First, I picked out a paper bag from an ice cream place, a friend visiting brought ice cream cake in this bag:

And no, I did not eat all the ice cream by myself although I am totally capable of doing that, in case you’re wondering it was butter pecan

Second, prepare your work space by covering it with old newspaper and tape it down so it does not move around as you work.

Reminder:  Do not discard the paper, save it for next time.  The more paint gets to it, the nicer it will look and can be used for other projects someday.

Third, gather your paint, glitters if you have some, stencils or stamps, tissue paper or paper towel (which is what I used), brushes and sponges.

Then let the fun begin……

Procedure (in a nutshell): cut the paper bag open and lay it on your table, paint it white or gesso if you have, brush watered down glue on the area you want the separated paper towel (or tissue) to go in,  paint it with layers of different colors (on top would be your dominant color), stencil or stamp with design if you like, paint glitter paint if that is the effect you like on your paper.

Voila! This will make nice scrap book pages or journal pages

I used these paint on it and stencil on the bottom part, I was too lazy to do it all over but I guess it came out better this way.

The ice cream bag was big enough, the small part of it that the paper towel did not cover, I painted it a different color, beige/pinkish tone.

This is about 36 inches (length of the ice cream bag cut open), and cut out three strip of triangles and made it into paper beads!

I imagine a brown paper bag would turn out just as nice.  So go ahead, play……….paint………have fun……

It is called a 4 wire, wire wrapped because you would be using four wires.  Some of the shells I painted them with glitter some, I left it in it’s natural color.

The materials you need: 28 gauge (small and lightweight like sea urchin), 26 gauge for most shells, 24 gauge for heavier objects.  A round nose pliers for curling the excess wire and a flush cutter.

You can put beads like pearls or paper beads which what I did in some of the shells I wrapped. The second part of the video is making the bail and finishing off the ends.

They are great for pendants and for me a good accompaniment with paper beads.  Why?  Paper beads look a lot like shells, don’t you think?

I had fun taking pictures of them by the beach, and this little guy almost got away from me, I had to fish it out of the water

One of the things I did that came out really nice is the ammonite, I don’t know if I can part with it.

I experimented and crocheted at the base of this turbo shell, and I just love also the lacy effect of the crocheted wire – for crochet, you need to use the 28 gauge wire.

The measurement for the triangles is 1/2 inch at the base and 14 inches long, the size of a long bond paper.

Here’s the video……

They look like spotted eggs, don’t you think?

I think this can be made into a guys necklace with black beads.

Perfect jewelry to go with the black and white outfit!

And the fun part, is turning it into wearable art   Another day of turning the ordinary to extraordinary.

I did the measurements on the back of the poster; the base is 1/2 inch and the triangles will look like this before you cut them up:

Then you cut them up into strips, you can use scissors or exacto knife

And then you start rolling as shown here:

An then you let them dry on tooth picks and take pictures

And the fun part, making them into jewelry, that would have to be another day.

Here’s Kayla with a video on how she attached the dangles to the bracelet finding.

It is a perfect match to our Sea Anemone Ring

Winner for the paper bead lucky charm bracelet  is Amy, and strand of green paper beads goes to Elim and Eveline.  Please email your addresses guys!

This ring is made with the small round paper beads.

You can also try and wire wrap the dangles into the ring loop finding instead of the rosary loop.

I hope you have fun this week end making these rings.

Thanks for visiting……..

The materials are:  paper bead tubes, softflex (medium), magnetic clasp and jump rings.  Tools: flush cutter and chain nose pliers.

Here’s the video tutorial:

Tah dah

It also looks nice when you wear two

Here is Kayla with a video tutorial

Tip:  You have to end and tie your elastic with a larger hole bead, in this case a paper bead, this way you can hide your elastic knot inside that bead.

I’m so happy to see some happy blooms….

You still have some colorful left over eye beads and crystals for your next project.

We have a video tutorial for you, you can apply the same technique to bigger paper bead tubes as well, outcome would be a big flower.

Here it is as a ring

As a scissor keeper, my neighbor Sue came up with the idea!

Other ideas: earrings and hair pins

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.

Wish I may….wish I might…….