This week on the Bowdabra Blog we are celebrating recycling and upcycling craft materials. I am thrifty by nature and I am always looking for new ways to transform every day things into beautiful pieces of art and jewelry. Recently, I designed rubber grommets into unique necklace charms I also used small ceramic tiles and transformed them into pretty little pendants.
What is one thing we all have a lot of? Toilet Paper Rolls! How about a way to upcycle them into scrap ribbon cuffs! I designed this craft last year. I think it is is so fun and perfect for people of all ages I decided to showcase it again this year.
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
1. Begin by cutting a toilet paper lengthwise. Next, cut the cardboard to the size of the cuff you want. I cut mine so that it is 3”³ high.
2. Next, place ribbon across the front of your cuff and glue the ends to the back of the cuff.
3. Then, use your ribbon scraps to weave the front of the cuff.
4. Once you have the front completely woven, hot glue the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the cuff. Now, hot glue a ribbon strand onto the center of the cuff and leave several inches for a tail on one side. Your ribbon strand should be no larger than 3/8”³ wide and should not be a stiff ribbon like grosgrain.
5. Hot glue felt to the inside of the cuff. The felt feels nice and soft on your skin and prevents all the ribbon ends from showing.
6. Then using quilter’s thread and a yarn needle sew a button on the opposite side of where the ribbon tail is. I used a yarn needle because it is hard to go through felt, cardboard and ribbon. But if your buttonholes are too small you may have to use a regular needle.
7. To wear the cuff just place it on your wrist and wrap the ribbon tail around the button.
8. This is a really fun and unique cuff to wear and I love that it is made from recycled materials!
9. Stylish! No one would ever guess that is made using a toilet paper roll!