Friendship bracelets are all the rage with young people these days. Ten-year-old guest Birdie Bartholomew demonstrates a crafty way to surprise young friends with friendship bracelets made from toothbrushes. This is a wonderful craft for older children but still requires adult supervision.
Materials:
colorful toothbrush with design
tweezers
pot of water
hot plate or stove
kitchen tongs
small jar, 5 to 7 inches in circumference, depending on wrist size
oven mitts
Steps:
- Place pot of water on a hot plate or stove burner. Bring water to a boil.
- Use tweezers to pluck out all of the bristles from the toothbrush (figure A).
- Dunk the toothbrush into the pot of boiling water using the tongs. Keep the toothbrush immersed in the boiling water for approximately one minute, or until the plastic softens (figure B).
- Remove the toothbrush from the water using the tongs. While wearing oven mitts (figure C), wrap the toothbrush around a glass jar to form the bracelet shape .
- Remove the bracelet from the jar and allow it to cool for several minutes.
Once cooled, the bracelet is ready for wearing or for giving as a gift.
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