How to Make Jewelry From Paper

Paper bead jewelry is an inexpensive project the whole family can do. The shape, color and size of the beads are up to you, unlike store-bought beads. Jewelry made with paper beads can look funky and chunky or chic and sophisticated. Next time the kids are home from school or it's a rainy day, grab some paper and start beading.

Things You'll Need

• Paper (magazine pages, wrapping paper, gift bags or any paper with a design or print)
• Ruler
• Scissors or paper trimmer
• Toothpicks, coffee stirrer, needle or other round object
• Cutting mat or small piece of cardboard
• Glue or glue stick
• Clear nail polish
• Square piece of Styrofoam or container to set beads in to dry
• Beading wire or cord
• Wire cutter
• Crimp bead
• Crimping pliers
• Beads (spacers, glass, plastic, seed, crystal)

Instructions

1. 

   Mark ½-inch strips along the side of the paper from top to bottom. Cut out a triangle-shaped piece of paper, starting your cut on the mark. Make 20 to 30 triangles from the paper. The number of paper beads you'll need depends on the size of the other beads you're using.

2. 

   Lay the paper with the side you don't want to show facing up. Lay the toothpick at the wide end of the triangle and roll the paper around the toothpick. Keep the paper rolled tight.

3. 

   Apply a dot of glue to the pointed end of the paper to make it stick to the bead. Add another dot of glue if it doesn't stick to the bead.

4. 

   Slide the paper bead toward the end of the toothpick, but don't take it off. Apply clear nail polish to the whole paper bead. Stick the toothpick into the piece of Styrofoam or in the container to dry.

5. 

   Cut a 9-inch-long piece of beading wire. If your wrist is bigger, cut a 10- or 11-inch-long piece. Slide the wire through the crimp bead and clasp loop. Pass the end back through the crimp bead. Slide crimp bead up to the base of the clasp loop. Crimp the bead.

6. 

   String your beads and paper beads onto the beading wire in any order that looks pleasing to you.

7. Repeat Step 6 to secure the other half of the clasp to the paper bead bracelet. Trim any excess wire or tuck it into the beads.

Tips & Warnings

• For a fatter bead, use a thick paper such as the front cover of a magazine or poster. The width and shape of the paper will determine the shape of the bead. Cut a one-half to inch-wide strip of paper in a rectangle to make a tube bead. Cut strips of paper to different lengths to produce a longer or shorter paper bead. Measure the wrist for a bracelet to determine how big it needs to be. If you knot the cord, make sure you can slip it over your hand and cut the cord a couple of inches longer to have enough to tie the knot with. Tie a triple knot on the end so the beads won't slip off. For beading wire and clasp, cut the length about one inch longer than needed so you can secure the clasp on the wire.

References

• How to Make Paper Beads
• Paper Beads

Resources

• Recycled Paper Bead Bracelet