Window Blind Bracelet

I just finished a job repairing window blinds. I work by myself and forgot my radio one day. Needless to say, this let my mind go in a lot of directions. So on my lunch break, I started playing around with the broken window blind slats. I was amazed at how well they would twist and coil. I put one around my wrist and that is when I came up with the idea of making a bracelet.
At the time, I was working with aluminum blinds but, I remember that I also had some plastic slats.

1 inch Mini window blinds – White aluminum and plastic – I used 52 inch wide, but any length could be used. Plastic blinds are very inexpensive compared to the aluminum. I actually purchased a complete brand new plastic blind set from the hardware store; just for the contents. It has screws, plastic rod, plastic slats, U-channel etc… lots of stuff for projects.

String – I used the extra string right from the window blinds
Clasp – I used the pull cord knobs from the window blinds
Hole punches – paper and heavy duty
Household scissors
Permanent markers – various colors
Pencil and paper – I used grid paper Ruler
Sandpaper or file

I measured around my wrist for length. I needed 9 inch pieces, so I cut the blinds with household scissors to length. I trimed the ends to remove the sharpe corners (I removed the 90 degree corners). Remember to include in your calculations for your clasp length. Subtract this before cutting.

Safety: File or sand all sharp edges or holes to prevent injury.

I first tried some different markers on the back to see what I could use that would easily come off.
Please note: I could not find anything that came easily off the blind slats.. I tried a grease pencil, wax pencil, color pencil, hard lead pencil. So parents keep your children away from the blinds.

Onward; I had some graph paper to make some patterns and find the centers. I placed the cut section of blind on top of the graph paper. I then found both the horizontal and vertical centers. I put two marks on the ends for holes for the clasp. I put tick marks (very small marks) for decorating.

Using my paper punches - I put a 5/32 inch hole at both ends of the plastic slat and ¼ inch holes in the metal slat. No rhyme or reason on the size, just wanted some holes to use for the string.

Note: I feel my paper punches are tools, this process may dull them faster than using them on paper, but I used them anyway. I used my heavy duty punches only because of the many sizes available.

Side note: In the aluminum slat, I punch different size decorative holes down the center line.

Safety: File or sand all sharp edges or holes to prevent injury.

Using some different permanent color markers, I made some geometrical patterns.

I used the mini blind pull cord knobs - for a loop and knob clasp set up.

I tied a knot into an open loop to one end of the slat.
On the other end of the slat, I knotted a knob to it.

The knob fits through the loop to form the clasp.

Other things can be used for the clasp: there is a really cool adjustment buttons that are included in the mini blinds, which also would work.

Not that bad for using window blind slats and parts.

These are my demos; I have already received a request with specific art requirements.

I hope to introduce this idea to the 4-H kids this winter.