How to Make Jewelry With Paper

Paper may not seem as though it's the best material from which to make jewelry; however, with the right treatment, paper can be used to make all manner of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Fiber artists use a variety of methods to make jewelry with paper that include folding or weaving or layering. Most beginners learn to make jewelry with paper beads, a process that involves rolling strips of paper into coils. With a little practice, the paper beads are easy to make and they can even be made inexpensively from recycled paper, using the contents of your paper shredder. Using paper direct from the shredder is ideal due to the relative uniformity of the strips that most shredders produce. If you would like to learn the steps involved in making beads for paper jewelry, continue reading.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat surface
• Shredded paper strips
• Glue stick
• Toothpick
• Petroleum jelly
• Jewelry cord
• Jewelry findings

1. Make jewelry with paper, one bead at a time. Lay a strip of paper face down. Keep in mind you will roll the strip up into a coil so you want to have the correct side showing.

2. Dab petroleum jelly on the center of a toothpick. Use an amount of petroleum jelly that is sufficient enough to ease removal of the paper bead, but not so much jelly that it gets all over your fingers as you roll.

3. Coat one side of a strip of paper with glue. Go over the strip evenly with a glue stick. Avoid gluing the paper to the flat working surface.

4. Roll the paper around the toothpick. Hold one end of the strip against the toothpick with your fingertip and start rolling. Make sure the strip is tight and even as you roll. Add a touch of glue to secure the end.

5. Remove the paper bead from the toothpick and allow it to dry.

6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to make additional beads. Be sure to make enough beads to make a bracelet or necklace, whichever you desire.

7. Use jewelry cord to make paper jewelry. Keep the cord on its card, but draw out a long section to work with. Thread the paper beads on the cord, knot, then finish with findings, such as a hook and clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• When you make jewelry with paper, be sure your work surface is protected with cardboard or a plastic cloth in order to avoid glue mishaps. Avoid using newspaper because the ink can transfer to the paper bead.
• You can also make paper jewelry using thread or elastic.
• If you do not wish to work with jewelry cord directly from the card, and you would like to make a bracelet, then measure your wrist and add enough space for 1 to 3 beads. The figure you arrive at is the minimum amount of cord you will need to make a paper beaded bracelet.
• You can add varnish to your paper beads in order to protect them, if so desired. Place the dry paper bead on a toothpick and then use a paintbrush to apply the varnish. Embed the toothpick in Styrofoam so that it may dry. But be aware that some papers look better without varnish.
• Remember to save your gift wrap at Christmas, you can use it to make beads for your jewelry with paper.