How to Make Decorative Barrettes With Candy

If you are getting tired of the same old hair accessories for your children’s’ hair, then these barrettes are sure to please. Decorated with actual candy pieces, children will love the way that they look and their friends will too. Any type of barrette will do and the candy choices are endless. The candy-decorated barrettes can be given as gifts and also used as party favors.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Barrettes
• Liquid resin
• Candy
• Hot glue
• Hot glue gun
• Plastic mixing bowl
• Wire rack

1. Choose the type of barrettes that you would like to decorate. You can use any style and if there is one type in particular that holds your child’s hair together the best, that one will work perfectly.

2. Decide which candy you would like to use to decorate the barrette. You can use the smaller fun-size chocolate bars in their wrappers, gumballs, gum drops, candy corns, hard candies or any other type of candy that is a favorite.

3. Arrange the candy pieces on the barrette and attach piece by piece with the glue from a hot glue gun. You can assemble the pieces any way you like and overlapping is fine. You can also mix and match the candy, just make sure you use enough glue for a firm bond.

4. Cover your workspace with newspaper, or some other type of protection that you can easily pick up and throw away. Do not overlook this step, because the next one can be a bit messy. Wax or parchment paper also works very well.

5. Pour the liquid resin into a plastic bowl. It is important not to use a favorite bowl or one that you use regularly in your kitchen, because after this project, it can no longer be used for eating. Liquid resin is a chemical and traces will remain on the bowl afterward.

6. Dip the candy decorated barrettes into the liquid resin, making sure that the area where the barrette and candy connect is completely coated. Have the barrette in the open position before dipping and you can use the open piece as a handle that you can hold while you dip.

7. Place the coated barrettes on a wire rack, with newspaper underneath. The newspaper will collect any remaining resin that drips and protect the surface underneath. Place the rack containing the barrettes in an out of the way area, because they will need considerable time to dry.

8. Allow the resin on the barrettes to set. This can take one to two days, depending on the type of resin used. Once the resin has dried completely, the barrettes are ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Resin can be found in most craft stores, and is sometimes referred to as liquid polymer.
• Wire racks, such as those used for cooling cookies, can be found in most kitchen accessory stores, or in your neighborhood grocery store in the kitchenware section.
• Liquid resin is very difficult to remove once it is in its hardened state, so be careful of spills during use.
• Keep the barrettes out of the reach of young children and pets, who may try to eat the resin-covered candy.