Crafts are a wonderful way for families to get some quality together time, as well as learn a new skill, refine an existing one, and make something beautiful in the process. One great way for kids and parents to have this time is by making their own jewelry. While it isn’t restricted to mom and daughter, they will be the ones who are most often interested in this skill.
Making jewelry is not complicated, for the most part. In fact, many things are easy. However, if neither mom nor daughter have much confidence in their ability to make something that looks nice, they may want to buy a kit that has complete instructions. Kits are available in hobby stores for making earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces and even rings. The family can decide what they would like to make and then get the corresponding kit.
If they want to strike out on their own, there are lots of options available. Perhaps one of the easiest is earrings. The materials are usually inexpensive and they are great for beginners. Mom and daughter can go to a crafts store that sells jewelry-making items and can pick up some rhinestones, plastic shapes, metal pieces and other little things that might make attractive earrings. One idea is to take a paper plate along and arrange earring ideas on the plate. Don’t forget either backs or French hooks for the jewelry!
Assembling the earrings can be done either with a low-temperature hot glue gun or with jewelry glue. Most of the time, the only equipment needed is a toothpick and perhaps some tweezers. This is another great advantage to making earrings.
Watches are also fairly simple. Many craft or hobby stores sell the watch movement, and the crafter can pick out fancy stones to decorate the crystal, or cut lengths of ribbon or fabric to make the bands. These can be as elaborate or simple as the crafter wishes. For grosgrain ribbon, the crafter needs to remember to buy a buckle to fasten the watch, and to treat the edges with Fray-Check, or something similar, to keep the cut ends from raveling, as grosgrain is prone to do. Jewelry glue is probably the best option for attaching anything to the watch crystal. Even a low-temp hot glue gun could damage it, or the movement.
With a pair of small, needle-nose pliers, a crafter can even make charm bracelets. Most hobby stores sell charms and chain, so all that is necessary is to buy a suitable length of chain, clasps and charms. The crafter uses the pliers to secure the charms in their places on the bracelet. This is also a great place for mom and daughter to showcase their personal tastes, since charms are available to represent nearly every hobby and interest.
For younger girls, mom may want to try purchasing plain headbands and decorating them with rhinestones, to match a dress or outfit. Most little girls love anything that looks like a crown, and a sparkly headband is an ever-popular item. Make one of these, and have fun watching the little one be “crowned” Miss America every day for a couple of weeks. Mom can use the same idea with a white headband and some leftover tulle. Voila! A bride is born.
Necklaces are also a popular craft item. Many craft stores sell chains of varying lengths, and the crafter just needs to buy some items that can be glued together as a pendant and put on the chain. This is among the more goof-proof jewelry crafts. Chokers are popular, as well as easy to make. The crafter can purchase a velvet ribbon and a brooch or other decorative piece that will slide on the ribbon. Safety pin the edges together and the crafter has a choker.
There are so many options and varieties available, that a crafter should never feel at a loss for ideas. Making small pieces of jewelry is relatively inexpensive, but the time spent on the project with a child is priceless.
