kids dog collar friendship bracelet valentine's day card

Cut two 54" [137.2 cm] strands of purple floss.

Align the two purple floss strands so they are parallel, and while holding the strands together, slide your alphabet beads onto the floss strands. Arrange them so they are in the middle.

Cut two 16" [40.6 cm] strands from your pink floss skein and two 16" [40.6 cm] strands from your red floss skein.

Align the four strands together and tie one end against the first bead added to your purple floss. Tuck the short ends into the bead and add some glue inside the bead for an extra secure hold. Let dry.

Repeat Step 3 and tie onto the other side of your beads. Tuck the short ends into the bead and add some glue inside the bead for an extra secure hold. Let dry.
TIP: You should now have alphabet beads in between two knots with two strands of purple, red and pink floss on either side.

Arrange your floss vertically on your working surface so you have a set of six floss strands pointing downward. Place a piece of tape above the knot closest to you to hold your work still.

Assign each strand a letter to help keep them organised when following instructions. In the featured project, the strands are: red (A), pink (B), purple (C). Separate the strands and lay them out in front of you in the following order, from left to right: A, B, C, C, B, A.

With the A and B strands on the left, make a forward overhand knot with A over B. Repeat for a second knot.
TIP: To make a forward overhand knot, take you’re a strand and fold half of it over the B strand to resemble the number four. Then, bend the section of the A strand that is extending past the B strand around the B strand and through the opening of the four formation. Pull tight, sliding the knot up to the top.

Repeat Step 8 with the A strand over the C strand.
TIP: The A strand will naturally mover across the row as you make the forward knots.

Now, repeat Steps 8-9 with the A strand on the right side, but this time, make backward overhand knots.
TIP: To make a backward overhand knot, just make a forward overhand knot in reverse.

Once you have both A strands in the middle, make two backward overhand knots to join the two sides, as well as, make the point of your chevron.

Repeat Steps 8-11 with the B strand. Continue this pattern until you have about 2" [5 cm] of chevron knotted rows.

At the end of your chevron knots, tie a double overhand knot with all excess strands.

Separate like strands and do a simple braid for about 2" [5 cm]. Tie an overhand knot at the end and trim excess floss.

Repeat Steps 6-14 on the other side.

For a sliding knot, overlap the braided ends; then tie a knot with the right braided side over the left side pointing towards the left, over the braided floss. Repeat on the left side. Set your bracelet aside to make the card.
TIP: You can do simply tie a knot. Determine desired length of your bracelet, tie a knot and cut the excess.

To make the card, click here to download and print the template; then cut out the shapes.

Trace the dog face, two ears and body on white cardstock and cut out the shapes.

Cut the red cardstock to 8½" x 11” [22 cm x 27.9 cm] to make the card base. Fold in half.

Glue on wiggle eyes, a pom-pom nose and use markers to add the mouth, legs and pink in the ears.
TIP: Use the image as a guide.

Align the bottom of the dog's body across the bottom edge of the card. Attach with glue and let dry.

Glue the ears to the head and let dry.

Cut the slit in the body (as shown on the template) and add the necklace. Open the card and on the back-side of the card's front, use tape to hold it in place.

To elevate the dog off of the card, glue three pom-poms under it and then glue the pom-poms to the card. Let dry.

Share you project photos with #MichaelsKidsClub