How to Rainbow Loom Frugally

My good friend Barb from Frugal Local Kitchen is guest posting today on a topic that I know of well…the Rainbow Loom. C is obsessed with it. Remember those gimp bracelets (the flat plastic)? I liken it to those and the trend that was going on when I was growing up. I used to beg my mom to take me to the store for different colors! There is one small difference. Man, the plastic string was cheap and the Rainbow Loom…it can get expensive! Not saying it isn’t totally worth it. Heck, C takes that thing everywhere AND, it doesn’t require batteries or talk to her, it is just pure old-school fun! Barb is one frugal mama and she is here to chat about how you can save some money on this craze:)

The Rainbow Loom craze exploded this summer in our area. Colorful rubber band show up all over my house while the neighborhood girls hold looming sessions on my back porch. Despite the target audience being young girls 8 and up, boys have just as much fun making bracelets and necklaces; I’ve seen 6 and 7 year olds make bracelets with a little assistance in getting started. As a mom, I love seeing the older and younger kids work together to figure out new patterns. For $17, you can buy a kit made up of plastic pegs and 600 different colored rubber bands which make about 24 bracelets. The cost of additional rubber bands and a case to keep everything together, and out of your rugs, can start to add up, especially if your kids get hooked on looming. Since the instructions that come with the kit are a bit vague, head to YouTube for instructional videos or find an older child who can help your child get started. Rainbow Loom Kit deals are starting to pop up online, and you should see more savings as we get into the holiday season. Up until this fall, the few stores stocking the Rainbow Loom kits, Michael’s Craft Stores, Hallmark, Learning Express, and A.C. Moore, were not able to offer a discount on the kit. This week, Plum District offered a $12 deal for the Loom, Hook Tools, S Clips and additional charms. Tanga is offering a Deluxe Kit with 1200 bands, S clips, and 2 Loom Hook Tools for $4.99 (it’s not clear if the plastic pegs are included).

Store Your Rainbow Loom Supplies Frugally

The official Rainbow Loom storage case runs about $17, though they’re selling out of the stores very quickly. Thanks to a 40% off sale at JoAnn Fabrics in early October, I pulled together a Rainbow Loom storage box for only $9.57. The Iris brand (similar to this one on Amazon has a clear suitcase-type plastic box big enough to hold a Rainbow LoomŽ, a Mini Rainbow LoomŽ, a hook, a bag of c-clips, and 2 7-compartment organizers holding a total of 14 different colors of bands. The 2 rubber band organizers have a locking mechanism preventing the rubber bands from falling out if dropped. If you miss the JoAnn Fabrics sale, use their 40% off coupon from the paper or a flyer to save money on the storage case itself. Your total cost would be $11.97, still saving you about $5 on the case.

How to Save on Rainbow Loom Supplies

Those colorful rubber bands can add up, too, especially if your kids want the glow in the dark bands or the neon colored bands. Hallmark sells packs of 600 rubber bands with a bag of c-clips, enough to make 24 bracelets for $2.99 ($.004 per rubber band). Learning Express sells them for $3.99 for the same size packet of 600 rubber bands ($.006 per rubber band), and Five Below sells them 3 packs of 300 rubber bands for $5.00 ($.005 per rubber band). Toys R Us carries a similar product called the Cra-Z-Loom Rubber Band Bracelet maker for $14.99. Their packets of 900 rubber band bracelet refills cost $5.99 and come in 3 different types - neon, ultimate and bright and bold ($.006 per rubber band).

You can also make the Rainbow Loom bracelets by hand or with a crochet hook, saving $17 on the initial kit. Since regular crochet hooks are sold separately in the knitting section of craft stores, use a store coupon to save on the hook and another one for your storage containers, and pick up the band refill packages at Hallmark.

Learn New Rainbow Loom Patterns Online

The official Rainbow Loom site offers 27 patterns via instructional videos, along with 2 for the mini Rainbow Loom. How-To Rainbow Loom videos are all over YouTube. You can start with the official channel for Rainbow Loom, or do a search for “Rainbow Loom” “stretch band.” As a parent, I would preview the YouTube videos before letting my kids watch them. Find 40+ stretch band patterns on the A.C. Moore site incorporating beads, charms, and other fun items. Hop on the Rainbow Loom craze, and make tons of bracelets and other stretch jewelry. You can make them in the doctor’s office; you can make them on the sidelines of a soccer game; you can make them while watching tv at night. Coordinate the colors with your favorite sports team, or must-wear outfit. Create your own pattern, and share it with your friends.

 

Here is a great post on Creating Christmas Charms for the Rainbow Loom too!

What’s your kids’ favorite Rainbow Loom pattern?

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn’t writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance or Frugal Local Kitchen.