of experience in general crafting, there are some tips I can teach from experience here.

Mixing the right colors

I worked with a pack of clay that only had a bright green. While it might be tempting to pick up a pack of a zillion colors, you’re better off getting a high quality clay with fewer colors and mixing up your own. I used DAS Smart air dry clay, and wanted to get a much more muted clay.

This is where color theory comes into play. You can mix in black to get it darker, but it will give you a dull, muddy color. Instead, you mix in a complementary shade to majorly tone down your color. I mixed in too much red, so I pinched off a piece of that and mixed it with a fresh batch of green to get this pickle-perfect shade.

Connecting parts

One rookie mistake when crafting anything with clay is to assume that clay is adhesive and will stick to itself. In reality, you do need to use some sort of liquid clay to connect parts – and usually you’ll want to distress the connection points first. This can be challenging when working with very small pieces.

The basic pickle version of this necklace doesn’t require connecting parts, however the sour face pickle does.

The screw-eye that turns this pickle necklace into a pendant has something to hold it, but it can unscrew. I do recommend baking your clay with it inside, unscrewing it, and gluing it in place after.

Adapting this tutorial for air dry clay

If you want to stick to air dry clay for this, you definitely can! While you can definitely color your plain white air drying clay, you will get a more muted color that way. I recommend simply painting your finished project with craft acrylics!

You will definitely want to seal your project since acrylic paints can chip. You can use polymer clay sealers on air drying clay too.

You’ll also want to avoid very fine parts as air dry clay works better with thicker creations – so skip that tail!

How to make a (sour) pickle necklace

You’ll need

• Polymer clay – a deep green or green and red. I used this set from DAS
• Basic clay tools – I used this tool set from DAS
• An acrylic board
• If adding details, liquid clay
• Something to bake on (a clay-dedicated baking pan, for example)
• A screw eye
• A pendant bail
• Glue (such as Weldbond or E6000)

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step Tutorial

1. If you don’t have the right color, mix it up. I added some red to bright green to get this pickle-y green.

As you mix it with your hands, you’re also conditioning it.

2. Take a small piece (about the size of a small olive). Place it on a smooth surface.

3. Use your acrylic board to roll it into a small cylinder. The benefit of using the board for this is that you avoid fingerprints. Avoiding using fingers to shape as much as possible helps to minimize prints.

4. Round off the ends (I did do this part with my hands.)

5. Use the acrylic board to roll very gently a little more on one end, tilting it slightly, to give you that slightly irregular shape.

6. Use your fingers to gently curve it and smooth any creases.

7. If you’d like to add a tail, form a little hole. Create a thin rope, dab a bit of glue into the hole, and insert the tail, using the pick tool to help you.

8. Use the ball tip tool to add texture.

9. If you’d like you can create a face. Make two tiny white balls (mine are too big!) Add them to the pickle using liquid glue. When you press it on, you’ll naturally form two tiny wells for the pupil.

10. Use the pick tool to fill those two tiny holes with two tiny black balls – of course, using liquid clay to connect it.

11. I did mess up a bit with the mouth (I should have taken it off and redone it) but it’s a rope, connected the same way. Use a smoother tool to connect that. The nose is a ball of the same color, formed as I connected it between the eyes. I pressed it in with the pick tool where the nostrils should be.

12. Screw in your eye hook. Bake according to package instructions, remove the eye hook, and glue back in.

Your polymer clay pickle necklace is complete! What will you make yours from? Comment below!

The post Sour Pickle Necklace from Polymer Clay appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

In the 90’s and early 00’s, before we had phones to keep our hands busy, we had “fidget” crafts. You know what I mean… Friendship bracelets. Boondoggle. Holographic pastel seed bead bracelets.

Among these crafts that work to keep the hands busy is the origami star from paper strips. A simple folding process makes a fun little puffy star – and is easy to make by the dozen.

The paper strips can be purchased pre-cut and glued together on one end so that they don’t make a mess. It may take a few tries to really get the hang of it, but the more you make, the more you’ll want to – and the better they’ll be coming out!

What to use your puffy origami star from paper strips for

So is this an exclusively “fidget” craft or is it actually useful? Honestly, most people make it just for fun. But yes, it can be useful, and here are some of my favorite ways.

To make it look really nice, use different shades of yellow (it’ll look like a solid color but give a little texture). Or choose a cohesive color scheme.

Confetti

If you’re decorating for Christmas, for a summer picnic, a fairy party, graduation, or anything where stars are a fit, you can use these as less-messy confetti. Team up to make piles of it and scatter them on the table, toss them in the air…

Fill a jar decor

On that note, you can also make them to fill decorative containers (such as candle holders, cylinder vases) as centerpieces. You’ll definitely need a lot of them to fill ‘er up – but this is one of those crafts that is addictive and fun to make a lot of!

