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All my projects are really simple. If I can do it, you can do it. Give yourself more credit than you do and just get out there and try it. My projects don’t always turn out wonderful. But I keep trying until they do. That being said…

I have been fascinated by paper beads lately. So I googled (don’t you love how that is now a verb?) paper beads and found a plethora of yumminess out there. So I tried my hand at them and lookie what I made. It is just what everyone in the world wants…Infarrantly Creative earrings! 🙂
The main inspiration for today’s project came from this beauty found on Paperbeads.org.

Can you believe that is paper? I was particularly fond of the beads with words on it. My mind swirled with different word combinations. Do you want to know how I did it?

Supplies:
Large Daisy Spacer Beads (2)
2″ Head Pin
Small silver beads (2)
Paper strips with words printed on them
Mod Podge
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
Tooth pick
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Paintbrush
Ear Wires (for earrings)
Jump Rings (for necklace)

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.

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).

3. Then just roll the bead up tightly making sure it stays as even and taut as possible. I used a toothpick to help aid in this process.

4. Next I used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (or JudiKins Diamond Glaze) and with a small paint brush I coated the beads with two coats (allowing proper dry time between coats).

Here they are after one coat waiting to be doused in that scrumptious stuff again. The dimensional magic gives it a glass like appearance…all shiny and blingy. I LOVES IT!

5. After they were completely dry I grabbed some basic beading supplies (two silver beads, one 2″ headpin and two end caps) 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 your husband’s needle nose pliers, they will work in a pinch too.

Here is a video tutorial on how to do the loop.

I was not a huge fan of the end cap beads I used on the “Isaac and Kayla” charms so I went to Joann’s and purchased those large daisy spacers I used in the earrings.
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 and add your charm and then close them.
Cost:
I used all products purchased from Joann Fabrics. Most of the supplies I had on hand but these are the prices on them. (These prices below are all retail prices but of course I used a 40% coupon on all of them).

Pack of Headpins: $3
Small pack of silver beads $2
Pack of Large Daisy Spacers: $3
Pack of Ear wires: $3
Mod Podge or Royal Coat Dimensional Magic: $3.59

I could make 16 charms out of all the supplies (with lots of the findings left over) making them less than $1 a charm. I am thinking necklaces, earrings, zipper pulls, and charm bracelets.

So, are you going to try it? Come on, you can do it. If you make them please let me know I would love to see them!

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51 Comments

  1. This is just too awesome. I bead all the time and make tons of jewelry… I've never thought of this. I know what I'm doing this weekend! Thanks, Becky!!

  2. You can't even be serious?!?! This is darling. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

  3. If this just isn't adorable and creative I don't know what is!
    I love em'! ~Beautiful. 🙂

  4. Hi again ~ in response: I used mod podge as a sealer… I was afraid it would stay too tacky but surprisingly it didn't stay tacky at all.. so I've used it as a sealer to a lot of projects since then.

    Also I had to turn on the word verification because I kept getting spam comments from a less than desirable non family appropriate site and they always included a link to some *nasty* sites! 🙁 there are some sicko people out there!

  5. I remember making these in high school out of magazines – but these look much nicer 🙂
    And I can't believe I don't own any Mod Podge – I need to get some.

  6. That is too cool that it is made from paper.
    If I had more time, I would definitely be making this.

    Hmmm….maybe I'll have to use that as my Christmas gifts this year.

  7. Oh my gosh – that's awesome. Who would of thought you could make something like that out of paper & have them be so pretty!? Thanks for sharing. Now, to find the time to attempt it … 🙂

  8. You would never guess that those beads are made from paper. It's pretty amazing what the dimension Modge Podge adds. What a fun project!

  9. Neat project!!! It looks like something you'd find in a jewelry boutique. 🙂

  10. I'm a day late but wanted to wish you a happy SITS day! Very cute jewelry, you're so creative!

  11. Hi! I'm stopping over from SITS today, not yesterday. It would be cool if I was stopping by yesterday though, because that would mean I could travel through time. Um, anyway, I'm happy to have found you because I'm really trying to be more crafty, and I need some help. A lot of help. Clearly.

  12. How cute is that. That would be great for mothers, grandmothers, with children or grandchildrens names on them. I love the necklace and hard to believe that is paper. Very infarrantly creative earrings! Have a great weekend. Jackie

  13. Those are awesome.
    missed yesterday. will have to go back and check it all out.
    that's a lot of comments!!

    blessings
    barbara jean

  14. Once again, you prove to be very creative.

    Say hello to your mother for me….
    she'll remember my name. LOL

  15. Oh my gosh these are SO CUTE! And I think MAYBE I can actually do this and have them turn out well enough to give as gifts – exciting! I found you on SITS and I'm so glad I did!

  16. these are so neat! thanks for taking us through it step by step. I create custom needlepoint pillows of people's pets. That may sound crafty but it's not working with wee things with your hands…stopping by from SITS, congrats on your day. I intend to stop in again!

  17. Cute. I've been looking for a different kind of "mommy necklace"… maybe I will have to make one. : ) These are really cute, and easy enough I'm sure you made like 50 today. : )

  18. These are awesome! What a wonderful gift idea!

    Thanks for the great tutorial too!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Roeshel

  19. Beckie, I sent a link to your blog to my friends who live in Haiti… they are teaching ladies how to make jewelry to support their families, and are trying to find creative ways to use garbage as beads. Thanks for the great tutorial! 🙂

    http://www.apparentproject.org is their website if you're interested.

  20. wow I am going to have to try to make me some of the earings. keep up the great job. your site is amazing. your step by step is easy to understand, oh and Congrats on being the blog of the day yesterday on SITS….stopping by from SITS….have a great day…

  21. Those are super cute and easy! I may have to try this. I've been wanting to try out jewelry…this would be a great way to start!!

  22. Hey there! I really love this project! I posted your chandelier today! Many thanks! 🙂

  23. OMG!!! This has got to be the coolest idea ever!!! I never would have thought those were made out of paper. Thanks for sharing! I know what my next project will be!!!

  24. Thank you for your wonderful post, and for sharing the "newspaper beads" link with your readers. I love how your creations came out! Bravo!

    Pearl Sanborn – aStorybookLife.com

  25. This post gave me an idea for another project. I tried to find Mod Podge Dimensional at Michaels today, but they didn't have it. The guy that worked there looked at me like I had three heads when I asked him if they carried it. Guess I'll have to check Hobby Lobby. Where did you get yours?

  26. I am SO frustrated. My girls and I want to do this project and have everything but the Dimensional Magic. We cannot find it anywhere. We only have a Michael's and Hobby Lobby fro craft stores and neither one has even HEARD of it.

    Any suggestions? We want to make the earrings for the aunt's and grandmas for christmas so we are getting desperate. The project looks great though and we can hardly wait to get started.

  27. I design paper beads and sell on Etsy @ Passion For Paper Beads. I love your word beads, well done! You can also make a tube bead (card stock works well) then print words on copy paper tear them out and glue on to the face of the tube bead. I love to use Copic markers to edge the word paper too.

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