How-To’s / Tutorials

Step-by-step tutorials about how to make custom paper beads and paper bead jewelry of all kinds!

Paper Bead Origami Star-Studded Earrings

Posted on Feb 28, 2010 in How-To's / Tutorials | 2 comments

I remember making the origami stars as a kid, it is one project that kids will be good at.  It is not a new thing, there are a lot of tutorials on the internet on how to make the origami star.  I am always interested with anything paper that I can incorporate into my paper bead jewelry.  Possibilities are endless when it comes to paper bead jewelry, it is always fun and definitely a conversation piece.  So, here is my version of the origami star strung on a wire which I made into earrings – materials are: 1 strand of 4mm paper beads, origami star, 4mm bicone swarovski, ear wire finding and diamond glaze.

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How to:

You can find many ways to use them, as a dangle attached to a book mark finding or a 3d decoration on a card would be pretty also.  It would be a nice way also to tell someone that they are the “star” in your life.

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Wish I may….wish I might…….

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Wire Wrapped Paper Bead Tube Necklace

Posted on Feb 24, 2010 in How-To's / Tutorials | 3 comments

There’s so much inspiration around us that can be interpreted in a jewelry design.  Something, someone can spark your interest and gets you motivated.  My home is full of stuff collected over the years; books, magazines, fabric, yarn, boxes…..anything that I think I can use someday.  Once in a while I try to organize and clean up or I could end up on that television show.  But, this is where I get my inspiration.  I may not need that piece of ribbon or box now but I can assure you  I will find use for it someday.  One of my source of inspiration is my collection of old books.  I have a book which I “thrifted” few years ago, 400 Outstanding Women of the World and Costumulogy of Their Time by Minna M. Schmidt.  The stories of these women are just fascinating and inspiring.

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On the first page of the book you will see Pocahontas and it tells you a brief story about her and it even has her picture on it !

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Every one of these women featured in this book has an image of her.  The story they tell is fascinating and awe-inspiring.  You will find on page 190 Barbara Uttman (1514-1575) of Germany.  She founded the lace industry in her community.  It was told that at her wedding she presented her groom a set of cuffs of Cluny lace that she made.  She taught lace making and provided jobs to ten thousand lace workers both men and women.  Barbara Uttman’s motto still lives among her countrymen, “Great Thoughts Come From The Heart.”

In Honor of her, I made this necklace out of paper bead tubes and paper clay.  I love working with paper clay, it  air dries overnight and lightweight just like the paper beads.  All I did was copy her image and set it on the paper clay with diamond glaze.

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I then applied gold leaf on the sides to give it that antiquey look.

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Here’s a video on how to wire wrapped paper bead tubes.  Instead, of using bead caps I wire wrapped the top part and bottom part of the paper beads to cover the holes.

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Paper Bead Dangle Earrings

Posted on Feb 22, 2010 in How-To's / Tutorials | 4 comments

I was invited to a friend’s birthday and we had so much fun making the paper bead jewelry to match our outfit.  Using paper beads in jewelry makes the finished piece more interesting, unique and different.  I’m on sort of a mission to prove a point-paper beads jewelry can be elegant and fashionable.  I made chandelier earrings out of olive shaped paper beads.

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The materials for this project are: 1 1/2 inch 22 gauge head pins, 4mm bicone crystals, 5mm spacers and olive shaped paper beads.

Kayla made her earrings out of red olive shaped paper beads to match her dress and the necklace was just strung on elastic, easy breezy.

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Paper Beads Made From Cat Litter Bag

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in How-To's / Tutorials | 5 comments

Paper beads can be made not just from news paper, magazines and catalogs but also wrappings and bags from things we use at home like cat litter bags.  There might me some hesitation for some of you to try to cut your own paper beads thinking that you would have to measure everything  to be exact and proportioned.  While some of us might want to measure our triangle paper to be an exact triangle,  I think it is more fun to just cut your strips of triangles randomly or free form style.  I love the idea of “freeforming” (if there is such a word everything); embroidery, knitting, crochet……

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You will need a yard stick, or a really long measuring stick, cutting mat and a cutter.  It is a challenge for me to take pictures of each step, so here’s video.

Here’s the strips of paper that we have cut from the cat litter bag.  If you want your beads to be round and of uniformed shape then I suggest that you measure them.

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What to do next?  The fun part!  Rolling them into paper beads.  I used the metal paper bead roller and coated it with diamond glaze.

Here’s another video demonstration.

I did a few of them and part of the fun is finding out how they turned out.  I will be able to make so many beads from just that one cat litter bag.  I love the color of these beads, don’t you?

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