Kids are going loopy...

...for this current craze.

LOOM BANDS

The High Streets are swamped with them...looms in a variety of formats and mini elastic bands in just about every colour you can imagine. Oh, and it doesn't end there. There are solid colours clear colours, glittery ones, florescent, glow in the dark and pearly ones to name but a few. Add to this the charms & beads that can also be incorporated and you have a massive retail success.

The problem is, it's not just the kids who are getting hooked.

When my friend Suzie (Weasel) mentioned over on UKScrappers that she had been tempted and gave in to buying a loom and some bands, I thought perhaps I should own up too.

I had seen what folk had been making and when I saw a huge selection of bands in Poundland, I just had to give it a go. I started with a few packs of bands...

 ...and was getting along quite well with the single link "chains" when a colleague mentioned about the videos on YouTube. The next thing you know...

...I've added a basic loom and some more bands - all from Poundland.
After watching a few YouTube videos...

...I soon had this collection of bracelets. However, some of the videos showed a different type of loom being used...

 ...and yesterday I picked one up from the market near work for the massive sum of £2.50 (I saw the same one in Clare's Accessories for about £8).
I had a couple of storage boxes in my craft room that I thought would be suitable...

 ...but as you can see...

...both boxes are overflowing.
I've had a go at basic chains, Infinity bracelets, ladders and triple row cuffs but...

...the Fishtails seem to be what I'm having most success with at the moment and this photo shows my favourite colour combos so far.

The thread that Suzie started over on UKScrappers has suggested some crafting uses for these bands.

Made long enough the bands can be used to hold Smash books and Art journals closed. You can make them any colour you like which has to be better than the pretty limited choice of rubber bands that Smash produce. I thought it would be quite fun to make some bracelets to attach to kids cards so that they have a gift as well as the card.

It may well be a craze amongst the kids but I can assure you that it has hit other age groups as well. Whilst I was looking at the selection that Clare's Accessories have, an elderly lady came in and selected a couple of packs. She explained that her granddaughter had shown her how to "do it" and she had decided to make a couple of lanyards for her keys in pretty bright colours so that she didn't lose them.

Like most crafts/hobbies, 'Loom bands' can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Packs of bands can be obtained for as little as 50p (approx. 300 bands) although the most common price is around £1. A basic loom can be picked up for just a couple of quid. You do have to be a bit careful because prices can vary a lot - it seems a lot of retailers are jumping on the band wagon and know that kids will pay what ever is asked just so they can keep up with the craze.

With the Summer holidays almost upon us, this is something that can keep the kids occupied and can be a bit of fun that Mum/Auntie/Gran even Granddad/Dad/Uncles can join in with. It is an easily portable hobby so great for keeping the little dears busy in the car so that you don't continuously get the "are we there yet?" chorus from the back seat.

If loom bands haven't yet invaded your home...go on...give it a go...................................................