It turns out that gumnuts are quite a versatile product for play. We’ve already painted them, used them for a sensory activity and then created a fun shape activity with them. It’s been so much fun.
I still have heaps of gumnuts left over so we made our own gumnut bracelets this time. The girls love threading activities and these gumnuts were almost the perfect size to make them into medium sized beads.
What you need to make the gumnut bracelet
- Gumnuts
- A drill with a fairly small drill bit
- Acrylic paint
- string or twine
How to make the gumnut bracelet
1. The first thing you’ll need to do (if you’d like a colourful bracelet) is to paint the gumnuts and then set them out to dry. I think a natural gumnut bracelet would look just as stunning though.
2. Once the paint has dried, you can drill into the gumnut. We drilled through the hole in the gumnut and out the other side with a very small drill bit. It’s best if you judge the size for yourself because gumnuts do come in all shapes and sizes.
3. Next, get a small twig and push it through the drilled hole a few times to remove any loose fibers left over after drilling.
4. Thread the gumnuts on the string. If you’re finding it hard to get the string through the gumnut hole, thread the string through a blunt needle and then thread on the gumnuts.
5. Measure the gumnuts around your child’s wrist and once they fit tie the ends of the string together in a bow.
We love our gumnut bracelets. They are a really sweet nature accessory. Best part of all, you can take them apart, store the gumnuts in a container and bring them out again to make different coloured bracelets another day!
Gumnuts aren’t found everywhere, does anyone suggest a similar process but using another natural material, perhaps acorns?
More gumnut crafts?
Thanks Penny for these beautiful gumnut bracelets!
Stop already! I’ll have to get the husbie ready with the drill (I can’t be trusted any more than the kids!). x
I’m getting better and better with the drill. It’s more a case of ‘If you don’t have time, I’ll do it myself!’ It just takes a little practice. For the record (if you look at the hands in the picture), my Hubbie had time to do those ones. he he he