“Pick a chore/activity/wish jar”

The stars can easily be folded, so you can write anything you’d like on it before folding! This is a fun way to do any “pick a” type jars – whether it’s for a family or a party! You can combine this with the idea above, writing a fortune or wish on each and having partygoers pick one from the centerpiece.

What you need to make an origami star from paper strips

• Paper strips
• A ready pair of hands

How to make puffy origami stars

I’m going to go into as much nitty gritty details as I can in case you don’t have access to the images, but the photos really say it best. First, if you’d like you can watch the YouTube video:

1. Start with a paper strip. Lay it flat on your surface.

2. Create a loose knot, leaving about 1cm on one side.

3. Flatten out your knot into a pentagon shape. This is the base of your origami star from paper strips. Proportionally, the piece sticking out should be slightly longer than the diameter of the pentagon.

4. Fold that extra bit over to the other side, so that it’s flush on the bottom of the pentagon and reaches the other side that connects to the bottom.

5. Tuck whatever is leftover between the layers of the knotted pentagon and the extra strip.

6. Now you’re going to start “wrapping” that extra bit of paper around your pentagon until it’s finished. Again, this is something that’ll become easier as you make more as it requires some “instinct” with the direction that you’re wrapping in. Fold over your paper so that it reaches the side opposite.

Fold it under again to the opposite side.

Fold it over and under again until you only have a little bit – not enough for a complete fold.

7. Tuck that little extra bit between the layers of your star. Crease into place.

8. Use your nail to poke the sides – between the corners – in, allowing the front and back of the star to puff out. Again, it might make a few tries to really get the hang of this, but once you do it a few times, you’ll “nail” it (ouch).

Repeat with all five sides to complete your origami star from paper strips!

What will you be using yours for? Comment below!

Yield: Dozens

DIY Origami Wish Stars

Active Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 1 minute

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $5

Make these tiny origami wish stars from paper strips! Write a message on them first and fill a jar, use them as confetti, or just enjoy them as a fun fidget craft.

Print

Materials

• Paper Strips

Instructions

1. Start with a paper strip. Lay it flat on your surface.

2. Create a loose knot, leaving about 1cm on one side.

3. Flatten out your knot into a pentagon shape. This is the base of your origami star from paper strips. Proportionally, the piece sticking out should be slightly longer than the diameter of the pentagon.

4. Fold that extra bit over to the other side, so that it's flush on the bottom of the pentagon and reaches the other side that connects to the bottom.

5. Tuck whatever is leftover between the layers of the knotted pentagon and the extra strip.

6. Now you're going to start "wrapping" that extra bit of paper around your pentagon until it's finished. Again, this is something that'll become easier as you make more as it requires some "instinct" with the direction that you're wrapping in. Fold over your paper so that it reaches the side opposite.

7. Fold it under again to the opposite side. Fold it over and under again until you only have a little bit - not enough for a complete fold.

8. Tuck that little extra bit between the layers of your star. Crease into place.

9. Use your nail to poke the sides - between the corners - in, allowing the front and back of the star to puff out. Again, it might make a few tries to really get the hang of this, but once you do it a few times, you'll "nail" it (ouch).

Repeat with all five sides to complete your origami star from paper strips!

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Origami Star from Paper Strips appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I recently realized that I majorly neglect creating winter crafts. With this season so busy, and a lot of my energies directed into creating beautifully curated gift guides, I find that the season goes by too fast.

But I’m working on switching that this year, with a few new winter-focused ideas and today, I’m starting with snowman peg dolls that have been on my “to craft” list for years!

Ways to use snowman peg dolls

As with any peg doll, these snowman peg dolls are so versatile! I crafted these for use in with this 2-ingredient fake snow but you can make them for really just about any winter purpose. Here are some ideas:

• Peg dolls make great pretend play toys! You can use it with anything that comes with small figures, such as Little People play or small dollhouses. Bring these out to mix things up for winter-themed play.
• In sensory bins. Use this to play with Instant Snow or in any winter-themed sensory bin.
• Use these as a focal point in a DIY snow globe
• These make fabulous embellishments in any winter scene – a diorama, a Christmas village…
• Glue on a ribbon to turn them into adorable little ornament

There’s really so many things you can do with this – whether you’re popping it into the toy bin, or making it for something specific!

Tips for crafting snowman peg dolls

This is a pretty straightforward craft that can be crafted different ways, but here are some tips for getting it right the first time.

Choosing your peg dolls

Peg dolls come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles. You can actually get snowman shaped ones, but I wanted to add more texture to mine so I wanted it without the hat.

I got a multi-pack so that I have options for different crafts, and chose a larger sized one with a straight body as the closest match.

