friendship bracelets

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when you were younger, did you go crazy for friendship bracelets? like, you went to the craft store and bought 3 lbs of embroidery floss and then made 415 friendship bracelets in the span of one afternoon? of course you did.

i was around 10 years old when i discovered friendship bracelets (and cross stitching which, shut the front door, used the same embroidery floss! double craft for the win!) i don't know why some childhood memories are more vivid than others, but walking into michael's craft store and spending a good 45 minutes pouring over which colors to pick out is one of mine. it was an especially good day when the floss was on super sale-five for $1. my allowance allowed for 15 bundles.

i had the klutz book. this very one. i knew the chevron, the diagonal, the basic, the whirly gig, and the double balloon barrel roll. i just made up those last two, but if they existed, i'd know them.

i couldn't be happier that friendship bracelets are back "in vogue" as my mama would say.

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i like the addition of the big, gold charm in the middle. it changes the look from "camp craft" to "camp craft with a big, gold charm." 

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cutie pie brown. i just bought some cheap fabric at the scrap exchange, but since i can't sew a straight line, i think i have a new use for my pretty fabric. 

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tough and cute. just like me. well, i think "scrappy" is the word people have used before. whatevs. i'll take it. 

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look how high she can jump with her friendship bracelet on!

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i just found this wicked cool DIY tutorial combining string and hex nuts to make the fanciest friendship bracelet you've ever seen. my younger self wouldn't have known what to do with herself. actually, i know my younger self better than anyone. she would have smiled, giggled excitedly, and pushed her bright red glasses further up on her nose. she also would have been wearing a turtle necklace and an oversized sunflower t-shirt. i've been making these bracelets nonstop. if you get these as gifts for the next five years, don't be surprised. and, please, be grateful. 

did you have a favorite childhood craft? am i the only one who actually liked to cross stitch? i'm talking, other than your grandma and her friends.