How To Make Rubber Band Bracelets Without A Rainbow Loom – Easy!

Maybe your like

Check out our Easy Learn to Draw lessons →

Home › Blog › Kids Activities › How to Make Rubber Band Bracelets without a Rainbow Loom – Easy!

How to Make Rubber Band Bracelets without a Rainbow Loom – Easy!

By Michelle McInerney | MollyMoo

Published Jan 18, 2024

Updated Jun 02, 2025

SharePin

Did you know you can easily make rubber band bracelets and other rubber band jewelry without an authentic rainbow loom? All you need is two pencils and some rubber bands. Kids of all ages can make loom bracelets by making their own DIY rainbow loom!

Rainbow loom jewelry without the loom - how to make a rainbow loom out of 2 pencils to make rubber band bracelets - 2 pencils with rubber band bracelet in progress shown. — Let’s make rubber band bracelets!

What are the rubber band bracelets called?

There are a lot of different names for rubber band bracelets: silicone wristbands or bracelets, jelly bracelets, gel band bracelets, loom band bracelets, rainbow loom bracelets, loom bracelets, silly band bracelets, elastic bracelets and rubber wristbands.

Rubber Band Bracelets Craft Tutorial Created by Kids

My 7 year old daughter rightfully takes complete credit for this genius example of childhood resourcefulness! Together with a friend at her after school center, they came up with a way for everyone make rainbow loom bracelets and rings together when there weren’t enough looms to go around. Necessity is the mother of invention and all that!

Related: How to make rubber band bracelets with a rainbow loom

Now getting a 7 year old to ‘freeze’ so you can take step by step photos as she is looming is not the easiest task in the world, so please forgive the slight impatient blurs in places!

What Type of Rubber Bands Should I Use?

Your local craft store or online retailers will have several different types and many colors of loom rubber bands wihout the loom. Look for “loom rubber bands refill kit” or “loom bands kit” to find packages that don’t include a loom. Here are a few of our favorite rubber band varieties for making rainbow bracelets:

Loom Rubber Bands Refill Kit – special goods 12730 pieces including 26 bright band colors and 500 clips (12730+ Loom Rubber Bands Refill Kit in 26 Color with 500 Clips ,6 Hooks, Premium Bracelet Making Kit for Kids Weaving DIY Crafting Gift).
Loom Rubber Bands Refill Kit – 13000 pieces including 31 colors rubber bands bracelets colors (traditional colors, neon colors, translucent bands and glow in the dark bands), 500 clips, 24 charms and 22 beads(13000 Loom Rubber Bands Refill Kit in 31 Color, 500 Clips, 24 Charms, 22 Beads and 6 Crochets).
Rainbow Loom Neon Jumbo Bucket – craft supplies 8000 latex free rubber bands and 150 colored c-clips(Rainbow Loom Neon Jumbo Bucket with 2X Happy Loom (B0327)).
Rubber Bands Refill Loom Set with 8 Glow in the Dark colors: creative goods 5000 loom bands, 200 colored S clips and 10 charms(5200+ Rubber Bands Refill Loom Set: 8 Colors Glow in The Dark 5000 Loom Bands,200 Colored S-Clips,10 Charms,2 Y-Looms,1 Upgrade Crochet Hook for Kids DIY Craft Weaving Kit).

How to Make Rubber Band Bracelets without a Loom

Follow the step by step guide below with pictures to create your own pencil loom and easily create rubber band bracelets – your own handmade pieces without the full rubber band bracelet kit.

You will find that making rainbow loom jewelry this way is very easy for younger kids to get their heads around, the loom can be confusing. This is the easy way to make rubber band bracelets by hand.

This article contains affiliate links.

Supplies Needed to make Loom Bracelets without a Loom

two pencils or pens
mini rubber bands
plastic S or C clips–

How to Make Rubber Band Bracelets by Hand

You don’t need a fancy loom, you can make rubber band bracelets by hand with these simple steps using two pencils as the loom.

Step 1
Start by sliding the first band over one of the pencils. See the orange band.You will need a rubber band and one pencil for the first step.
Step 2
Next, make one twist in the band and loop it over the second purple pencil. The band should look like figure 8Grab your second pencil for the second step and make a figure eight.
Step 3
Slip a second band onto the pencils. (Do not twist.)In the third step you will grab and additional mini rubber band.
Step 4
Slip the third band onto the pencils and pluck out the lower band on the right.In the next step, you will use an additional band.
Step 5
Pull the band up and over the pencil to snap into the center of the pencils.Let’s start the band weaving process…
Step 6
Pull to the right.
Step 7
Repeat this step on the left.
Step 8
Keep adding single bands and looping over pencils to see your bracelet or rubber band ring grow in length.
One side..
…and then the other side!