I like to get my peg dolls from Woodpeckers because I know they’ll be high quality, and support a New Jersey based small business. You can get them on Amazon, or directly from them. If purchasing direct, use code MOMSANDCRAFTERS for 5% off your purchase.

Dressing it up

To dress up your snowman peg dolls, pull out those fabric and felt scraps! You can also use ribbons, buttons, beads, and of course, markers.

Try using winter textured fabric, such as tweed, felt, fleece, and corduroy for your accessories.

On one, I made a beanie hat. I did this using scrap tweed that I bought eons ago to make a skirt. I made a scarf using soft corduroy I had in my scrap bin.

On the other, I made a felt top hat. I perched it at an angle for a little character. I also cut off the finished edge of a fleece blanket (that I purchased to cut apart for crafts) for the scarf on this one.

I used finished/crafting wooden branches for the arms, but you can also pick twigs from outside. I used wooden beads for the buttons, but of course, if you have small buttons, use those. And the nose was hacked from a small bit of rolled up/folded felt.

I drew on the face using a paint marker (this set is double sided, with the fine side perfect for projects like this).

Variations and more ideas

This is one of those crafts that you can make a zillion times and each time it comes out different! Here are a few ideas:

• As I mentioned, use twigs from outdoors for the arms
• Again, you can use buttons for the buttons.
• Pull out the pom poms! They are fabulous for winter crafts. Tiny ones can be used as buttons, and you can use one on the hat.
• Try making the hat from bits of an old knit sweater
• The scarf can also be made using ribbon.
• Want to make earmuffs instead of a hat? Cut two small circles of felt and connect them with a thin pipe cleaner.
• Use glitter paint as a top coat to add some snow-inspired shimmer.

The possibilities for these snow man peg dolls are really endless, so pull out all your craft stuff and get creative!

How to craft snowman peg dolls

Watch the video, or scroll down for the step by step tutorial.

Materials

• Peg dolls (see notes above)
• White acrylic craft paint
• Paint Brush
• Scraps of felt and fabric
• Odds and ends like buttons, beads, pom poms, twigs
• Detail scissors
• Hot glue gun – you can check out my rundown of the best glue guns for crafts. I used this one for this craft.
• Paint markers

Process

1. Paint your peg doll white. One layer will likely give it a stained look. A second layer will look opaque. Dry time should be pretty quick.

Making the beanie hat

2. To make the beanie, cut a small rectangle. It should be slightly wider than the circumference and higher than you want it to be.

3. Roll it up twice from the bottom, keeping it as small as you can, hot gluing in place.

4. Glue one end to the other to form a circle that will be the circumference of your hat.

5. Sew a running stitch around the hat at the point where you want the hat height to end. Pull it tight.

6. Wrap thread around that point to make it as tight as you can.

7. A few stitches back and forth through the hat should finalize the shape of the beanie.

8. You can either trim off the extra and glue on a pom pom. Or, cut fringe into the extra instead to make a pom pom.

To make a top hat

9. Cut a felt circle the size you want the brim of the hat to be – a bit wider than the head of the peg doll. Cut a felt strip the height you want the hat to be. The length should be big enough to form a circle smaller than the brim, with a bit extra for gluing.

10. Glue the strip, connecting both sides to form the main part of the tophat. Using hot glue sparingly, glue the ring on the center of the felt circle.

11. Measure the circumference of the ring and use that to create the top of the tophat. Again, using hot glue sparingly, glue that on top.

Finishing it up

12. Glue the hats on the peg dolls.

13. Create carrot noses by rolling up a tiny scrap of felt, gluing it in place. Use detail scissors to cut it into shape.

13. Glue it in the center of the face.

14. Glue on 2-3 beads as buttons.

15. Draw on button eyes and mouth. I didn’t use glue-ons for this because it’s so small and I felt it would be excessive.

16. Cut a strip of fabric for a scarf. Cut a bit of fringe on the side if you want.

17. Wrap it around the neck of the peg doll. Tie it or glue it in place.

18. Glue on sticks for arms.

Your snowman peg dolls are complete! Which peg dolls would you like to see next? Comment below!

The post Snowman Peg Dolls appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Looking for gift ideas for a creative person? These ideas will be a hit with any creative! Check out my full list of gift guides for all ages and occasions. This post contains affiliate links and gifted product.

When it comes to getting gifts for creatives there are so many different directions you can take! Not all creatives are alike – some prefer art, some crafts, and some are more advanced creators than others.

Some may stick to creating as a hobby, some may just be creative and not do much about it on the regular, and some might be career artists or crafters. Some might just have creative-adjacent careers.

This list of gift ideas for a creative person has something for all of the above!

Loads of Gift Ideas for a Creative Person

Creative-adjacent Gift Ideas for a Creative Person

Over the years, I’ve assembled a number of gift idea lists for creative people. One of my favorite things to include are gift ideas for a creative person that is not directly an art or craft material. Rather, it is fitting for a creative person’s lifestyle. These creative-adjacent gifts are super fun for creatives to receive.

