Paper beads are really fun to make. Elementary age kids love doing this project as well as high school students. It is a pretty versatile and fun craft to do for an afternoon. It would also be an awesome gift for Christmas. I am always trying to encourage my kids to hand make gifts so this is right up their alley. You can personalize these paper beads with a name, date, special word, etc. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Supplies:
Paper cutter or scissors
Small silver beads
Paper strips with words printed on them
Tooth pick
1. Print out text making sure your paper is on the landscape setting. My words are a size 12 font. Then cut them into 1/2″ strips with a paper cutter or scissors.
2. Flip the strips of paper over and spread a thin, even coat of Mod Podge on it (you could use any type of adhesive). Make sure you leave a small end without Mod Podge on it to start it on the toothpick.
3. Then just roll the bead up tightly making sure it stays as even and as taut as possible. Tip: Make sure no Mod Podge touches the toothpick or you won’t be able to get the bead off. Ideally you want to be able to move the bead around on the toothpick easily as you are gluing.
4. Let it dry. Next I used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, and with a small paint brush, I coated the beads with two coats (allowing proper dry time between coats).
The dimensional magic gives it a glass like appearance…all shiny and blingy.
5. After they were completely dry I grabbed some basic beading supplies (two silver beads, one 2″ headpin and two daisy spacers) and I made little paper bead charms using some jeweler’s pliers.
Note: You may need to sand the bottom of the bead lightly if you did not roll it perfectly even so it lays flat against the spacer bead.
If you are new to beading and don’t have jeweler’s pliers just use needle nose pliers, they will work in a pinch too.
Here is a video tutorial how to do the loop.
If you are making the charms into a necklace then add jump rings and string them on a necklace or cording. If you are making earrings then just open up the ring on your earring wires and add your charm and then close them.
For more jewelry tutorials click the pictures below to be taken directly to the post.
This post originally appeared on a post in 2009.
