Fold each of the 2 strands of plastic lace in half, then tie them together with an overhand knot near their folds, creating a 1/2-inch loop. Tape the loop to your work surface (or use a clipboard) to secure the strands in place while you work. Label the left blue strand A and the right blue strand B with small pieces of tape.

Slip a bead onto the 2 white strands. Cross strand A over the white strands and under strand B.

Pass strand B under the white strands and through the loop created by strand A. Pull taut the blue strands.

Cross A back over the 2 white strands and under B.

Pass strand B under the white strands and through the loop created by A. Pull taut the blue strands.

Repeat steps 2 through 5, adding more beads and tying more knots until your bracelet reaches the desired length.

To complete the bracelet, remove the looped end from your work surface and slip the free ends of 2 of the 4 strands through the loop. Tie all 4 ends into an overhand knot after the loop, making sure the bracelet is long enough to slip on and off your child's wrist. Trim any excess length from the laces, and the bracelet is ready to wear.

Cut a pair of 6-inch stars from red, white, or blue felt.

Cut a slightly smaller pair (ours were 4 inches across) from a different color of felt, and an even smaller pair (ours were 3 inches across) from the third color.

Use tacky glue to affix the stars to each other. Glue together the 2 sets of stars, sandwiching a 3/8-inch dowel between them.

Allow the glue to dry, then finish the baton by tying a length of red, white, and blue ribbon around the dowel.