Beaded Friendship Bracelets

Kids can design their own friendship bracelets with colorful pony beads, fun accent beads, and stretchy cord. This project is quick to learn, forgiving for beginners, and easy to customize for different ages.

Materials

  • In Your Kit:

    • Pony beads in assorted colors

    • A mix of special beads (shapes, polymer clay, metallics, etc.)

    • Plastic elastic cord

  • Helpful extras:

    • Shallow trays or bowls

    • Pipe cleaners for younger kids

    • Clips: Small binder clips work best, clothespins or paperclips can work if they grip the elastic firmly (or if you wrap the elastic)

Step 1: Prepare your elastic

  1. Cut a piece of elastic long enough to go around the wrist with extra length on both ends for tying (about a hand‑width of extra cord is usually enough).

  2. Hold each end and gently stretch the elastic several times along its whole length. When it feels like it’s loosened up, stretch it a few more times. Pre‑stretching helps the finished bracelet keep its shape and reduces gaps between the beads.

Step 2: Set up your beads and clips

  1. Use a large tray as your workspace to catch loose beads. A brownie pan or rimmed cooking sheet works very well.

  2. Pour a small amount of beads into a tray, shallow dish, or lid. Set this in the corner of the larger tray. This keeps them from rolling away and makes it easier to see color choices.

    • If you are using our kit, you likely have most of the beads already sorted by color in a tray to use.

  3. Attach a clip a few inches from one end of the elastic. This creates a “stopper” so beads can’t slide off the end while you work.

  4. Decide on a design: random colors, repeating pattern, etc.

    • Tip: It can help to have kids line up a simple pattern on the table first, repeating colors, stripes, etc, before they start threading.

Step 3: Pick your stringing method

Option A – With a pipe‑cleaner helper (younger kids)

  1. Twist one end of the elastic tightly around the end of a pipe cleaner.

  2. Fold about an inch of pipe cleaner back over the twisted area and pinch it flat so it holds the elastic securely.

  3. On the opposite end of the elastic, clip the loose end of the elastic so it doesn’t pull through by accident.

  4. Kids will place beads onto pipe‑cleaner end, then slide those beads onto the elastic.

Option B – Directly on the elastic (older kids and adults)

  1. Leave the clip on one end of the elastic and keep a short “tail” of bare cord past the clip for tying the knot later.

  2. Use the unclipped end for stringing beads directly onto the elastic.

Step 4: String the beads

  1. Slide beads onto the pipe‑cleaner end or directly onto the elastic, pushing them down against the first clip as you go.

  2. As you bead, you can use a second clip near your working end to “save” your place. Every 10 beads or so, slide that clip up close to your newest bead so nothing spills if the bracelet is bumped or dropped.

  3. Keep trying the bracelet around the wrist as it grows. Stop adding beads when the bracelet wraps around comfortably without needing to stretch the elastic tight.

  4. Leave a bit of bare elastic (around an inch) on each end so you have room to tie a knot, and avoid adding beads right up to the clips.

If you’re using a second “save” clip, keep moving it up so it sits right behind your newest bead.

Step 5: Remove the pipe cleaner (if you used one)

  1. Hold both ends of the elastic firmly in one hand so they cannot slip back through the beads.

  2. With your other hand, carefully unfold and untwist the pipe cleaner from the elastic.

  3. Slowly pull the pipe cleaner out of the beads while still holding both elastic ends. It can be helpful to have another person hold one end while you slide the pipe cleaner out.

Now all of the beads should be sitting on the elastic cord, ready to be tied.

Step 6: Tie and finish the bracelet

  1. Wrap the bracelet around the wrist one more time to check the fit. Add or remove a few beads if needed.

  2. Cross the two elastic ends and tie a simple overhand knot (like the first step of tying your shoes). Pull it snug.

  3. Tie the same knot again once or twice more, pulling firmly each time so the knot tightens down on itself.

  4. When the knot feels secure and doesn’t slide, trim the extra elastic close to the knot.

  5. Optional: For extra security, add a tiny drop of clear‑drying glue or clear nail polish directly on the knot. Let it dry completely before wearing.