Get crafty and learn how to make your own sustainable beads made from used plastic water bottles which are the perfect eco-friendly gift for the holidays.
Directions
Preparing your torch
Use the Bernzomatic ST2200 with a hot blower extension and fill it up with Bernzomatic Butane. To do this, turn your torch upside down. Insert the butane tip into the torch and lightly press down. You will hear the butane fill up the torch. You know it is full when you hear a spitting sound. It takes about 10 seconds to fill.
Cutting the water bottle
Use scissors to cut an empty water bottle. Cut off the rounded end with the hole first. Next, cut down the side of the water bottle. Then, cut around the bottom. You will end up with a rectangle. Cutting lengthwise, cut the rectangle into long narrow strips. If you are making beads like the one in this post, one 16 oz. water bottle will make approximately twenty beads.
Making the Recycled Beads
Use your needle nose pliers to hold the widest part of the triangle and wrap the triangle around the pliers to create the bead. Pinch the bead and move the pliers so that the narrow tip of the triangle is secured closed by the pliers. This will take some practice.
Ignite your Bernzomatic ST2200 and put it in continuous mode. Melt the plastic. You will see the bead melt together. Melting the plastic into a bead will take about 30 seconds. Lastly, lay the hot bead on your cookie sheet. It will be cool to touch in a few seconds.
Assembling the bracelets
For the bracelets shown, use a combination of glass, rubber, and wood beads. String them on elastic. I used approximately 18 beads per bracelet. Tie the elastic into a knot.
Tag us on social if you make these upcycled beads!