Hardware Jewelry craft happened despite the snow!

We've had quite the winter weather these past few days, but even though the library was closed on Tuesday, we were open on Wednesday, where four teens braved the cold to make some jewelry out of hardware items! (Unfortunately Tuesday is when we would have sent out reminder calls, but being closed they were never made!) We had fun making a couple bracelets from rubber o-rings, copper wire, and s-hooks as well as a necklace that used L-brackets as decoration!

Things got much more interesting though as the teens started improvising and doing adding bits from one jewelry piece to another. Every time someone added something, it totally improved upon the instructions that I handed out!

Silver jump rings were added to the o-ring bracelet to make it a bit jangly!

Adding an o-ring and two jump rings to the s-hook bracelet made it fit much better, and made it look more interesting!

Thanks to those that came out in this cold, cold weather to make some hardware jewelry at the library! It was a lot of fun and allowed for some cool creative twists. 

Beaded Butterfly Bracelets

Yesterday, seven teens came by to make beaded butterfly bracelets after school.  We put glass beads on memory wire, added two butterfly beads as accents, and finished with a butterfly charm.  The bracelets were really cute, and everyone put their own personality into their project!  I also had some ring memory wire, so people did those as well as extra bracelets.  And, thanks to Laurel, we also listened to a random assortment of music.   If you're sad that you missed it, this project will be available at Craft Closet Cleanout on June 13.

Works in progress

 Some finished products

You're Not Hardcore Unless You Live Hardcore

Today was the first of four music-themed programs celebrating this year's Teen Read Week theme, Books with Beat.  Eleven people showed up after school to watch School of Rock, and we made punk rock safety pin bracelets and some duct tape creations.  Most people had seen the movie multiple times, so we all enjoyed reciting our favorite parts.  And the projects all turned out really well!  I would definitely make another safety pin bracelet. 

If you missed it, the bracelets will reappear at Craft Closet Cleanout in December.  If you want to try it at home, here are a few good patterns to look at:

• Safety Pin Bracelet #1
• Safety Pin Bracelet #2
• A Funkier Version

Tips to remember:

• Glue the heads of the safety pins shut.
• Alternate the direction of the pins as you thread them.
• You can use fewer safety pins if you put spacer beads between them as you string the bracelet.
• Put clear nail polish on the knots when you tie off the bracelet.

Two completed bracelets

Duct tape randomness