CINCOM Hand Massagers

The hand fatigue is real! Many creatives experience hand problems, ranging from repetitive stress injuries to simple fatigue. CINCOM’s hand massagers offer comfort and relief for all of the above. I suffer from tendinitis specifically, which flares up from both crafting and writing this blog – and it’s been so comforting for me!

Probably most unique of these creative-adjacent gift ideas for creatives, this one is fabulous for crocheters, artists, tufters, or anyone who does things regularly that lead to hand strain.

CINCOM offers a few types of hand massagers so you can choose one that best fits the recipients needs. I recommend reading their buying guide for the clearest breakdown but in a nutshell:

• For a standard hand massager for average size hands, get the Classic 1.0 – Model CM-026H.
• For a more spacious interior, touch screen, better performance, and an upgraded more immersive massage, get the Comfort 2.0 – Model CM-088H.
• For a more personalized massage that includes individual fingers, a 4D massage head, adaptive pressure, targeted heat, and more, get SmartTouch 3.0 –  Model CM-096H.

All of them include different modes, intensity settings, and heat for a fabulous soothing experience. And they can be purchased using HSA & FSA!

Scribble Art – photo book with artwork

What do you do with kids’ artwork? What do you do with YOUR artwork?

Scribble Art has super cool technology that I got to test with my kids’ artwork. They create amazing quality hardcover art books to save those creations. You can photograph crafts, LEGO creations, or anything creative kids OR adults make.

We created books in a few sizes, and even included some photos of the artists in them – especially on the covers.

Simply scan the artwork and it removes the background, replaces it with a solid one for a pop of color, and straightens and enhances the image. We photographed A&J’s school projects, M’s origami, Y’s canvas and wood art. They even make custom wrapping paper with artwork (we put Y’s flamingo on it). The kids loved seeing their artwork in a “real” book!

If you want something more close to creativity but not an actual supply. Can get code if don’t have access to artwork, but super cool to surprise a friend with a social account where they share their artwork, or your kids.

Craft Kits & Quality Supplies

The go to gift ideas for a creative person are the tools of their creativity! Besides for being an endless niche, art and craft supplies are generally consumables and we can always use more. And even when we can’t use more, we still want more.

But which ones should you get? Especially if you’re not a creative yourself, but even if you are, it can be hard to navigate such a huge market. These gift ideas for a creative person are winners in our home and I’m sure your loved one will enjoy it too.

POSCA Water Based Paint Markers 16 Colors

Quality matters when it comes to art supplies. And there’s no question that POSCA are the leaders in paint markers – and my personal go-to when I’m creating something I actually care about. Their rich colors, reliable opaque coverage, and long lasting paint make for a premium experience.

The 16-pack offers plenty of color variety for both artists and crafters who are looking for a reliable paint markers. This is a classic “wishlist” item for so many creatives, it’ll be a win for sure. In fact, it’ll probably be a “how did you know it’s exactly what I wanted?” item.

Diamond Art Club Mini Dazzles – Diamond Painting Around the World

Diamond painting is a truly meditative process – one that’s relaxing to do with a podcast, music, or even as an at-home date. And it doesn’t require any learned skills. Here’s another one where quality matters. Diamond Art Club has drills (that’s the gems) with consistent sizes, gorgeous colors and specialty finishes, and adhesive that is top notch. Their kits come with everything needed – including the applicator and putty, trays, and this one even comes with multi-drill tips.

The Mini Dazzles are beginner-friendly kits, featuring small designs on canvas fabric. The square drills cover all the spots -meaning you’re really painting the picture with them. The Around the World series features landmarks (pictured here is part 1). Yes, there are SIX mini artworks to create with everything included for under 20 bucks at the time of publishing this! (Prices are subject to change).

My kids saw me doing this and got jealous, which was okay because there were kits for them too (see them in my gift ideas for 9 year old boys and 12 year old boys).

Save 20% off your first purchase with Diamond Art Club®. Use the first link below and the discount code MOMS20!

Pour Palz

For a super fun and dynamic crafting experience that requires absolutely no patience, Pour Palz is a win! It takes the pour painting trend and gives you a solid figurine to go to town on.

The kit comes with everything you need to mix and layer paints and pour it over the figure. Paints are pre-mixed and it comes with protection for the surface, hands, and clothing too. And if you’re looking for something smaller, they make keychains too.

I love how my bear came out. Pour painting requires some use of color theory, and the kit is well made in that respect. I used lots of layers and the colors blended nicely to soft purple tones, with the blues, pinks, and gold showing through. When it’s fully dry, I plan to take a permanent marker to it and doodle! It’s also reallyl fun to use as an autograph bear after crafting.

