Leis are a popular gift for graduates here in So. Cal. My older daughter was gifted with a beautiful orchid lei at her recent 8th grade graduation. But I’d never seen a candy lei until my sitter started making one for a gift today.
Tomorrow my 5th grader is also graduating. She’s moving up to middle school and attending a luau to celebrate. So I decided to take a stab at candy lei making too!
Here’s how you make them:
1. Cut a strip of cellophane about 40 inches long by 8 inches wide. Note: from a standard 24 inch width roll I was able to cut three strips.
2. Lay out your piles of candy. Choose colors/candy types that please you.
3. Roll up the candy inside the cellophane. It will shift some, don’t worry.
4. Tie ribbons between each little pile of candy to create your filled necklace.
5. Join the ends.
Viola! That was easy. No?
Some more ideas to try:
- Add some sparkly tinsel or confetti to the candy bundles (we used plastic sparkly grass)
- Try different kinds of ribbon (we used puffy tulle)
- Attach gifts, notes, or money to your lei
- Add silk or real flowers to the candy bundles or ribbon ties
What a simple and clever craft. I will definitely be making more leis like this in the future. It would be great to make them out of pacifiers for a shower, or trinkets for a birthday party, in lieu of a goody bag. Oh the possibilities!
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