In the Mood for Mod Paper Bead Necklace-Softflex Giveaway!

Posted on Jan 11, 2010 in Paper Bead Creations | 10 comments

Sara of Softlex, the number one choice of beaders for their jewelry stringing material was kind enough to donate three spools of Softflex in beautiful hues of greens.  Do you know that they have fun projects and free tutorials on their website?  Check it out at: www.softflexcompany.com.  They came up with beading wire in a rainbow of colors, no need to hide your wire, this is meant to be shown and be a part of your design.  Here is a project idea, that I did with softflex medium in violet color.  Don’t you love the mod colors in this necklace?  I found these beads on sale at Jo-Ann’s fabric store.  The paper beads I used are the diamond shape in coordinating colors and the extra small round beads.

This is the Softlex Trios in Irish greens I am giving away, courtesy of Sara.

Rules?  There are no rules, all you have to do is email me or leave me a comment, just tell me a little bit about yourself.  For inspiration and ideas on how to use the softflex wire,visit them at Softlex

The materials I used for the Mod Paper Bead Necklace are the following:

Softflex medium in amethyst color.  The hot pink looks so pretty too, I’d say it’s cotton candy color.

I used diamond shape and small round paper beads.

Beads in mod colors

Tah Dah….

The Winner for the Tiara Paper Giveaway is Amber.  I appreciate all your comments on my 100th posts.  Thank you.

Cindy’s New Creations

Posted on Jan 9, 2010 in Other Crafts & Crafty People | 6 comments

My earlier post was about Cindy, she loves making paper bead jewelry and gives it away to friends and co workers.  I just want to share with you her newest creations, like me she loves working with paper beads and mixing them with seed beads and stones.  I love how you can take an ordinary piece to extraordinary with paper beads.

In this bracelet, she used the tube shaped paper beads in pink, with matching earrings.

This bracelet is made from magnetic beads which she got from Walmart!  I didn’t even know they sell beads.  She paired it with this blace tone olive shaped paper beads.

Here’s the matching earrings.

This bracelet, is made with small round beads, woven with seed beads and finished off with a toggle clasp.

Would you like your paper bead creations featured here?  I would love to see them.  All you need to do is email me your images and a short description.  Thank you for stopping by, my next post would be using colored softflex.  ‘Til next post…….

The Philippine Scene

Posted on Jan 7, 2010 in Musings | 2 comments

I thought I’d take a break from our usual topic of paper beads, so I’d like to imagine for one moment that I am back in the Philippines known as the Pearl of the Orient and I get to show you the people, places, fruits and the crafts by so many talented Filipinos.  Who am I kidding?  I am still here, on my desk typing away in my lap top, imagining I am there.  I am not complaining, I am lucky to be living in sunny California.  These images, were taken by a good friend of mine Vic Sy,  he decided to take a trip to Philippines and was kind enough to send me images of whatever catches his fancy.

Pottery is one of the cottage industry that turn out nice beautiful pots not only to be used as planters but also as vessel for water that is mostly found in the homes of most folks who lives in the provinces.

The fruits are all year round, having only two seasons of the year, rainy and sunny days.

I could almost taste the mangoes, delicious.

This one is called guayabano, tangy and sweet, great for juice also.

This is the jeepney, preferred means of transportation.

The water buffalo commonly know as carabao, is a farmer’s best friend and a treasured possession.

This is one of old houses, you can still very much see the Spanish influence in the architecture.

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse of the Philippines.  I know there’s a lot of beautiful places to see…..

A Philadelphia Story Made Into Paper Beads

Posted on Jan 7, 2010 in Paper Bead Creations | 1 comment

Do you realize that there a a thousand kind of paper you can turn into paper beads?  One of them are old posters like this one.  The heavier paper gives the bead a little weight and just perfect for a chunkier look.  This poster was passed around by a local college and I just love the color combination and the text of the letters.  I am always collecting beads, charms and pendants be it vintage or from the Dollar Tree, because I know if they strike my fancy somehow I will find a project I can use them for.  Well, this dagger shaped pendant went very well with the paper bead made out of this poster, don’t you think?  This was really simple to make, first I cut out strips of paper (just straight) although some of them I made into cone shape.  And just roll them up!  It is very simple, and the metal paper bead roller, is good for something heavier because it can roll them up really tight.

I think, this is just perfect as a gentleman’s necklace don’t you think?

It would be interesting to know what kind of paper you have made into paper beads?  So, don’t be shy, leave me a comment 😉

Play with Paper Beads and Paper Clay

Posted on Jan 6, 2010 in Other Crafts & Crafty People | 3 comments

I am introduced lately to paper clay, how?  By wandering around craft stores, getting inspired, getting ideas, if you are into all sorts of paper crafts like me you know what I mean.  Creative Paper Clay, is just like any other clay except, it is easier to work with and requires no firing in a kiln or oven.  I like doing things simple and this requires no experience it all.  It is very light when dry, like soft wood.  It is great companion for paper beads and so I made a beaded paper clay bead with small paper beads.

Paper Clay once taken out of the package just looks like dough and it is soft and moist.  I cut out one with a cooker cutter to show you how it looks like unpainted.

You can sand it, and paint it if you like.  What I did with mine is mixed in red acrylic paint to a hue of pink to go with my paper beads.  Here’s an example of other beads I made; I glued crystals on it and varnish it with diamond glaze to make it look like a disco ball and the other one, I crocheted around it, I like it better than crochething around wood or beads, because I can make it any size and color I want.

Here is my paper beaded ball!  I like holding it and rolling it around my hands, I don’t know what to do with it yet, maybe a pendant or something.

I used monofilament string or fishing line so it does not show and strung a red seed bead, 7 small paper beads, a red seed bead and just go around the bead.  For this size of bead which is about, 25 mm I used up 3 strands or 77 small paper beads.

This will be listed on my etsy shop, so someone can make it into a pendant or do something special with it.  I hope this has inspired you to make something with paper beads today.