Mindware Run the Runway Fashion Design Set

I first got to learn about Mindware’s Run the Runway Fashion Design kit at a toy expo called Toy Fair and I was floored. It’s the gift of my fashion-sketching, crafting childhood dreams. The kit comes PACKED with loads of fashion odds and ends – from notions to fabric, from closures to decorations… And it comes with mini mannequins to set up the designs on!

Kids (and kids at heart) can then create scaled down creations. It does come with some patterns and ideas that are totally optional to use. The clothing can be arranged on the mannequin without permanently adhering it by poking it into the teeth at the back. Or, it can be sewn together permanently as fun fashion doll outfits.

It allows kids room for creativity while providing a structure and entry-level understanding of how patterns and garment making works.

Cahve Ring Carving and Casting Kit

You may have seen my pomegranate ring in some of my craft videos – did you know that I made it?!

Cahve is an incredible experience. Their kit includes everything needed to carve a model ring out of wax. The main kit includes a casting voucher as well. You send your carving back to them, along with any specifications, and they actually make it for you.

The photos elow include the kit, my carving, and the final cast ring.

Art Gift Ideas for a Creative Person

For those who aren’t creatives themselves, the distinction between art and craft might not be as clear. Although there is lots of overlap, art usually focuses on the expression and appearance of a creative work, and craft usually focuses on creating a functional end.

These gift ideas for a creative person really highlight the art aspect of it.

For Teens and Adults – Ohuhu Honolulu S (alcohol illustration markers)

For illustrators, art markers are a luxurious necessity. Alcohol markers are highly blendable markers that don’t soak the page so they can be layered seamlessly for gorgeous results. This is the kind of art supply where having a larger range of colors really makes getting the target result much easier.

Ohuhu is an amazing brand that strikes the balance of affordable price point with a high quality product. Their Honolulu S-range of alcohol markers features dual brush and soft chisel tips – the perfect combination for artists to get bold shadows and smooth blends.

It’s a fabulous gift for teens who are responsible enough to use an alcohol marker and adults. Go for the widest color range in your budget – pictured is the 60 color set.

For Tweens – Art Cafe Meditative Painting Kits

I love discovering new craft kits from small businesses and Art Cafe was another I learned about on-location. Their simple art kits feature a coffee theme and are relaxing and meditative.

Simply drop paint from the ready-made, fluid-art friendly mini squeeze bottles onto a rimmed coffee lid. The rim keeps everything neat and contained. Play around with pattern and shape and drag the paint into different blends.

Each kit comes with one base cup that stores the supplies, plus four lids to create artwork on. They can be mounted on nails easily due to the rim, but I hope to back mine and put a magnet on it.

The whole process art experience is very calming and unintimidating. It’s ready to craft right outside of the box and doesn’t require any existing skills.

For Younger Kids – OOLY Cat Parade

What about younger creatives? For kids of any age who love to make art, I recommend OOLY’s Cat Parade gel crayons. They can be used as standalone crayons, or as watercolor crayons if you blend them with a wet brush.

The color is rich but the crayons don’t melt, and the cute design makes this such a fun gift to give and to receive.

For Toddlers – Little Partners Easel

For the youngest artists in the home, a high quality wooden easel will get years of love. This one from Little Partners is durable and includes storage. One side is a whiteboard, and one side is a chalkboard.

It has a center mounted paper roll – pull it through the top center, down through the holder slot, and to the clips on the bottom of the whiteboard side. Plenty of space for art supply storage makes this folding easel a win in our house.

Craft Equipment and Tools

If you’re looking for mid-range or high end gift ideas for a creative person, it’s time to start thinking about serious crafting gear! These are perfect to purchase as a gift for a spouse or someone very close. Some of these are fabulous earners – that is, craft business tools!

3Doodler Pro

The 3Doodler pro takes the viral 3D printing pen to the next level. This model has many more features, temperature settings and is compatible with a huge range of materials.

I love making things like earrings, small sculptures, and more with it. You can go functional or artsy – it’s a real fusion of art and craft in one fun little gadget! And it comes with plenty of filament to get any artist creating.

Clawlab Tufting Gun and/or Frame

Rug tufting is an “on-trend” hobby now, and while this kit can totally make real rugs, I have lots of fun making smaller projects with it! I crafted these initials for my kids (they absolutely adore them).

Clawlab’s tufting gun and frame can be purchased as a set (which includes starter materials) or as standalone gifts.

They are unique and innovative – the gun takes tufting from heavy machinery to lightweight “glue gun” and the frame eliminates a lot of the work of getting the frame taught. I did a whole review and project demo on YouTube for this one, so you can watch it here:

LaserPecker LP5

If you have someone you want to get a really special gift for, a laser engraver is an incredible one. Besides for majorly upgrading any craft business with endless personalization opportunities, I personally find it just so much fun to craft things for myself.

