• Transform pieces of candy into crafty bracelets.bonbons image by Danielle Bonardelle from Fotolia.com
  
  Making jewelry crafts is an interactive project that will keep kids busy during birthday parties or on rainy days. Supply the kids with colorful items, such as gems, buttons and candy, which they can use to craft one-of-a-kind designs. Spark your kid's imagination by transforming everday items into wearable art. Prior to beginning the jewelry project, stock up on basic craft items such as paint, glue, glitter and scissors.
  
  

Drinking Straw Necklace

• Design a creative necklace using colorful plastic drinking straws. Cut blue, red, green and yellow straws into various sizes. Cut a piece of vibrantly colored yarn and string the straw pieces onto it. Make sure that the piece of yarn is long enough that your child can easily slip the finished necklace on and off. You can cover the entire length of yarn with straw pieces, or leave a bit showing. Finish the necklace by tying the yarn into a knot or bow.
  
  

Fairy Dust Necklace

• Help your child make an enchanting fairy dust necklace. Start with a tiny glass bottle featuring a cork top (see Resources). Fill the bottle with "fairy dust," such as colorful glitter or tiny glass seed beads. Use a folded piece of paper to funnel the glitter or beads into the bottle. Push a head pin into the cork and bend the top of the pin into a loop, so that you can thread a necklace through it. Use wire cutters to snip off the end of the pin. Cover the cork with clear-drying glue and stick it into the bottle. Once the glue is dry, string a chain or thin cord or ribbon through the loop to create a necklace.
  
  

Festive Barrettes

• Allow your child to design festive hair barrettes to celebrate any occasion. Start with a plain metal barrette and decorate it with a variety of colorful items. Wrap the barrette with red and green ribbon or yarn to match a Christmas outfit. Create a glamorous barrette by gluing on flat-backed plastic gems or beads. Use glue to cover the barrette's surface with small buttons for a crafty look.
  
  

Edible Bracelets

• Create a bracelet that looks good enough to eat. Making edible bracelets is an ideal birthday party project; guests can take the sweet treats home as favors. Instruct the kids to slide O-shaped cereal pieces and any candy featuring center holes onto a string of red licorice. Tie the licorice ends in a knot around the children's wrists.