What?? You don’t have bear teeth around your neck?

I was going to title this post Bear Teeth Necklace. But, it seemed so…normal. As if everyone should make, or want to make, or be able to make a bear teeth necklace. And that seemed terribly unfair.

I don’t like to be unfair.

So, I’ll keep it real. Unless you live in the boonies…in bear country…AND have a bear lose it’s teeth. You won’t be able to make this craft.

Don’t ask my WHY the bear lost it’s teeth?? I surely don’t know. And they (they as in husband and son) found 2 teeth. The same size.

Do bear lose their teeth? Again, I don’t know. You would think I would be more of an expert on the subject being I’ve had more then my share of close encounters of the bear variety. But, alas, I know nothing of bear dentistry.

Yes, it creeps me out a bit to see an ENTIRE tooth. And yes, I feel slightly frightened that my 9 year old asked to have them strung onto a necklace. The fact that he thought that way is:

a. creative. (how many people would think of a bear tooth as necklace material)
b. creepy. (how many people would think of a bear tooth as necklace material)
c. disturbing. (how many people would think of a bear tooth as necklace material)

And as I am not usually a lucky person I’m not feeling so good about the odds being in my favor. Choice A is what I am telling myself however. Don’t burst my bubble.

Just in case YOU happen across bear teeth just laying around. Just in case YOU have a 9 year old dying to have them into a necklace. Just in case. I’m giving the tutorial.

Mostly because there is no way I am wasting a potential post. Not happening.

Step 1. You need to clean those things. Gross.
Well, you need to have the person that wants you to do this weird project clean them. Themselves, darn it. The recommended way? Heck, I don’t know. Never done this before. And Google was no help.

How did we? Well, we soaked it in bleach water for a very, very long time (days).

Step 2. Get a drill and drill bit. This is bone. And it’s bear bone. So strange. I really can’t believe I am writing a post about this. My life has gone to the dogs.

Step 3. Drill a hole through the top of the tooth. Just ignore what you are doing. Think of a happy place. And make sure there is coffee  (or something stronger) waiting for you.

Step 4. String them up on a cord. I put a couple of beads between them to get the proper spacing. If you are going to have to string up teeth, might as well do it right!

Now give them to the crazy person that wanted them. And now thinks he is The Coolest kid around. I kinda agree… not many kids have bear tooth necklaces.

Okay, I have to mention a few things.

1. these teeth were found. They weren’t taken from the bear. Obviously. No animal cruelty was done by us.

2. he isn’t allowed to wear those outside in our yard. Although they were cleaned they still carry some kind of smell. The dog thinks they are crazy cool. We can’t smell anything. But, it must be there. And we have NO idea what that would do to other bears in the area. Would they come running?? Or stay away? We surely don’t want to find out. Although that crazy kid is willing to find out.

3. am I crazy to think that is cuckoo? I mean, it’s kind of cool. In a backwoods…Crocodile Dundee kind of way. But…the kid has on Phineas and Ferb AND bear teeth. Who does that? Don’t answer that. Yes, I know the answer. Golly.