The LaserPecker LP5 is a portable/small space laser engraver that has two laser types built in that allows it to engrave and cut much more materials. It’s great for entry-level engravers, for adding to a craft business for onsite craft-fair customization, or for small spaces.

Read my full Laserpecker LP5 review here to understand this device better.

Worx MakerX Rotary Tool

A good rotary tool is a must-have for every creative! This one from Worx is a hybrid system that can be connected to other tools from the line. It’s semi-cordless with a rechargeable battery that connects to the tool and has speed controls on the battery/base.

Craft Books: Activities Instruction

When you’re in doubt for gift giving, a craft book is usually a win! Whether it’s one that is actually an activity book, or one that teaches new skills, it’s an easy gift to add to any creative’s collection.

Drawing Dinosaurs: How to Draw Scientifically Accurate Prehistoric Creatures

We have more than one dino-obsessed person in this house, and Drawing Dinosaurs by Brian Vitocruz is a super cool book for kids and adults! It breaks down the drawing process of scientifically-accurate dinos so that it can be easily replicated.

Beyond teaching the specifics of drawing each dinosaur, it also shows fundamentals of drawing in general.

Tunisian Crochet: A Stitch Dictionary with 501 Stitches to Explore

This book by Lori Harrison is effectively a stitch dictionary, that offers over 500 new ones to try! It focuses on Tunisian crochet techniques and is fabulous for anyone who loves to crochet – and expand their skills.

This is not a pattern book – there are no actual projects, just new stitches to try, that can be used in any project. It’s great for those creators who like to actually be creative with their crochet and have a solid understanding of crochet concepts.

Each stitch comes with a chart with key as well as written instructions for each round.

Paint by Sticker Kids Trucks, Trains, and more

Paint by Sticker is an old favorite of ours and the concept is simple: match the shaped sticker to the correct numbered spot on the art page. This completes the puzzle. It’s perfect for kids who love stickers at any age where they can match numbers and have the dexterity to place the stickers.

The Trucks, trains, & more version is fabulous for that truck-obsessed kid. It’ll provide hours of tangible fun for kids who love to create something they can be proud of when they’re done.

Got any gift ideas for a creative person to add to this list? Comment below and let me know!

The post 18+ Gift Ideas for a Creative Person appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

The spiral friendship bracelet – often referred to as the “Chinese staircase” bracelet, is a foundational friendship bracelet that is one of the first tools to learning how to make a friendship bracelet that everyone should try!

It’s so easy and helps new crafters practice the very basic knots that will eventually be used to make insanely cool bracelets – including these name bracelets, diamond friendship bracelets, zig zag bracelets, and more!

And while all of the above are flat bracelets, this one is round. But unlike other round friendship bracelets (such as wrapped friendship bracelets and kumihimo bracelets), these spiral friendship bracelets actually use the same knots you’ll eventually be using to make elaborate flat bracelets.

Before we teach you how to craft your own, here are some tips for crafting success!

Tips for making spiral friendship bracelets

Practicing your knot

One of the cool things about making spiral friendship bracelets is that it’s a practice knot! It comes together quickly and so you don’t really need to practice making your knot in advance. If you don’t love the first bracelet, consider it a learning mistake and move onto the second.

The knot used here is a forward knot, that you simply repeat and repeat and repeat – and the spot where the string “moves down” to the next level is where your spiral is forming.

When you make a knot, tension matters. That is, how tight you pull it. Usually this can be influenced by things like mood, fatigue level, comfort or sitting position. For that reason, you’ll likely get the most naturally consistent results doing this in one sitting.

Again, it’s a quick bracelet, so you can. But you can also just keep your eyes open and make sure you’re pulling your string equally tight each time.

Choosing your colors

This bracelet, like many, is influenced heavily by which colors you choose. While for many bracelets I like to choose different shades of the same color, for spiral friendship bracelets, I typically like a little contrast.

Tip: choose your colors from a color wheel! Stick to a color scheme – such as analogous colors or complementary colors.

Another idea is just to spread out your strings and see what looks good, but focus on colors that have a similar tone. For example, all pastels, all muted colors, etc.

Crafting with it!!!

One of the coolest thing about spiral friendship bracelets is that once you master it, you don’t need to stick to bracelets! I mean, you can literally make knots around something. I’ve seen people do it around phone cords, and I have a tutorial for doing this around earring hoops in my book How to Make Jewelry Out of Anything.

You can try it around bangles, with thicker yarn around backpack handles, and even around a thin hairband!

How to make spiral friendship bracelets

You’ll need

• Embroidery floss – about six 20 inch strands in 3-6 colors. This is a baseline amount – you can do more (add an inch or two for each strand you’re adding) but don’t do less – it’ll be too thin.
• Scissors
• Optional: clipboard – some people like to clip it to a surface or pin it to their pants to work with it. I work in my hands.

