"A blog dedicated to the art of making paper beads & paper bead jewelry...by Janice Mae"
Paper Bead Ladder Bracelet
- Paper bead tube (aubreysbeads.com) in festive colors
I used clam tips to secure the ends and finished it off with the magnetic closure for convenience. This is a bracelet is meant to last longer than the elastic counterpart.
Redk, White and Blue paper beads (aubreysbeads.com)
Here is another version of it in black and white:
Black and white paper bead tubes (aubreysbeads.com)
Newspaper Beads
Spherical Shaped Beads from Newspaper
I came accross a really cool blog on turning newspaper into spherical shaped beads – A Story Book Life. I tried to make some, did some trial and error and learned from other people’s comments, mistakes. After several tries, this is how they look like. I would like to share with you how I made mine:
1st Step – you gather newspaper and tear them to tiny bits and pieces, I happen to have the shredder that shreds the paper criss cross and this shreds the paper almost to a pulp. 2nd Step – you boil water and pour it on the shredded paper, just a small amount to start with. 3rd step- you let the paper soak in hot water and try to break them down even more with your hands, I find it so much easier to just use a blender. 4th step – Squeeze the water from the paper and put it in a bowl, then start mixing it with your glue. You can make glue with cornstarch which is what I did or store bought glue. 5th step – you start shaping them into balls and let it harden overnight. The next day, I poke each one with toothpick and let it dry some more. You would like to turn the toothpick from time to time to make sure they do not stick and also reshape the balls as it dries.
The unfinished news paper bead
After they dry and make sure they are hard enough, mine took about two days to dry outside. This is a very time consuming project but the result is a very unique piece of jewelry. After they dry you sand them with fine sand paper or a nail file will also work. And then the fun part; painting it. Helen, the lady who first made this project suggest that for a nicer effect you paint it again after sanding it to give it that mottled color.
The result after sanding and painting twice with another color
I find it easier to just drill holes in them after they dry. Drilling sounds intimadating but it’s not, just use your husband’s drill, and choose the tiniest bit. If not, use the toothpick while drying. And now, you are ready to string your beads into a necklace or bracelet. I would like to try them in gold color or silver, that would come out nice. Mix them with beads that you have.
The finished news paper beads ready for stringing
Paper and Pearls Three Strand Necklace
Paper beads and glass pearls make such an elegant combination. The unique color of the paper beads used for this project, which is an off white or beige color about 7mm in size (Buy Paper Beads) combined with swarovski glass pearls and pink seed beads, look so feminine together.
Three Strand Paper Bead Necklace
The paper beads have bigger holes and would need spacers like silver spacers, metal beads or seed beads in size 80 or 60.
7-8 mm paper beads (aubreysbeads.com) and swarovski pearls
This can also be made in a single strand or two strand with different color seed beads.
Paper Beads and Glass Pearls 3 strand Necklace
Memory Wire Paper Bead Bracelet
Memory wire bracelet with 7mm paper beads (aubreysbeads.com)
7 coils for 7 days paper bead bracelet
Paper beads in 5-7 mm mixed with seed beads
Paper Bead Neck Wire Necklace
Paper Bead Neck wire necklace w/ hammered silver pendant
You can use different size of smaller paper beads it does not have to be the olive shaped as long as they are small. You can also substitute the swarovski crystals for other crystals or beads.
Paper Bead Neckwire using Memory wire necklace
When you cut the memory wire from the coil, it is hard and stiff and would seem to be too small for the neck. You can relax the wire by just gently pulling it apart, until it becomes bigger, enough to fit around the neck.
Memory wire necklace using paper beads
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