Craft Foam Wrist Cuff for Kids

This is a super fun way to teach young people the basics of sewing. The cuffs can be made to work with a theme or just to use up  extra crafting supplies you have in your stash.

Here are some suggested supplies from Consumer Crafts:

• Darice Big Value Paper Edging Craft Scissors
• Darice Big Value Plastic Buttons
• Foamies Sheets and Rolls
• Foamies Shapes
• Foamies Value Packs
• Foamies Glitter Sheets in Multiple Colors
• Darice Kids Plastic Easy Threading Needle (for younger children)
• 10 Mesh Count Plastic Canvas Needle (for older children)
• Embroidery Floss

The cuffs are super easy to make. Cut a length of craft foam that will be long enough to go around the child’s’ wrist and over lap just a little bit. That goes for all of the cuffs shown in this post.

The needle has a fairly large eye and isn’t super sharp so it takes a little force to get push the needle through the foam. An adult might have to help younger children with this part! An adult could also pre-punch the holes with an awl so the kids can just sew the cuff together.

Cut the edges with decorative scissors. Just to make a nice edge. For the Skull and cross bones cuff I sewed the cuff just to secure the two ends. A running stitch with embroidery floss (I used 6 strands) is all that is needed. Then add the skull and cross bones stickers.

Don’t try sewing through foam stickers. It just gums up the needle and becomes frustrating.

This one is made with glittery craft foam and a bright green craft foam.

Cut the glittery foam more narrow than the green.

Sew decorative buttons, again with embroidery floss.

Sew the button on that connects the two ends first.

Just a couple of up and down stitches are all that is needed. Then evenly space a few more buttons around the cuff.

This is a cuff kids can make after they’ve mastered the up and down motions. Simply sew the foam flowers onto the cuff by segmenting the flowers with floss. Up in the center and down at the edge.

I did this one kind of backwards. I recommend sewing the foam where the cuff meets first and then spacing the other pieces out afterward.

I think this is a fun for kids. (I did it with a bunch of 3rd and 4th grade kids.) They can decide what colors and embellishments they want and learn the basic motions of sewing at the same time. Older kids can make them for younger kids to wear for dress up or play acting.

I get to be the Pirate Captain!!

Vicki

I also blog at vickiodell.com, a daily creative lifestyle blog where I share craft and home decor projects as well as recipes, inspiration and my own brand of Creative Goddess wisdom.
I can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. Be careful… I’ll talk your eyeballs off if you let me. 🙂