On the internet I saw this craft video of somebody bending icepopstickle sticks into bracelets. I had a pack laying around from making demo heddle loom weaving frames. So let's give it a go.
The idea is simple. Put water into a pan. Chuck your sticks in. Bring it to a boil and when it boiled for about 10min then put it on a simmer for an hour (!!!) Don't forget to keep the lid on the pan.
Look for some drink glasses that are tall and narrow enough to give you the right size bend.
Up untill now its all very straight forward. The tricky bit comes now where you take a stick out off the pan ( one at a time. I used a fork) and then you have to bend your stick.
Your stick does not want to be bend. But you need to persuade it. Gently but firmly.
This is a two hand job.
Best way is to work from the middle. Hold it there and gently bend one end at a time towards the middle. In a round shape. This is the point where you will brake some sticks because they dont want to play ball with you.
Then when you have convinced your wood this is going to be its new shape ( it will not stay in this shape when you let go but it prepares the wood for what is about to come.
Then get your glass. Hold your stick in the middle.
Now with your other hand bring the two ends towards each other and lower it into your glass. Let go.
Most likely it will jump right back out at you. But you will get the hang of it.
When it stays in there, try to shape it a bit more like the shape of the glass by pressing outwards towards the glass.
And repeat. You can fit quite a few sticks in one glass.
When you are all done and have stopped swearing then let them dry for 2 days.
They will come out all bendy and strong.
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