PAPER BEADS & JEWELRY

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.