Knots used

The only knot you’re using here is a forward knot – that is where you knot a strand from left to right around the next one – or group of threads.

We’ll show you how to do it!

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by step instructions

1. Cut your floss into six strands, about 20 inches long, or three 40-inch strands (if you’re doubling colors)

2. If you’re doubling your strands (using the same color twice), fold it over in the center. Make a knot about an inch from the end. You can also check out my dedicated tutorial on how to start and finish a friendship bracelet.

3. Choose which color you’re starting with and pull it to the left of your project.

4. Make a forward knot: Take it and bring it in front of the bunch of the rest of the strands, around and behind, and through the loop you just formed on the left – over the top of your starting strand.

5. Pull it tight, up against your first knot.

6. Take that same strand and continue this same knot around about 20 times (or however wide you want that color to be). Each round should rest just below the previous, with no internal strands sticking up or showing, but they shouldn’t be on top of each other. After a few knots, you’ll begin to see the spiral forming.

7. Now, let your working thread join the bundle. Take the next color you want to use and pull out a thread of that color from the bundle.

8. Turn your bracelet a bit so that string is on the left of the bundle of strings, and go ahead and make the same forward knot using that next color.

9. Keep on going for the same amount of knots as you did the first color.

10. Repeat with your third color!

11. If you’re using three colors, make sure round two uses the longer strings so you don’t run out.

12. Keep going until your bracelet is long enough and then knot the ends together!

13. A simple and fun way to finish this would be the braid method, and it works best if you have a loop at the top (folded over strands/3 color bracelet). Split your end strings in half, with one of each color on each side.

14. Take one side and make a simple 3-strand braid.

15. Carefully knot the end to secure it.

16. Repeat on the other side and trim.

Your spiral friendship bracelets are complete!

You can switch this up with longer runs of each color, more colors, more strands… You can even do uneven blocks of color, just make sure you have enough string for that!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make spiral friendship bracelets! Comment if you have any questions, or with which bracelet you want me to show you next.

How to Make a Chinese Staircase Friendship bracelet

This spiral friendship bracelet tutorial - otherwise known as the Chinese Staircase is the first bracelet I recommend that every new crafter make! It's easy, satisfying, and builds muscle memory for foundational knots

Print

Materials

• Embroidery floss - about six 20 inch strands in 3-6 colors. This is a baseline amount - you can do more (add an inch or two for each strand you're adding) but don't do less - it'll be too thin.
• Scissors
• Optional: clipboard - some people like to clip it to a surface or pin it to their pants to work with it. I work in my hands.

Tools

Instructions

1. 1. Cut your floss into six strands, about 20 inches long, or three 40-inch strands (if you're doubling colors)
2. If you're doubling your strands (using the same color twice), fold it over in the center. Make a knot about an inch from the end. You can also check out my dedicated tutorial on how to start and finish a friendship bracelet.
3. Choose which color you're starting with and pull it to the left of your project.
4. Make a forward knot: Take it and bring it in front of the bunch of the rest of the strands, around and behind, and through the loop you just formed on the left - over the top of your starting strand.
5. Pull it tight, up against your first knot.
6. Take that same strand and continue this same knot around about 20 times (or however wide you want that color to be). Each round should rest just below the previous, with no internal strands sticking up or showing, but they shouldn't be on top of each other. After a few knots, you'll begin to see the spiral forming.
7. Now, let your working thread join the bundle. Take the next color you want to use and pull out a thread of that color from the bundle.
8. Turn your bracelet a bit so that string is on the left of the bundle of strings, and go ahead and make the same forward knot using that next color.
9. Keep on going for the same amount of knots as you did the first color.
10. Repeat with your third color!
11. If you're using three colors, make sure round two uses the longer strings so you don't run out.
12. Keep going until your bracelet is long enough and then knot the ends together!
13. A simple and fun way to finish this would be the braid method, and it works best if you have a loop at the top (folded over strands/3 color bracelet). Split your end strings in half, with one of each color on each side.
14. Take one side and make a simple 3-strand braid.
15. Carefully knot the end to secure it.
16. Repeat on the other side and trim. Your spiral friendship bracelets are complete! You can switch this up with longer runs of each color, more colors, more strands... You can even do uneven blocks of color, just make sure you have enough string for that!

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Spiral Friendship Bracelets – the first bracelet you should make! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Clay heishi beads have taken over the beaded friendship bracelet craze – and it’s legit. They are inexpensive, lightweight, and still look so classy! Their matte finish and often muted colors make for gorgeous, affordable, wearable, and easy jewelry.

But what about necklaces?

I decided to share with you three unique clay bead necklace ideas using heishi beads. These are the same beads that I used in my beaded wristlet keychain tutorial – so go ahead and make that too!

