MAKING PAPER BEADS - A BLAST FROM MY PAST!

That's right! Did you know you can actually make the coolest looking beads from paper? I started making these when I was young - thanks to a very resourceful mother! She used to come up with some of the best craft ideas and we were always making things...back in the day when kid's played outside all day and didn't watch much television or play video games haha! These fun, colorful, tubular shaped beads are easy to make and can be used for bracelets, necklaces, earrings, eyeglass holders, etc. Here's a quick little tutorial on how to make them...I used to make some of my very first dangly earring designs in 1996 with paper beads and I called them "California Rainbows Collection". Instead of using rolled up magazines, I used watercolor paper and painted my own designs on the paper first and then made the beads. It took a little longer but I always took things one step further!

step 1Selecting your paper and materials to make the bead

First collect the following:

Colorful Magazines, Wrapping Paper, Etc.

A colourful page from a used magazine or an old colourful poster. If you want to make beads of a full colour, you must find a full colour page of poster. For example to get ALL blue beads, pick up a page with photo of the ocean! Vogue and House and Home, or some old teenage music posters are my favorite. The thicker the paper the fatter the bead!
Scissors
Pen
Ruler
Needle or toothpick
Clear varnish - most clear varnishes from local store will do or nail varnish.
Fishing wire/plastic wire or some sort of thread similar width as your needle or toothpick
step 2Measuring and cutting the paper for the bead
This is the part where put your paper down on a flat surface and equip yourself with a pen and a long ruler.
Please refer to the RED triangle in the illustration on the vogue page for these instructions:
Use a normal thin ballpoint pen, not a thick marker!
Mark a 2cm point long from the a top corner at (C) , and a 1cm point along from the bottom corner at (B) . Take your ruler and draw a line from point A to B and C respectively, and you will have drawn a perfect triangle. Continue this routine, until you end up with a zigzaging block of triangles throughout the page.
Cut your triangles neatly out, and discard the uneven one marked blue in the illustration.

PLEASE NOTE:
Measuring your marks on the paper will determine the shape and size of the bead.
Measuring along at 2cm on a page inside a magazine like Vogue will give you an oval, slim type paper bead like this
If you would like a similar shape of bead but longer or shorter, simply increase or decrease the length to 1.5cm or up to 3.5 or 4cm. Simply half the length of A to C to determine point B.

If you would like a round, fat bead like this
you will have to find paper as thick as a poster or front cover of a magazine, and keep the width of the bead to 1.5 - 2cm ONLY. Alternatively you can attempt to double or triple up your paper strips, but this takes time and skill.

If you would like to leave some text of image on your bead, simply cut off the end of the triangle at the point you wish you keep. But, all these special effects will come to you once you get into it, and start experimenting with different types of paper.

If you would like to make tube type beads, simply replace the triangles with simple rectangular strips, easy!
step 3Rolling the Paper Bead
Take your needle, or toothpick. I recommend needle, as the string or thread you string them on (for varnishing) must be equal in width. Starting at the thickest end of the strip, start rolling it tightly around the needle. Using your nails to catch it in at first, ensuring to keep the paper central. Put a dab of glue at the end and press down on it for a few seconds to hold the bead in place. (liquid paper glue works best).
step 4Varnish, leave to dry and finish
Thread all your beads on plastic wire or string. I recommend a thickish plastic, fishing type thread as the beads will slide off easily once dry. Whatever you chose to use, ensure it does not allow for the varnish to seep in and bock the holes. Once fully strung, start varnishing, we use a brush and give them at least 2 coats of varnish. Leave to dry for 2-3 days, and your beads are ready to use!
step 5Make your own jewelry!
Use your beads to make some beautiful lightweight pieces of jewelry, or simply skip all this work and take a pick of loose beads and stunning beaded jewelry designs from online shop!!
'''[ http://mzuribeads.bigcartel.com/
COOL Necklaces you can make with paper beads!
The next time your kids are complaining of boredom; get out your old magazines and show them how to make some beads. They will have a great time!

No time to make your own paper beads?...follow this link to Happy Mango Beads:
Assorted Re-cycled paper beads from Happy Mango
http://www.happymangobeads.com/paper_beads.aspx