The Making of Paper Beads
Making paper beads is a nice hobby for kids and adults alike can be pretty addicting actually. The love of making paper beads and the need to augment their income is how the community of men and women in the Philippines came together to put up this little cottage industry. You have the best of both worlds when you love what you do and get paid doing it. In just less than a year that they have been doing this, the results and the response of the public has been pretty amazing. The following images will give you a glimpse on how paper beads are being mass produced.
Jun cuts the paper in this heavy duty paper cutter
This procedures requires precision and practice. Jun almost cut his finger off when he forgot to put the safety latch on, definitely not for kids!
Strips of paper from magazines neatly cut up ready to be rolled
The bundled strips of paper is then distributed to the workers to be made into paper beads of different shape and sizes.
Joann designs the shapes and sizes of the finished paper beads
Beautiful work! So colorful, and simple. How long does it take to roll one strip of paper into a bead? And how do the beads dry, one by one?
Oh, this paper bead craft is wonderful!
This craft appeals to me because I love
paper – magazines, books, stationery.
I can’t wait to get started.
Love your work very much> The question is also how do you dry so many beads at a time.
Hi Susan,
If you check my article ” Paper bead makers in the Philippines……”, it kind of show you how they hung it up on a long metal pole and it looks like paper bead curtains while drying. It is a lot of work and patience……Janice
What a great use of paper. With this many beads strung up to dry do they dip them in a varnish and if so just once?