Bangle bracelets

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Same old story; long time lurker, first time poster.







I've been afraid to post my crafts here. Mostly because I'm intimidated by the beauty of most of the projects, and maybe also because I'm afraid I'll get a comment like "that stinks, go die!"
Maybe it's extreme, but you know, haha.

Since I didn't want my first post to be a question, I've chosen a craft I've done on numerous occasions and is easy to do, if you haven't already made them.

Bangle Toothbrush Bracelets
Tools Needed

• Toothbrush(es)


• hotpads or oven mitts


• a rather large pot


• a stove


• water


• pliers (I used needle-nosed pliers, quite easy to use)

Instructions

• First, you get a toothbrush. Plain toothbrushes, versus the ones with the rubber grip, work the best. I can't guarantee that the rubbered ones will work.


• The toothbrush can be used, so this would be a good way to recycle old toothbrushes. A word to the wise though, if there's toothpaste on it, it will release a weird minty smell when you're making it, but it won't have any long-lasting effects apart from cleaning the brush.


• Next, get a rather large pot, fill it with water, and bring to a boil.


• Wait a long time for it to boil (yawn).


• Now completely submerge the toothbrush in the boiling water. You can put more than one in at a time, but it takes longer. It also makes you work faster for the later steps, so for a first timer, I would suggest doing one at a time.


• Wait for the bristles of the toothbrush to sort of fan out. They are melting, after all. Be careful though, if you wait too long, the head of the toothbrush will melt in a weird over-opened way (there's no way to explain it, sorry).


• If you can see the toothbrush has bent underwater, it might be a sign it is ready.


• If it's not malleable enough, put it back in, no harm done.


• Hold the end of the toothbrush in a hotpad/oven mitt while you pull the bristles out with pliers. Toothbrushs' bristles are held in by little metal squares which are shoved into those small holes. If they come out, you are very lucky. I'm not quite sure how to get them out on their own, but they aren't really noticeable anyway.


• If the toothbrush has cooled too much, put it back in the boiling water. If not, continue.


• Now take a hotpad/oven mitt on each hand and bend the toothbrush in the desired circular shape. Be careful not to put the ends too close together, or too far apart.


• Without moving, hold the toothbrush there for a small period of time, I'm approximating about a minute (play it by ear), to allow it to cool. Then if it holds the form, you can stick it in the freezer to make it cool enough to try on.


• If you don't like the shape it turned out as, you can reboil it as many times as your heart desires.

Oh, and if you're wondering, the bracelet I'm so beautifully modeling for you says "For A Nice Smile Use Me" and then my dentist's name. It's kind of scratched off because it's rather old.

Comments appreciated, if they're nice <3.