–Repeat Until Desired Band Length

These are the core steps of making the rainbow loom strip, to be repeated band by band, looping over the top, until you have the desired length to make a bracelet, ring, necklace, etc.

How to Finish the Rubber Band Jewelry

Make Rainbow Loom jewelry without the loom - easy for kids - finish with adding a s or c clip to the rubber bands — Add an S or C clip!

–1. Attach an S or C Clip to the Rubber Bands

When you are happy with the length of your rainbow loom strip, simply slip one side at a time off the pencils and finish with a C or S clip.

Make Rainbow Loom jewelry without the loom - easy for kids - Finish by connecting the two rubber band bracelet ends together — Finish by connecting the two rubber band bracelet ends together.

–2. Join the Ends of the Bracelet or Ring Together

And join the ends together to make your ring, necklace or bracelet.

–

Rainbow Loom

Can a 5 year old do the Rainbow Loom?

If your 5 year old is interested in making bracelets and has the ability to follow several steps, then rainbow looms can be appropriate for that age. You may need additional supervision especially at the beginning. If your 5 year old get frustrated easily, you may want to wait or put it away for a few months if it becomes a problem.

More Homemade Jewelry for Kids from Kids Activities Blog

Make DIY slap bracelets at home with these simple jewelry making instructions.
How about a cute jelly bean bracelet activity?
Popsicle stick bracelets are part magic and part craft!
Let’s make a bracelet out of straws.
How to make the X and O bracelet pattern.
Make a LEGO bracelet!
Candy bracelets are fun to make!
I love this traditional Kindergarten bracelets craft for kids.
Make a bracelet out of fuzzy sticks.
Print and decorate these matching best friend bracelets.
And if you are looking for the best friendship bracelets, check out these string bracelet patterns!
Make friendship bracelets, with our printable instructions for a loom!
Check out these 10 different rainbow loom bracelet how tos!
Learn how to make this DIY jewelry!

Have you ever made band bracelets without a loom?

SharePinShare it with friends!PinFacebookTweetYummlyEmail

Activities For Kindergarteners Arts and Crafts for Kids Birthday Party Ideas for Kids Craft Ideas for Kids Elementary Age Activities for Kids Family Activities Holiday Indoor Kid's Activities Kids Activities Kids Crafts Rainbows Things To Do With Kids

Welcome to Kids Activities!

My name is Holly Homer & I am the Dallas mom of three boys…

Fun and Festive Adopt a Leprechaun Kit For Kids

St. Patrick's Day Books- - Kids Activities Blog

A Great List Of St. Patrick’s Day Books For Kids

Our Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Printables

Dinosaur Matching Game- Cover with an egg and volcano and text - Kids Activities Blog

Free Printable Dinosaur Matching Game

9 Comments

Learning how to make rubber band bracelets by hand is wonderful for a child’s hand eye coordination, and a fun activity that doubles as a fun way to cut down on screen time! My daughter always loved making bracelets to give to her friends.
Reply
Thank you for showing us how to make rubber band bracelets by hand. This will come in handy next arts and crafts night.
Reply
1. You’re so welcome! Happy crafting! 🙂
  Reply
Rubber band bracelets are a fun and easy gift for kids to exchange with friends. I like that it gives them something to craft, works their brain and motor skills, and it can be done without very many supplies!
Reply
1. Yes, they are so fun! Making and giving any type of friendship bracelets is such a core childhood memory!
  Reply
These rubber band bracelets are a great fine motor activity for my students. They have such a fun time making them.
Reply
1. We love these loom bracelets! Have fun.
  Reply
Beautuful ideas for make a bracelets and rings.
Reply
1. Thank you! So glad that you enjoyed them!
  Reply

Welcome to Kids Activities!

My name is Holly Homer & I am the Dallas mom of three boys…

Read More About Me best family movie night movies

20 of the Best Movies for Family Movie Night

child laughing out loud LOL at best funny jokes for kids - Kids Activities blog

75+ Hysterical Kid Friendly Jokes for Tons of Laughs

random fun facts for kids - kangaroo laying on side looking at camera with funny face - Kids Activities Blog

50 Random Facts that you Won’t Believe are True

Funny April Fools Day Pranks for Parents to Play on Kids - Kids Activities Blog - little girl doubled over laughing

Easy April Fools Pranks for Family to do at Home

Unlimited Playful Ideas Delivered to Your Inbox!Join the 250K parents, teachers & care givers who have all the secrets :).Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Email Subscribe Easter Journal Kit- - Kids Activities Blog