Chewing gum has been around for many years. The first patent was issued to an Ohio dentist in 1869, according to the National Association of Chewing Gum manufacturers. Many types of gum now come in paper wrappers. Folding those wrappers and connecting them to create a chain can be a fun way to recycle what would normally be trash. The longest gum wrapper chain on record is 58,266 feet, according to GumWrapper.com. Chains can be created with other types of material, such as candy wrappers or even colorful strips of paper.
Step 1
Tear or cut the wrapper lengthwise. Each wrapper will yield two strips.
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Step 2
Fold one strip in half lengthwise, then fold it in half lengthwise again.
Step 3
Fold the resulting strip in half, then unfold. Bring the ends of the folded strip in to the center and fold in half the short way to create a V.
Step 4
Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the second half of the wrapper. Connect the resulting Vs by threading the arms of one of the Vs into the folds of the arms of another V.
Step 5
Repeat steps 1 through 4 with as many wrappers as you have, connecting the resulting Vs to the previous V. The resulting chain will have a zigzag pattern.
Step 6
Drape the chain to decorate a room or connect the ends to create wearable art. The chain can be glued to other items, such as a picture frame or mirror frame. Multiple chains can be connected to create baskets.
Tip
Use your fingernail to make sharp creases in the paper.
A similar chain can be made from candy wrappers, as long as the resulting strips are roughly the same rectangular shape as half a gum wrapper.
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