Make a popcorn necklace/chain

Ingredients-

• Popcorn- preferably air popped/self-made popcorn- don't get popcorn that is butter flavoured.

Equipment- 

• Cotton string/thread or yarn, etc. (preferably some very thin string).
• A popcorn machine, or a microwave, or a stove top and pot, or none (depending on what type of popcorn you are using- e.g. pre-made, microwave, air popped, self-made, pan cooked, etc.).
• A medium to large (preferably large) sewing needle.

Method-

1. Pop lots of popcorn.
2. Let the popcorn sit for a day in a sealed container, if you want it to be easier to use- optional.
3. Cut a large piece of string and thread it through the needle and then knot the end of the string or you can triple knot it if you are having trouble keeping the popcorn on the string.
4. Now thread the needle through a piece of the popcorn or you can thread it through the kernel in the centre of the popcorn if you are experienced at this.
5. Repeat step four for each piece of popcorn until you have completely covered almost all of the string, remember to leave a small gap at the end of the string so that you have room to tie the necklace together.
6. Tie the necklace together using the ends of the string and the gap you left for tying in step five and tie the ends together.
7. You have now completed your popcorn necklace!.

Tips-

• This is a great idea for a festive, holiday activity (especially Christmas).
• Be careful when handling the needle and the hot popcorn and pop corn kernels and always supervise children when they are doing this activity.
• A fun idea would be to use different coloured string or colourful popcorn that you could buy from the supermarket or make at home, and then you could use that to complete the activity.
• You could also try using (coloured or un-coloured) dry macaroni noodles, or dry cranberries(for a Christmas holidays activity), or dried fruit, or colourful beads, etc.
• Use a sharp sewing needle if you want to thread through the popcorn kernels and are experienced at making these popcorn necklaces but if you are inexperienced or you are working with children and only wish to thread through any part of the popcorn but not the centre then just use a blunt sewing needle.
• By leaving the popcorn for a day in a sealed container, it will be easier to make a popcorn necklace as the popcorn will be hard and not soft which is why most people use stale and not fresh popcorn for this activity.
• Try not to use a small needle as it may be more difficult to thread through the popcorn.