Disc Bead Bracelet - Cheap, Easy, and Recycled Shrinky Plastic!

This is a fun and easy project, costs less than $1 to make, has tons of possibilities for customization, requires no jewelry making skill or real tools, and is a way to recycle stuff that would be thrown away! What could be better??

This was inspired by something I used to do when I was a kid, make bracelets out of fishing tackle (specifically a barrel swivel). You can buy these anywhere they sell fishing gear - I paid 99cents for a pack of 12 and didn't even use them all.

I combined that with my love of faux shrinky dinks from #6 plastic (previous instructable here or check out my Shrinky Dinky Test Lab experiments) for a fun, updated twist!

Of course, bracelets aren't the only thing you can do with this -- you could make drop earrings, necklaces, bead curtains, or whatever! This would also be a great project for kids to do, I could see this at a pre-teen girl birthday party...

So, if you like this, be sure to rate it!
And if you try this, or a derivation thereof, I'd love to see it ... come find me at Dabbled.org

xxoo
Dot

Step 1: Materials

Here's what you need:

#6 Plastic - The thin clear kind marked with a 6 in the recycling triangle. No, not the Styrofoam #6 or any other number. I save to-go boxes, boxes from the bakery section of the grocery store, and so forth every time I see a #6 on it! Also, #6 is not recyclable in many cities recycling programs, so it usually ends up in a landfill somewhere. And that's no fun!

A package of brass barrel swivels, found in your fishing supply section of your local discount store or whereever they sell fishing tackle. They come in various sizes (I used #10 for this example, which was 12 in a pk), and it took about 7 for my (small) wrist.

Sharpie markers -- I used red, orange, and magenta.

A hole punch

A circle punch (something like this - you can find in craft or scrapbooking stores)
...or you can cut out the larger circle with scissors, its just more tedious.

Acrylic Top Coat spray

Step 2: Getting Started on Your Charms - Color & Cut

First, decide on your colors and/or any design. For mine, I decided to do several different similar solid color charms.

Roughly color your plastic, so that you can still see the lines left from your markers. I didn't in these pictures, but a really neat effect is to color one side of the plastic with red in one direction, and the do the other side in magenta in a slightly different direction.

NORMALLY, you pick light colors because they darken considerable on shrinkage. For this project, you want to pick dark colors, as we'll be using the sealer at the end to lighten them and give them a mottled effect. I found the orange came lighter than I would have liked, but the red and magenta were quite nice.

Next, punch out the shape using your circle punch.

Then, using your hole punch, punch a smaller circle close to the edge of your disk (see picture)

Step 3: Charms - Shrinking

Place your plastic discs (colored side up if you only colored one side) on a sheet of parchment paper in a 225 degree oven (or toaster oven) . They will quickly start to curl up. Within a minute it should have flattened out again and be ready to remove.

Remove. If disc is not quite flat, while it's still hot, use a book on a hard surface to press it down and ensure it is flat.

Unlike store bought shrinky dinks, recycled #6 may not shrink evenly. For this project, that's ok, as they look cool as little ovals.

(If you need more info on the shrinking process, check out the other sources I referenced in the intro to this instructable)

Step 4: Charms - Sealing

Sealing Shrinkies colored with Sharpies is tricky. Luckily, this project takes advantage of the nature of the reaction of the colors to being sprayed with acrylic top coat spray, so it's easy!

Lay your charms out and lightly spray with an acrylic top coat sealer, several light coats. The sealer will lighten and mottle the sharpie marker, giving an interesting organic effect.

Let dry thoroughly, and repeat the process on the other side.

When completely dry, you're ready to go!

Step 5: String Your Bracelet.

No tools required! just unhook the end of one of your swivels. Slide a disc on it, then slide the loop end of another swivel on it. . Close the clasp. (Sorry, it's backwards in the picture!)

Open the clasp of the one you just strung on, and repeat the process. Continue until you have enough length to reach around your wrist with a little slack (for mine, that was 7).

Place around wrist, open your last hook, add a disc, then clasp the end to the beginning.

Voila!

Step 6: Wear, or Give, and Show Off to Your Friends That You Can Cheaply Adorn Yourself While Saving the Planet!

Of course, there are so many ways you can do this, customize it for your own look. Make and give as friendship bracelets. Make earrings by just attaching a earring finding on the end. String a whole bunch and you can make a curtain out of them even!

If you have more questions about shrinky plastic from #6 recyclables, do check out my doodle charms instructable or check out the Shrinky Dinky Test Lab experiments on my blog.

Hope you enjoy it!