“Who Are the People In Your Neighborhood?”

Posted on Nov 6, 2009 in Events and Experiences | Comments Off on “Who Are the People In Your Neighborhood?”

I have a guest blogger today, Kayla Gahuman of Aubrey’s a nice little shop which carries beads, gem stones, findings and our paper beads! 

Aubrey’s Beads is located right in the middle of Glendora’s Historic Downtown. Our little downtown is full of unique shops, boutiques and resturaunts.

Welcome to Downtown Glendora!

Not only is our little downtown a fun and relaxing place to spend your free time, it is also very beautiful.

Our mainstreet is lined with these georgeous Gum-Drop Trees

Here are some of the shops along Glendora Ave.

This is the Glendora Plaza Promanade

.. where Aubrey’s is located!

This is a little friend that I found sunbathing in front of our store 🙂

Our Downtown is very active within the community and always seems to host different events.

This year’s “Trick O Treat” event in our downtown was a hit

Here are some pictures of our Little Trick O Treaters!!!

The Annual Holiday Stroll is coming up as well, with the “Tree Lighting Ceremony”, November 20th 2009, 6pm-9pm

Metal Paper Bead Roller by Nem

Posted on Nov 5, 2009 in Events and Experiences | 7 comments

His full name is Nemesio, shortened by family and friends to Jun (for Junior) or Nem for Nemesio, his first name.  He came up with coated metal roller with bamboo handles to make paper bead making a lot easier.  We are still making the all bamboo roller (original), but if you want to make the small rounder shaped paper beads, Nem would suggest to use the metal roller with the bamboo handles.

The strip of triangle shaped paper should be longer and only about 1/4 inch wide at the base.  I would like to demonstrate how to measure and cut the paper in next post.

My Joan tied pink ribbons around it to show her “pink” side.  Leave me a comment or email me if you know someone whose life is touched by breast cancer and I would gladly send them one.

Think Pink Bead Rehab Giveaway

Posted on Nov 2, 2009 in Paper Bead Creations | 1 comment

The Rock Candy Paper Bead bracelets I have on etsy is one of my best selling items and I get a lot of emails asking me for a less expensive alternative for the crystals that are used.  In one of my trips to the local thrift store I found some fun necklaces that are made of lucite and plastic beads and one of them is made of pink plastic bead with a nugget shape to it.  I don’t think I want to wear the necklace by itself, so I took it apart and mix it with paper beads to give it “character”.  I love the finished bracelets, they look chunky but light.

I picked this one.

Tah dah!

Looks good enough to eat.

I would like to give this away to someone you know whose life is touched by breast cancer.  All you have to do is drop me a comment (who is it for) or  email me.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday.

From Magazine Pages to Wearable Art

Posted on Oct 30, 2009 in How-To's / Tutorials | 6 comments

Many of you have e-mailed me on how to cut paper into triangle strips ready for making beautiful paper beads. When I started experimenting on how to make paper beads I get frustrated when I get those odd shape looking ones. One day, as I was opening a package from my sister (she ships on a regular basis paper beads that they have made), there was a small pouch tucked in containing different odd shaped paper beads. She had a note for me that these are “rejects” but she did not have the heart to throw them away. They were beautiful, there’s one that’s shaped like a bell, a Christmas tree, a bottle, an egg and they are all unique. So, even if you don’t cut a perfectly proportioned triangle don’t despair this will add character to your jewelry:) Anyway, here is a video on how to cut them into strips of triangles.

The paper beads in this necklace were made from Recycled Avon Magazines.

How To Make Paper Beads w/ a metal roller

Posted on Oct 29, 2009 in How-To's / Tutorials | 5 comments

There are several ways you can make paper beads, rolling paper with a metal roller (available for purchase from Aubrey’s Beads, just $12, sold as kit)  is just one of them.  I like using them because the holes is not as large compared to paper beads made on a dowel or a skewer.  I had this specially made with a bamboo holder, you get a good grip of the roller this way.   The materials you need are the following and for instructions, please watch the video.

Strips of old magazines cut into triangles

I am using Diamond Glaze to glue the paper and also as glaze/top coat.  I like using Diamond Glaze because it gives it a glossy finish and it dries quickly.

Here is the how-to video:

Get inspired and make some beautiful paper beads.