If you're a Taylor Swift fan, you've probably seen on social media the trend of making friendship bracelets to wear to her Eras Tour concerts. These bracelets are showing up everywhere, and I've found a way to introduce the friendship bracelet trend into party decor.

VIDEO: Make a Giant Friendship Bracelet Garland

How did Taylor Swift's friendship bracelet trend start?

Taylor Swift's friendship bracelet trend started after she released her song "You're on Your Own, Kid" from her 2022 album "Midnights." In the song, she sings, "So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it."

Swift's fans took that advice literally, and friendship bracelets have become a staple of the Eras Tour. Swifties of all ages and skill levels are making bracelets to wear to the concerts, and many are also trading them with each other.

Expanding the friendship bracelet trend

The friendship bracelet trend made its way into a larger version when teachers started making them into garlands to hang in classrooms. I loved this idea and decided to make a similar garland for Christmas.

How to make a giant friendship bracelet

To create the oversized friendship bracelet, you need giant letter beads as well as colorful round-ish beads that resemble those used on the trendy bracelets Swifties wear.

It's easier than it sounds, thanks to some creative techniques for using craft supplies to create these beads in giant scale.

How to create giant letter beads

There are several ways you can create the white discs that serve as the base for the letter beads using ordinary craft supplies.

Technique 1: Custom cut beads from packing foam

For a budget-friendly solution, use a scrap of packing foam that you saved from your latest product packaging (or buy sheets of it) and cut out your circles with a round, metal cookie cutter.

The secret to getting a clean cut is to heat the cookie cutter on the stove first, then carefully press it into the foam. Perfect circles every time.

VIDEO: How to cut custom foam shapes with cookie cutters

(When heating foam, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and wear heat-proof gloves or oven mitts!)

Technique 2: Buy pre-made craft foam shapes

You can skip straight to the end and pick up some 3" foam craft circles that are ready to go. If they're too thin, just glue two together.

Technique 3: Glue together wood discs

To create the letter beads from wood, pick up a stack of 3" wood circles at the craft store. Glue them together with a piece of fishing line sandwiched between, then paint them white.

Adding letters to the beads

Once you have your white beads created, you can easily turn them into letter beads by applying stickers or custom cut vinyl letters. It's super easy to customize your garland to any message.

Creating the large decorative beads

The easiest way to make the colorful, decorative beads on your oversized friendship bracelet garland is to use ball pit balls.

You can find ball pit balls in a huge variety of colors, and even fun shapes like stars and hearts. Also keep an eye out for Stress balls in fun shapes like bears, footballs, and hearts, which all make great accent beads.

Stringing the beads together

Stringing all the beads is super easy with an extra long sewing needle and some heavyweight fishing line. Just poke through all the beads to create your giant bracelet.

If you have trouble getting the needle through the foam, try heating the tip of the needle over a candle first.

Friendship bracelet garland ideas

The possibilities are endless with creative ideas for your oversized friendship bracelet garland.

Birthday party banner

A giant bracelet makes a great banner over the cake table at your birthday party, and is so easy to customize with a message for the guest of honor.

Personalized bedroom decor

A simple bracelet personalized with a name is a great piece of decor to hang in a bedroom, over a mirror or on the wall by the bed. Any Swiftie would love this piece of decor.

Football themed Super Bowl party garland

Any true Swiftie knows how important a football game can be these days, so why not celebrate the Super Bowl or any other football viewing party with a custom garland? We've picked out all the supplies you need to create football-themed friendship bracelet garland to decorate for the big game.

Christmas garland for the wall or mantel

For a fun pop of color and a modern twist in your Christmas decor, why not create a simple "Merry Christmas" garland to hang on the wall or on your mantel?

Christmas tree garland

That same "Merry Christmas" garland looks great wrapped around a silver tinsel Christmas tree.

What other ideas do you have for giant friendship bracelet garlands? We'd love to hear them in the comments below!