How to Make Beaded Jewelry From Root Vegetables

This craft project is perfect for adults to do with children who enjoy making beaded necklaces and bracelets. Creating distinctive jewelry from root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots is a fun and inexpensive way to pass several afternoons.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One medium potato
• One carrot
• Wooden skewers
• Metal cooling racks
• Acrylic paint
• Clear nail polish or decoupage medium
• Fishing line or strong thread
• Beads and/or buttons (optional)
• Clasp (optional)

1. Peel the potato and carrot. Chop them into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch pieces. The chunks do not need to be uniform. The more they vary in size and shape, the more interesting the finished product will be. After the vegetables are cut up, slide them onto the wooden skewers. Leave a little space between each piece so the beads can dry thoroughly.

2. Lay the skewers onto metal cooling racks and store them in a cool, dry place for a week. The beads will harden and darken, and some may wrinkle a bit.

3. After the beads are completely dried, it's time to decorate them. Slide the beads off of the skewers and decorate them with acrylic paint. After the paint has dried, it's a good idea to coat the beads in clear nail polish or decoupage medium. This will give the beads a nice shine, and ensure the paint doesn't chip. Let the coating dry.

4. Thread the beads onto a piece of fishing line. Alternate the vegetable beads with small beads or buttons, if desired.

5. For a simple finish, tie off the ends of the fishing line and then tie the two ends together tightly to form the necklace or bracelet. If using a clasp, attach the two ends to the clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be easier to coat the beads with clear nail polish or decoupage medium if they are threaded back onto the skewers first. Just be careful not to let the coating drip into the bead's hole; that could cause the bead the stick to the skewer.
• Prevent breakage by reinforcing the ends of the project. Put a drop of school glue on the knot where the ends are tied off to each other or to the clasp. The hardened glue keep the knots from pulling loose.