There is a lot of excitement about Rainbow Loom toys right now, but kids love making things out of rubber bands too! These easy, cheap kids crafts are a great way for them to learn how to use their imagination and craft skills.
They can make animals out of rubber band bracelets, necklaces, backpack charms, key chains and more! They also make fun gifts for friends and family.
Some of these animals are even able to be made without a loom! There are lots of videos out there that teach kids how to make them.
These simple rubber band animal patterns are perfect for kids to make on their Rainbow Loom, but they can also be used with other types of looms as well. These patterns are a great way for kids to practice fine motor skills and develop their pincer grasp.
This rubber band snake pattern is a great way for kids to practice their pincer grip and strengthen their finger muscles while they create this cute animal. The patterns are so easy that kids can make these cute little snakes in no time.
Another Rainbow Loom animal pattern that kids will love to make is this chameleon! It’s so easy to create, and your kids might just end up creating a whole zoo of them.
You can also make a variety of other animals out of rubber bands, including giraffes and elephants! All you need is a few colors of rubber bands, a few pegs and a few tools to help you.
Some of these Rainbow Loom animal patterns are also great for kids to make outside in the backyard! They are a great activity to do on a nice, warm day.
The Rubber Band Origins
There is a long history of using rubber for bands and other products. Originally, people harvested latex from the rubber trees in the regions that many today call Mexico and Central America. They mixed it with juice from morning glory vines to make the rubber less brittle and more waterproof.
They then mixed it with acetic and formic acid to help it stick together. Once this was done, they formed slabs of rubber and sent them to manufacturers.
The rubber is then mixed with chemicals to increase or decrease the elasticity of the bands, change their color, and more. Then, it is put through the milling process.
During the milling process, the rubber is heated and squeezed into bands. The bands are then sold by weight.
Some manufacturers use a Banbury mixer, invented in 1916 by Femely H. Banbury, to mix the rubber with chemicals.
This process integrates the ingredients more thoroughly, producing a uniform product that will hold up to repeated use.
They are so versatile that they can be used to help you tie your hair into pigtails, braid it into ponytails or stop underwear from slipping down.
Other uses include keeping bank notes, letters and newspapers in place, tying bunches of herbs or securing jars of food to the tops of vases or other containers.