Bean Bracelet

Preparing for New Year's Eve? Don't forget the lentils and black-eyed peas! To symbolize good luck for the coming year, people in Italy, Germany and Brazil eat lentils, while in the United States, many begin the year with a modest meal of black-eyed peas in hopes that they'll eat well in the future. Now you can turn these cute beans into lucky jewelry to wear anytime!

What You Need:

• Dry lentils
• Dry black-eyed peas
• Bowl
• Craft wire
• Needle-nosed pliers

 What You Do:

1. Have your child place a couple tablespoons of dry lentils and dry black-eyed peas in a bowl. Cover them with water and soak them overnight.
2. Now your child can cut a 12" piece of wire and bend a small hoop at one end, so the beans don't fall off.
3. Thread the softened beans on the wire one at a time. She can use both types to create a pattern!
4. When the wire has been strung with enough beans to make a fitted bracelet for your child, twist the open end of the wire into another hoop.
5. Trim the excess wire with wire cutters.
6. Help your child twist in the ends of the wire with needle-nosed pliers so there are no sharp edges sticking out.
7. Dry the bracelets overnight, and then sport them on New Year's Eve!