First of all, what exactly are heishi beads, and do you need them to make these clay bead necklace ideas?

Heishi refers to the flat, smooth disc beads that come in many different materials – but are very often made from clay. You can get them in gemstones and they’ll have more weight.

All of these ideas can be done with heishi beads of any material. In fact, I even mixed it up with metal on two of the styles!

However, only the bar necklace and the linked one can easily be done with clay beads of any sort. For the pendant style, you’ll need a larger jumpring (and the one I used was already quite large.

3 Clay Bead Necklace Ideas

When trying to figure out which necklaces are best to make with clay heishi beads, I start by thinking in terms of my typical necklace styles. But heishi beads are very different, and clay beads in particular are as well.

Heishi beads have a much narrower visible space than your typical bead.

Clay beads are also very lightweight and don’t settle or hang much.

With that in mind, I did play around a little bit and created three styles of clay bead necklace ideas that worked great:

A bar necklace – this sits in the center of a mostly-chain necklace, adding class to it. It sits quite nicely on the neck and looks great as a shorter or mid-length necklace.

On this one, I interspersed it with metal disc spacers as well to add a bit of glam.

Linked necklace – Here, I made small single-color links of clay beads and joined them with fancy jump rings – though you can try other links too!

You can try this one linked all the way around, or finish it off with a more comfortable chain like I did. I find that clay beads tend to get a bit scratchy on the neck, and this is a bit more comfortable.

This clay bead necklace idea can be worn shorter or longer, depending on how you like it. You can make it super long if you do clay links all around instead of the chain.

Tiny pendant – If you’re getting tired of stringing on all those tiny clay beads, but maybe want to match up a set, you can make these tiny pendants.

Since they’re so small, I recommend them on shorter or medium chains – but not chokers. You can definitely also turn these into earrings. The charm in the center is optional – but it adds a lot of, you know, charm.

How to make clay bead necklaces

Of course, I’m sharing very specifically how I did these, however, switch them up as needed to add your own style or improve on it as you’d like.

You’ll need

• Jewelry pliers: round nose, chain nose, flush cutters. I used bail making pliers, but regular round nose pliers will do.
• 20-gauge beading wire
• Clay heishi beads
• Metal heishi beads (disc spacers)
• Fancy jumprings – look for thick, large, sturdy ones (link and pendant style only)
• Regular jumprings
• Chain by the yard – paperclip/long link chain is so pretty!
• Spring ring clasp
• Pendant bail (pendant only)
• Optional charm (pendant only)

Clay bead necklace idea 1 – bar necklace

1. Cut a piece of wire a few inches long. It should be at least an inch longer than you want your beaded portion to be, but be generous – you can trim, you can’t add.

Make a small loop at the end.

2. String on your clay beads.

I did blocks of a few at a time in different colors and placed metal spacers in between.

3. When you’re satisfied, trim off the excess besides for about 8-10 mm, and form a loop at the end. Slightly curve your bar.

4. Figure out the total desired length of your necklace. Subtract an inch for the clasp. Subtract the width of your beaded bar. Cut two equal pieces of chain to make up your final size.

5. Open your loop slightly, slide on the chain, and close it. Repeat on the other side.

6. Add a clasp using a jump ring. On the other side, connect a few jump rings to make the clasp easier to close (and adjustable in length).

Clay bead necklace idea 2 – links

1. Make a loop at the end of your wire.

2. Trim it to about 2 inches. Add a few beads to make up the length you want your link to be.

3. Trim your wire, leaving about 8-10 m,m and then make another loop.

5. Create as many links as you’d like on your final necklace (depending on how much of it you want beaded vs. just chain).

6. On this one, I did the chain a bit differently. This method is best if you want to actually measure it on yourself for length. Attach a fancy jumpring to the end link of your spool of chain. Connect a clay bead link to that. Keep linking jumprings and links, alternating between the two. Finish with an open jump ring.

7. Place the entire thing around your neck to figure out how much chain to cut. Figure about an inch for the clasp and connector. Cut your chain and connect it to the last jumpring.

8. At the halfway point, split your chain.

9. Attach a clasp and connector (jumpring – or a few jumprings) to the two ends of the chain.

Clay bead necklace idea 3 – minimalist pendant

1. Open a large fancy jump ring.

2. String on some clay beads. I did three on either side of a single metal spacer. You can add more, but it should hang nicely.

3. String on a pendant bail as well. Close your jumpring.

4. I felt like it was missing something, so I hung a star charm directly from the bail as well.

Wear this one on any finished chain.

I hope you enjoyed these three simple clay bead necklace ideas! Which is your favorite? Got any questions or tips? Comment below!

The post Clay Bead Necklace Ideas – 3 Ways appeared first on Moms and Crafters.