Now for the third week I have been experimenting with paper beads. This week I experimented with using brown paper as in paper bags and brown paper wrap. It began when I was at the Cape house and my sister had covered a counter with brown paper to protect it while contractors were there doing work. I was in charge of removing it. I went to throw it away and realized it might work for beads that I could paint. To start though let me share some finished products from beads I made last week. Here is the bracelet I made from the map beads.
I love how it came out. This was simple rolled rectangles and then I glued them to bead caps. The maps were scraps of paper from map posters sold at Paper Source. I also made a round bead necklace with the beads made from a 2017 Paper Source Calendar.
One of my goals this week was to try the diablo shaped bead. I followed the tutorial over at Fun Crafts to Do at Home. I played with the dimensions of the paper to get different beads. I really discovered for all beads the dimensions make a huge difference. After playing a bit with the sizes I decided to start with 3/4-inch-wide rectangles. I used the brown paper from the counter and folded it in half. The length of the rectangles is approximately 11 inches. From the rectangle you cut a triangle down the middle. The goal is to have it be isosceles, but it doesn't always come out pretty. I used a rotary cutter that I have for paper projects.
The tool I have been using is a wider quilling tool. I got it with a set of quilling tools and wondered why anyone would want such a wide center and I discovered it is perfect to make the holes in paper beads.
In the tutorial over at Fun Crafts to Do at Home she said to begin rolling and when you get to the separate parts to start with the outer side first. You put your finger on the edge to try to keep it even on the edge.
When you get near the tip you put glue on it and then finish rolling it and secure the glue. Then you roll the other side in a similar fashion.
Once the beads are rolled it was time to paint them. I decided to use a pearlized green paint. I used an empty box and punched holes in it with my bamboo skewers. Then I put two beads on each skewer and a small piece of masking tape in between the beads.
I painted the beads and then stuck the skewer into one of the holes in the recycled box.
I painted them with two coats and then after those had dried, I sprayed them with Mod Podge. After they were done, I strung them as a necklace and a matching bracelet with a silver multifaceted bead in between the beads. I have a few green beads left and am considering making a pair of earrings to complete the set.
After being successful with the 3/4-inch beads I decided to try the half-inch beads again. This time I used a brown bag that I got when I bought a burrito for lunch. It is seven inches wide. So my rectangles were 1/2-inch by about 7-inches. I painted these ones pink. I first did a pale pink undercoat and then topped it with the pearlized pink. I strung these with small clear/mirror-like beads that my mother gave me when she downsized.
I made enough beads to make another bracelet and strung them with turquoise beads (8 mm) as well.
I also decided to roll the isosceles triangles I cut out of the rectangles into beads. Depending on the size of the triangle you can get a round bead, or you can get a tubular or oblong bead. The dimensions of these triangles give the tubular ones.
Since I have two different sizes of triangles I got two different sized beads. The larger beads I painted some purple and some blue. The purple ones I strung into a necklace with 8mm pink glass beads.
The smaller beads I painted yellow. I even made some rolled rectangle beads from the sides of the paper bag and painted them yellow. I made a bracelet of the blue and yellow beads. It reminds me of my father since these are his favorite colors.
I had more blue beads and thought they would look cool with pearls. I bought some 6mm pearls and made another bracelet with them.
For my bracelets I used 1 mm thick elastic clear cord. For my necklaces I used beading wiring and added clasps. I keep getting compliments on my jewelry when I wear them. I think I will keep experimenting with the paper beads. I love that all of the ones I made this week were recycled!!
