How to Make Paper Beads Easily with Kids
Learn How to Make Paper Beads easily with kids and create amazing jewelry or beaded curtains. Use colorful recycled or new paper to make your own awesome paper beads!
Servings: 1 paper bead bracelet
Cost: $1
Equipment
- Bead roller A bead roller tool is optional.
Ingredients
- scrapbook paper, magazine pages, and recycled paper
- round toothpick, bamboo skewer, or straw
- School glue, Mod Podge or Tacky Glue
- Scissors or Paper cutter
- Bracelet needs (optional) extra beads, clasp, needle, and heavy duty thread.
Instructions
Cutting the paper bead paper
- The paper will be cut end to end the long direction (11.5 inches long) in the following way. Measure one inch from the edge (end 1) and draw a line from that mark to the corner of the paper on the other end (end 2). This will create a long, narrow triangle shape. Then measure one inch from the corner of end 2 and draw a line back to the mark you made one inch from the edge of end 1. This will create a second long, narrow triangle shape. Cut these apart on the lines with a scissors or with a paper cutter. Repeat to make two more long, narrow triangle shaped pieces of paper.
Forming Your Rolled Paper Beads
- To form the paper bead you will be wrapping it from the larger end to the point of the triangle paper. Wrap the bead paper around a toothpick or bamboo skewer to shape it and to keep a hole in the center so it can be strung on a string.The toothpick makes a slightly tighter bead but may be harder to roll in your fingers. Try creating a bead with both the toothpick and skewer and see what you prefer.Start with the wide end of the paper and begin wrapping it around the toothpick (or skewer). Roll the paper up keeping the rolled area centered between the ends of the paper so it wraps evenly.Glue the tip of the paper down to the rolled bead. Then spread a bit of glue over the rest of the bead to keep it in shape. Stick the end of the toothpick into a chunk of foam, an egg carton, or a paper box to keep it upright while the bead is drying. Let it set for a few minutes to dry.Coat it again with School glue or Mod Podge for a protective coating. Let this dry.
Paper Bead Jewelry
- Thread a needle with a heavy duty thread. String the paper beads and other beads to a length that fits on your wrist.Tie a clasp to one end of the bracelet and a ring to the other end of the bracelet. Put the thread back through a few of the beads and then clip the extra thread.For matching paper bead earrings you would need head pins, ear wires and may use some small extra beads too.
Video
Notes
Craft tips and variations can be found on the website.