Learn to make your very own homemade beads with this family craft. Turn plain bread into colorful masterpieces and create necklaces, bracelets, holiday themed gifts and more.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Begin by having the children tear the slices of bread into really small bits and placing them into the bowl. Note that the crusts should be taken off before you begin to tear the bread up.
2. After all the bread slices have been shredded, pour the white glue into the bowl with the bread and form a dough -- mixing with your hands. I recommend that an adult do the mixing (and yes it is really gross but just remember that the finished product is quite nice). I also recommend that the glue be added a bit at a time so as not to add too much glue to the dough.
3. Once the dough is mixed, divide it among the participants and have them form small balls for beads or any other desired shape. If you are making beads, use the straws to poke a hole into the balls for string to be put through.
4. Let the modeled dough sit to dry for about 1-2 days.
5. When the beads seem hard, use acrylic paint to colour. When the paint is dry, glaze with either craft Podge or a spray acrylic sealer.
6. String with plastic lacing or yarn (I prefer the plastic lacing because it is more durable).

Tips:

This activity has been done with children ages 7 and up. Consider getting them to help with the preparations for it.