Paper Beads

a simple way to add some color to your outfit.

Posted by Kriskat

About

I recently brought this really paper bead bracelet at lunch at my school for five bucks to support women in Uganda. I started to really think about how they made them. I experimented and researched until I found the right way to make a tubular, shiny paper bead.

Share

You Will Need (10 things)

  • Pen
  • 1 Hard Working Surface
  • Scissors
  • in place of diamond glaze Clear Nail Polish use as glue and varnish
  • Diamond Glaze
  • Thin Paint Brush
  • Colorful Magazine Pages
  • 1 Measuring Tape Or Ruler
  • thin Metal Rod in place of plastic q-tip tube
  • with plastic tubes Q Tips

Steps (12 steps, 10 minutes)

  1. 1

    gather your materials.

  2. 2

    1) take your magazine cut out and turn it over to the unwanted side. this is where you will be drawing your outline.

  3. 3

    2) using a long, thin triangle template, draw the outline.

  4. 4

    3) cut out the triangle and save the other pieces for future beads.

  5. 5

    4) take either the plastic q- tip tube or the metal rod and start rolling, using the fatter part of the triangle as you start to roll. make sure you use both hands.

  6. 6

    5) keep rolling (tightly) until you have about two inches of paper left. again, use both hands.

  7. 7

    6) while still holding the paper in place, coat the underside of the remaining two inches of paper in clear nail polish or diamond glaze. (I used nail polish. you can also use some sort of clear glue).

  8. 8

    7) continue to tightly roll the paper, making sure to clean off any excess glue/nail polish. I used one hand to turn the rod (to roll the paper) and the other hand (using the thumb on the paper) to press down tightly while it is being rolled to ensure a tight bead and a secure gluing. this also helps get rid of the excess glue/polish.

  9. 9

    8) if you want your bead to be waterproof and have a spectacular shine, take your glaze or nail polish and gently coat the bead by gently rotating the rod with one hand while applying the glaze with the other.

  10. 10

    9) let the glaze dry for a bit on the rod, and slowly slide it off, using your thumb to ease the bottom of the bead up towards the end of the rod, and the other hand ready at the end to gently grab the top of the bead to prevent the glaze from messing up.

  11. 11

    10) slide the bead onto a pin with a long shaft (ha ha ha) and a big pin top. stick the pin into something like a styrofoam cone to let the bead dry completely.

  12. 12

    after you are sure your bead is dry, take it off the come, remove it from the pin and enjoy!