Monday, 3 September 2018

Design Your Own Beautiful Paper Beads

By Brenda Howard


If you are already experienced in making your jewelry, maybe you could consider making it using some other materials. Some you already have in your home, and they can be put in a good use. The good thing about all this is that it might become a great hobby for all your family members as well. This activity is fulfilling, creative and highly addictive, so, everybody loves it.

To start with, almost all materials you can imagine can actually be used for making beautiful and creative jewelry. So, why not make some beautiful paper beads. It sounds strange, but these little things are extremely simple and easy to make, and they are highly attractive, inexpensive and funny. All types of wallpapers, napkins, paper bags and magazines can be used for this purpose.

Except for papers, you will need craft knife and scissors, glue, polish, wooden or metal sticks, cutting mat, ruler, pencil and something with straight edges to cut against. You can also use your knitting needles instead of special sticks, or even bamboo barbecue sticks, why not. And a few softer brushes for applying glue and varnish. And that's it.

The basic principle is to cut one long triangle and roll it around the stick. The base of the triangle will be the width of your finished bead, and the longer the triangle is, the thicker your bead will be. Experiment with different lengths first, to get the idea. Once you choose the proper shape, start with your work.

Apply glue only on the inner side of the triangle, on the whole length or only on a few places. Thickly roll the triangle on the stick. Always put more glue on the end, to make sure the bead will stay firm. The type of glue is also up to you. Some materials work best with different types of glue, and paper napkins can be glued with the mixture of flour and water only.

Once you learn this basic shape, you may start experimenting with different shapes and lengths. For example, it is interesting to use two triangles, just partly overlapping, and roll them together. Or to use different types of materials together, in different colors. In any case, once the bead is done, leave it to dry before applying chosen varnish on it.

Using recycled paper bags is something you just shouldn't miss. These vintage looking beads are especially attractive. There are no limits, you could also use wallpapers, decorative packages, grocery bags, whatever you like. In fact, there are a few types of special Chinese papers designed for this, such as Chiyogami and Washi.

Maybe you would like to use your imagination even more productively. In this case, decorate these triangles before rolling them, using water colors, nail polishes, glitters or whatever. In this case, remember that only the edges will be visible in the end, so paint accordingly. Combine different materials, put them all together and enjoy in your newly discovered creativity.




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