https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/beads-from-recycled-newspaper • Posted by Miss Random
I have made handmade paper a thousand times, and figured the same methods could be used for almost anything, so here goes, my first How-To!!!! (Its Pretty Self Explanitory, but Im taking pictures as I make this batch, so i'll upload them as i go!)
I have made handmade paper a thousand times, and figured the same methods could be used for almost anything, so here goes, my first How-To!!!! (Its Pretty Self Explanitory, but Im taking pictures as I make this batch, so i'll upload them as i go!)
Take a small pile of newspapers from your recycling pile, and rip into small pieces. Pop these into your Mixing Bowl!
Boil the kettle and cover the ripped up pieces of newspaper with water. Leave to soak for an hour or two, keep stirring round (alternatively. you can lend these with a stick blender! Which is much quicker!)
get rid of most of the water (but read step 4 first), and pour in enough glue to ensure all your paper is sticky! (if you are finding it hard, you can add a little bit more water so the glue is runnier...this gets squeezed out in a moment anyways!)
take small handfulls of the mulched up paper and squeeze out the excess water and glue and mould into small balls. (i went for different size ones this time, but if im trying to reglate the size, i like to keep the water ive drained off, just to keep the beads moist!) Place the balls of paper onto your tray and leave to dry for a few days, re moulding the balls every day until they are dry.
sand down the bead till its smooth (or relitively so), otherwise you can leave them, for the bumpy look, sometimes I like to keep a mix of both. Drill a hole through the middle of the beads, big enough to thread your string or ribbon through. You can use a small hand drill or even just the bit from a drill! *the picture shows a sanded bead on the right and one i havent started on on the left, sorry you cant see it too well*
Paint the bead with the craft paint, and varnish! (you can also use acrylic paint, which you wont have to varnish)
Thread, and enjoy!