How To Make Round Paper Beads / Metal Roller

Posted on Dec 10, 2009 in How-To's / Tutorials | 7 comments

I get emails from paper bead enthusiasts on how to achieve a more round paper beads.  So, here it is a vlog I think would explain it best plus a few photos.  Materials are: metal roller or bamboo roller (either one can be purchased at aubreysbeads), Judikin’s Diamond Glaze but you can also use any decoupage medium or mod podge and glossy magazines or catalogs.  Tip:  Rounder (fatter) bead uses a longer strip of triangle paper, magazines usually are 15 inches wide when it is opened, you need to use two of these by gluing them together.

Next step is then to mark both ends, how wide is the base of the triangle determines how big or how wide is your bead.  For the diamond shaped paper beads it is 1/2 inch wide for the smaller round beads it is 1/4 inch wide.  I am showing the illustration on white paper so it shows better.

Here is a close up of one end of the paper.

I used the rollers that we carry in our online shop, but of course you can use whatever you have available, to achieve a smaller hole these tools are great for that.  We actually sell them as kits with strips of paper and glue.

Here is the video

Some samples of finished round beads

I hope you have fun, I welcome any comments, questions, feedback…….

Ethnic Look w/ Paper Beads

Posted on Dec 9, 2009 in Paper Bead Creations | 1 comment

I’ve had this mother of pearl pendant in the form of a lizard for quite sometime and din’t quite know what to do with it.  I was shopping for beads the other day and came across with what look like wood beads, in fact I was told they were wood beads but upon closer examination, I found that they are irregular in shape and has smaller holes just like that of seed beads.  They are very light, weighs almost like nothing.  I just loved them.  After staring at them for quite some time (you know how it is when you are trying to decide on a design), I thought they would be a perfect companion to the diamond shaped paper beads and the lizard mother of pearl pendant.  So, here is the finished necklace.

I made a matching necklace, using the same diamond shaped paper beads.

I think this necklace would look just as cool on a man’s neck, my husband said he would wear it.

Chunky Wood and Paper Beads

Posted on Dec 8, 2009 in Paper Bead Creations | 3 comments

I fell in love with these huge wood beads and because they are light and smooth they are a  good companion to paper beads.  I like the fact that I am able to achieve the look of big and bold but very light and comfortable to wear as jewelry.  To get that earthy look I strung it with the diamond shaped paper beads which has just the mix magazine colors to it.

I made the bracelet with elastic cord and to give it “bling” I strung one big crystal ball and it just made it more fun, I think.

Here it is on the wrist.

And, up close.

I’d say this could take your from day to night 🙂

Paper Beads, Seed Beads and Bugle Beads

Posted on Dec 6, 2009 in Paper Bead Creations | 4 comments

As we are getting ready for an upcoming online shop for paper beads jewelry, I try to make one piece everyday, hopefully enough to fill up the shop with nice jewelry pieces.  So, here is just another version of the 60-inch necklace, which can convert to a choker, bracelet, lariat, belt and anklet.  For those of you DIYer, here is what you need to make one!

Three different size of paper beads for this project I use, olive shaped paper beads, bigger olive shaped paper beads and small round paper beads. Or, you can make your own with the bamboo paper bead roller or the metal paper bead roller.

Some leftover, seed beads and bugle beads of coordinating colors and .7mm elastic cord (for heavier beads use .8mm elastic).

You can come up with a pattern of just string them at random.  I made two 60 inch necklace because it is pretty layered up.

As an anklet.

It’s pretty as a choker

or as a lariat.

I looove wearing this as a bangle

I hope this have inspired you to make one.

A 60-inch Convertible Elastic Paper Beads

Posted on Dec 3, 2009 in Paper Bead Creations | 1 comment

Now  that Christmas is just around the corner, my mailbox is full of catalogs, the ones I don’t want end up as paper beads, one of the catalogs that I keep is the Isabella Catalog (Gifts for Reawakening the Spirit), they have unusual and unique gifts and I just love going through their catalogs and actually look forward to getting them. 

 One of the items they have that caught my eye is the 10-in-1 convertible chain, it is made of glass beads.  I though it would look really nice with the olive shaped paper beads that I have mixed with some seed beads and other rounder shaped paper beads.

It can also be worn as  a head band.

For me, I  like wearing it as a bracelet, coiled several times around your wrist.