Make a Toilet Roll Bracelet

One man's trash is another man's treasure. In this case, it can be quite literal! Instead of throwing away that empty toilet paper roll, cut it apart and turn it into bracelets. With a little bit of glue, paint, yarn, or paper, you can end up with a trendy, chick bracelet that no one would ever have guessed came from a roll of toilet paper. Best of all, you can make several bracelets from a single roll.

Steps

Using Washi Tape

1. Cut down the length of an empty toilet paper roll with scissors. If you need to, draw a cutting guide using a pen and ruler first. This will create a gap in the bracelet so that you can take it on and off.
2. Cut the tube widthwise into separate segments. These will be your bracelets. You can make them as narrow or as wide as you'd like. Something between 1 and 2 inches (2.54 and 5.08 centimeters) would work great.
3. Wrap washi tape around the bracelet. Starting at one end, wrap the tape around the bracelet like a candy cane. Make sure that you overlap each layer slightly so that the cardboard doesn't show through.
   • You can find washi tape in the scrapbook section of most arts and crafts stores. It comes in lots of different colors and patterns.
   • You can also use colored or patterned duct tape. Simply lay it across the top of the bracelet, then cut off any excess.
4. Add some more layers of washi tape, if desired. You can get really creative here. You can wrap a contrasting color in a loose spiral around the bracelet for a candy cane effect. For something simpler, lay down a strip of washi tape lengthwise down the middle of the bracelet. You can also decorate the bracelet with stickers.
5. Consider adding a pipe cleaner clasp. If you have thicker wrists, the bracelet may not stay on very well. Use a hole puncher to punch a hole on each end of the bracelet. Thread a short piece of pipe cleaner through both holes. Bend each end of the pipe cleaner into hooks so that it stays in place.
   • Use a color that matches your bracelet.

Using Paint and Rhinestones

1. Cut an empty toilet paper roll apart lengthwise, from top to bottom. If you need to, draw a guideline with a ruler and pen first. This will create a split in the bracelet, allowing you to put it on and take it off.
2. Cut the roll widthwise into several sections. These will be your bracelets. You can make them as narrow or as wide as you want to. Something around 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) would be best.
3. Paint the bracelet with spray paint, tempera paint, or acrylic paint. Let the paint dry, then add another coat or two, if needed. You do not need to paint the inside of the bracelet if you don't want to.
   • If you add more than one coat of paint, let it dry before moving on.
   • If you are in a hurry, dry them with a hair dryer
4. Decorate the bracelet with sequins and rhinestones. You can glue these on using hot glue or tacky glue. You can also use buttons or stick-on rhinestones instead. Another option would be to decorate the bracelets with glitter glue.
5. Let the bracelets dry overnight. The next day, they are ready to wear! If they don't fit right, you may need to add a pipe cleaner clasp. Punch a hole on each end of the bracelet. Feed a short pipe cleaner through each hole, then bend the ends into hooks.

Using Yarn

1. Use scissors to cut apart a toilet paper roll length wise. If you need to, draw a cutting guide with a ruler and pen first. This will create a split in the bracelet so that you can pull it on and off.
2. Cut the roll apart widthwise into sections. You can make these as narrow or as wide as you want to, but something between 1 and 2 inches (2.54 and 5.08 centimeters) would be ideal.
3. Add a pipe cleaner closure, if needed. If the bracelet doesn't fit right, punch holes into each end, then thread a short pipe cleaner through it. Hook the ends of the pipe cleaner over to keep it in place.
4. Start wrapping colored yarn around the bracelet. If you need to, secure the end of the yarn to the bracelet with double-sided tape first. This will keep it from slipping.
   • Wrap the yarn as closely as you can so that the cardboard doesn't show through.
   • Start wrapping the yarn on the inside of the bracelet.
   • If you added a pipe cleaner closer, be sure to cover up the hole and end so that no cardboard is showing.
5. Cut the yarn, then secure it with glue. When you get to the other end of the bracelet, cut the yarn off, and glue it down. Secure the other end of the yarn at the start of the bracelet with glue as well.
   • Try to finish wrapping the yarn on the inside of the bracelet.
6. Weave more yarn using a yarn needle, if desired. You can leave your bracelet as is, or you can add some designs into it. Cut off some yarn in a contrasting color, and thread it through a yarn needle. Weave the yarn through the yarn on your bracelet. You can do a simple up-and-down stitch, or you can make Xs.
   • If you don't want to weave yarn, but still want some extra design, glue some pretty rhinestones or buttons onto the bracelet instead.

