Making paper beads is a great way to recycle junk mail, newspaper, magazines, gift wraps & old calendars etc. Paper beads are additionally inexpensive, attractive & can be used in multitude of projects.
Everyone
like to wear jewelry of different types and metals to feel happy but ones
crafted to one’s own personal statement brings forth that extra mile of joy
& bespoke pleasure.
HOW TO
MAKE:
· Sheets of colored construction
or manila paper or any stiff paper, magazine paper, gift wrap, fancy paper of
scrapbook, old calendar etc.
· White glue for pasting
· Scissors or paper cutter.
· Ruler
· Wire cutter
· Acrylic / poster colors
· Lacquer or water proof clean
varnish
· Metal hooks for earring fittings
· Steel of copper wire of 1mm
thickness
· Thick thread or round elastic
for necklace & wrist band
METHOD:
The
base of the triangle will be width of the bead and the longer the triangle is,
the fatter the bead will become. For different designs of beads, cut the paper
strips in different geometrical shapes like rectangle or right-angled triangle
or isosceles triangles. One strip makes one paper bead. Lay a round wooden
toothpick across the strip, near one end & roll the strip tightly around
the toothpick and apply a bit of liquid white glue to the pointy end.
For the
symmetrical spiral, keep the triangle centered as you roll.
Roll
tightly, especially if you want the beads to last. Try to avoid having space
between the layers.
FINISH
ROLLING:
If the
bead doesn’t stay tightly rolled up, apply another dab of glue. Hold it for a
moment to help the glue dries. This will leave a hole through the bead.
When
beads are dry, designs can be painted with acrylic or poster colors. For
permanency of poster colors, dip the toothpick of beads in lacquer. You might
shove a toothpick into a pincushion to allow it to dry completely. Multiple
coats may be added for longer lasting finish. Wait several hours until a clear
finish has set on the bead.
Beads
can be decorated with translucent nail polish, glitters, by wrapping the beads
in string etc.
Bamboo
skewers can be used for big hole to roll the paper strip.
Even if
they are coated with plenty of glue or paint or varnish, these beads are of
paper (so avoid getting them wet).
Paper
beads can be used to prepare jewelry like earrings, wristbands, rings, necklace
etc.
PAPER
BEAD EARRINGS:
Cut
8cms long thin wire and roll its one end, two or three times on the toothpick
and twist the extra part of the wire. Now arrange the beads as per your design
& colors combination in the wire. Followed by putting the open end of the
wire in the metal hook. Roll the extra wire by forming a loop & cut down
the extra wire (if any).
Repeat
the process to ready the second set of the pair.
NECKLACE
& WRISTBAND:
Strung
the beads in a thick thread or in a round elastic & knot the open ends.
RING:
After putting the beads in the wire, the ends of
the wire can be contoured as per the finger size, by looping the circle around
the finger or stick or about 4-5 circles.
