Touch-points On How To Make Paper Beads

By Matthew Bennett


There are a lot of fun things people can do when at home, particularly easy craft. This includes making good things out of junk. Below are some steps on how to make paper beads out of junk materials. Tools needed include glue, scissors, pencil or pen, varnish, ruler, string, an assortment of papers, paper plate, and dowel or toothpick

Step one is to cut triangles out of colored magazines, newspapers or construction papers using a pair of scissors or a craft knife. The triangles should be long. One can use a paper template to guide him or her in the cutting. The width of a bead is usually the base of the triangle. You then draw on each cut-out your design using pens, pencils or markers. Your design should be focused on the outermost edges and the paper tips since they are the only ones which can be visible. You then add a bit of glue to the sharp end.

Step two is to use a toothpick, dowel or bamboo skewer to roll the triangle round itself to make a cylinder, starting from the broad end. If you want a free-form design, you can let the triangle roll a little off-centered or if you want a proportioned spiral, let the triangle become centered. Hanging space should be avoided by rolling your beads firmly for long-lasting products. You can apply glue at intervals to ensure you paper does not roll out.

The third step is to stick the rolled piece to the tip of the triangle and ensure it stays tightly rolled. Before rolling the bead on your finger, make sure the end of the piece is stuck down, used light pressure to ensure that it is cylindrical and protected. If it does not stick tightly, apply another glue and hold the bead for a while to let the glue set.

After the glue is dry, apply varnish to the strip to make it water resistant. You can then roll it around the bamboo skewer to ensure that it does not stick when it is totally dry. Do not let the glued piece stick onto something else. You might consider putting your toothpick in a pincushion to prevent it from touching anything else. Foam can also be used to push off the more glue.

After the beads are dry and the varnish is well set, remove them from the dowel and place them in strings. Sliding the beads off the cocktail stick is a safe way of removing the beads and ensuring the safety of your work. If some items untie, it shows that the paper was not wrapped or glued well. Think of putting them back to the cocktail stick and add more glue. Leave them to dry for some more hours.

The other step is to ensure you wipe out traces of glue before you start making another bead to prevent it from sticking out. After completion of the above steps, you are now in a position to create long strings and use them to make bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and home decors. Decorate your beads by adding glitter and paint on them.

A keen follow on this procedure gives you fine results as the items are delicate at times. They can also be used to make earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. You can also decorate your house with them. This is considered a good way of conserving the environment.




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