Manda and I were yakking, and she told me that all her friends are sporting toe rings this summer, and that they purchase them at the mall for ~$4 apiece. Then she described these $4 toe rings: a single bead on clear Stretch Magic.
Of course she got the desired result: no way in heck am I going to pay (or let Manda spend money, same thing) on something we can make better and cheaper at home. So, I went to my big old bowl of one-offs and grabbed a bunch of appropriate beads - mostly florals, but there was a ladybug, a frog and a penguin bead. It took all of ten minutes to make five toe rings, which Manda wore to my sister's
40th birthday party.
The beads I used are leftovers from bracelets and are mostly pressed Czech glass. I used only one bead per toe ring, and made them a little smaller than you'd normally think, because the ring goes over the fat part of your toe and onto the skinnier part.
The kid loved them, and so did everyone else at the party - Manda came home minus all her toe rings. They really are cute. With the clear Stretch Magic, it looks like a single bead is magically sticking to her toe. She also reported that they were extraordinarily comfortable, and that she couldn't feet the elastic thread or the knots, which was the gotcha I was worried about.
I like them, and think they look very cute with Birkies. I made the kid another dozen of them tonight, and she can give them away or wear them as she wishes. (If she tries to wear them with toe socks and Birkies, I'll probably have to protest)
Kathy N-V