How to Make Papier-Mâché Jewelry for Mom

Surprise Mom with a set of unique jewelry. This simple bracelet and necklace set is made of papier-mâché beads and can be painted however you like.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Strips Of Old Newspapers
• Acrylic Paints
• Tapestry Needles
• Brushes
• String
• Thimbles
• Darning Needles
• Poster Paints
• Thin Cording
• papier-mâché paste

1. Tear old newspaper into 2- to 3-inch-wide strips. The longer the strip, the larger the bead.

2. Make papier-mâché paste using the instructions given in "Make Papier-Mâché Paste" (see Related eHows).

3. Coat both sides of the newspaper with paste and remove any excess (a couple of shakes should do it).

4. Roll up each strip of coated newspaper tightly and then roll the lump between the palms of your hand to give it a round shape. Press firmly on the bead while you roll it between your palms - the paper should be tightly packed.

5. Let the beads dry at room temperature for about 3 hours.

6. Poke a hole through the center of each bead with a tapestry or darning needle. Protect your fingers by using a thimble to push the needle through the bead.

7. Let the beads dry completely for 8 to 10 hours.

8. Paint each bead with two coats of a solid-color acrylic or poster paint - white makes a good primer - and then paint your designs onto the bead.

9. Thread a very thin, 12-inch cord or string onto the tapestry or darning needle and push the needle through the hole in each bead.

10. String the desired number of beads onto the cord.

11. Tie a small knot in each end of the cord, as close as possible to the last bead.

12. Repeat step 9 with a 28-inch cord or string. The short string of beads is the bracelet and the longer strand is the necklace. Both are tied on.

Tips & Warnings

• Pack the paper even tighter in step 4 by squeezing the bead with your fingers. This will also help remove any excess glue from the paper.
• Use a darning needle to poke the holes in the beads for a larger hole. This will allow you to thread a wider cord through the beads.

on 9/21/2006 Peel a potato and cut it into squares, pyramids, flat rounds, any size or shape. Using fishing line and a #16 tapestry needle, string the cut potatoes. Tie the ends together. They will dry to approximately 1/2 the original size. It can take from three days to two weeks. Occasionally move the potatoes on the fishing line during the first day so they don't stick to the line.

Once dry and hard, remove from fishing line. String the beads on smaller lengths of fishing line and tie the ends together -- I usually use groups of 20. Paint all the potatoes in one group the same color. Let dry and paint the second coat. Use acrylic craft paint or acrylic ceramic paint. Spray (outside) with a high gloss enamel spray. When dry, remove beads from fishing line. With a #24 needle, string the beads onto a double strand of .5mm magic stretch string. Alternate with other beads of your choice.

Use several colors on one bracelet if you wish. Bracelet size for adults usually runs between seven and a half and eight and a half inches. Tie ends with two square knots and trim excess string.

TIP: Before spraying with enamel, put a couple drops of metallic gold or silver or copper paint on your fingers and rub together, then pick up some of the beads and roll them between your fingers so that some of the metallic colored paint has been placed on part of the potato bead. Not much, you don't want to cover all the original paint. Turquoise beads with some copper applied by the above method are very dramatic, as are black beads with either silver or gold touches.