Using Paper and Glue

1. Cut down the length of the toilet paper roll with scissors. This will create an opening in the bracelet so that you can wear it.
2. Cut the tube apart widthwise into several bracelets. You can make the bracelets as narrow or as wide as you'd like to. A great size would be between 1 and 2 inches (2.54 and 5.08 centimeters).
3. Cut up some colorful paper into thin strips. You can use any type of colorful paper you want, such as: catalogues, construction paper, magazines, scrapbooking paper, and origami paper. The strips need to be ¼ to ½-inch (0.64 to 1.27-centimeter) wide and a little longer than your bracelet's width.
4. Paint the back of your first strip of paper with glue. You can use a glue stick, but liquid glue or decoupage glue (ie: Mod Podge) will work better. You can apply the liquid glue with a paintbrush or a foam brush.
5. Wrap the strip of paper around your bracelet. Lay the strip down across the width of the bracelet. Wrap the overhanging edges of the paper around the edges of the bracelet. Smooth out any wrinkles with your fingers.
6. Continue gluing and wrapping strips of paper to the bracelet. Start at one end and work your way towards the other. Try to overlap each strip slightly so that no cardboard shows.
7. Consider adding individual images on top. You don't have to do this, but it's a great way to add detail to your bracelet, especially if you used paper that's blank or has a simple pattern. Cut your image out, then glue it onto your bracelet.
   • Use images with shapes that are easy to cut out, such as flowers or birds.
8. Coat the bracelet with another layer of glue and let it dry. You can also use a brush-on or spray-on acrylic sealer instead.
9. Decorate the bracelet further, if desired. Use hot glue or tacky glue to attach items such as beads, buttons, sequins, or rhinestones to the bracelet. You can also draw designs using glitter glue. Let the bracelet dry before moving on.
10. Add a pipe cleaner closure, if needed. If the bracelet doesn't fit right, punch a hole into each end. Thread a short pipe cleaner through each hole. Hook the ends of the pipe cleaner over to keep it in place.

Tips

• You can also use a piece of thin ribbon instead of pipe cleaner. Tie the two ends together in a bow.
• If you don't have any glitter glue, you can draw designs using glue first, then sprinkle glitter on top.

If you don't have any empty toilet paper rolls, you can use an empty paper towel roll instead. You can also use a cardboard tube in a similar size.

• Draw cutting guidelines using a pen or pencil first if you need to.
• You can make several bracelets from a single tube.
• Make sure that you pull off any bits of paper stuck to the tube first.
• You can cut the ends of the bracelet into a rounded shape for a nicer finish. Do this before you start decorating it.

Things You'll Need

Using Washi Tape

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Washi tape or duct tape
• Scissors
• Hole punch (optional)
• Pipe cleaners (optional)

Using Paint and Rhinestones

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Paint
• Tacky glue
• Rhinestones or sequins
• Scissors
• Hole punch (optional)
• Pipe cleaners (optional)

Using Yarn

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Yarn
• Yarn needle (optional)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Double-sided tape
• Hole punch (optional)
• Pipe cleaners (optional)

Using Paper and Glue

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Colorful paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paintbrush or foam brush
• Hole punch (optional)
• Pipe cleaners (optional)

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make Shrinky Dinks
• Fingerpaint
• Make Moon Sand
• Make Sidewalk Chalk
• Make a Toy Parachute
• Make a Spinner
• Build a Popsicle House
• Make Homemade Chalk
• Make a Flag
• Make a Dummy

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