Recycled Paper Beads

How to make beads with recycled paper.

What you need

Any type of paper: newspaper, sheet music, copy paper, flyers
White glue
A bamboo skewer, (or other round object to roll the paper onto)
A large paint brush
Craft paint, your choice of colors

Instructions

This jewelry making project shows you how to make your own beads using recycled paper and junk mail.

1.  Place a sheet of paper on a flat surface, with a bamboo skewer placed on the paper.

Fold the paper over the skewer about 1 inch, and roll the paper for about 2 inches, just to condition the  paper.

2.  Unroll the paper, and brush white glue over the entire surface of the paper, but not under the 1 inch fold.  If you get glue in that area, the roll will be stuck to the skewer, and you will never get it off!

 

3.  Roll the paper into a tight roll. Don’t worry about wrinkles!

 

4.  Once the paper is rolled, roll it back and forth on a flat surface, as you would a rolling pin, to flatten out any wrinkles.  But don’t worry too much about wrinkles, it adds character to the beads.

 

5.  If you are using the paper as is, with newsprint words, or music sheets, or decorative papers, allow to  dry (or speed in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time).  Once dry, varnish the entire roll.

 

(To cut the roll into beads, when the roll is only slightly dried, remove the roll from the skewer, and cut with heavy duty scissors into the lengths you desire, then place them back on the skewer, roll again on  a flat surface to restore the shape, and allow the beads to dry.  If you have left the roll to dry for too  long, and it is too difficult to cut with scissors, cut with a razor knife, or a small saw.  Sometimes a sharp steak knife or bread knife will also work.)

 

6.   Painting the beads:  The best way to paint your beads is to paint them a solid color first.  Paint the entire rolled sheet of paper while it is on the skewer.(Or if they are cut out individually, place them back on the skewer to paint multiples of matching beads.)  If you are making multiples of beads to have on  hand, paint some rolls black and some white, then later you can easily decorate them as dark beads or light  beads by spattering them with different colors (or dabbing, or stroking).

 

Then place them on a protected surface, with a drop cloth, or a plastic grocery bag to catch the spatters.

Load paint onto a paint brush, and spatter, or splash, or dab, or stroke colors of paint onto the roll.

Metallic gold and metallic silver will add shimmer to the beads.  It is also attractive to paint a row of metallic paint on the top and bottom edges of the bead.  Once dry, varnish, and cut into individual  beads. (For great, glossy finish beads, use clear nail polish as a finish coat).  A  black  permanent      marker can be used to color the exposed paper on the ends of the beads, or  brush the ends with paint.

 

7.  Assemble the beads on a stretch cord, interspersed with purchased beads as shown in this design.

Then if you wish dangles, place beads onto headpins, and attach onto the stretch cord between the beads.

Make earrings to match your bracelet or necklace!  String beads onto headpins, and attach to ear wires.

Looking for more Jewelry making tutorials and projects? Check out our DIY Jewelry Making Blog