How to Make Pictures With Beads

Making beaded artwork of any kind takes time and patience. You can make a picture on fabric by sewing on different colored beads. You can make a picture with melted beads. You can also make a beaded picture by gluing beads onto heavy paper. Follow these instructions for transferring any type of picture to beaded artwork.

Things You'll Need

• Beads
• Glue
• Cardstock or heavy cardboard
• Computer
• Graph paper
• Printer
• Clear-coat spray

Instructions

1. Find the picture that you want to use to make up your beaded picture. Choose a picture with definite separation of colors. Make a copy of the picture using your computer printer. Divide the copied picture into grids by drawing lines evenly vertically and horizontally. Cut apart the grids. Use a printer to enlarge each section. Print each grid on graph paper. Arrange the segments in the proper order near your work surface.

2. Prepare the work surface. Use heavy paper or cardboard for the background. Draw lines on the cardboard to divide into the same number of grids as the copied picture.

3. Work on one section at a time. Use the copied picture segments to decide which color bead should go where. Each square of the segment equals one bead. Glue the beads on one at a time. Allow the glue to dry completely.

4. Spray the entire project with a clear coat to help the beads stay in place. Frame the artwork as desired.

Resources

• Bead Photos
• Making LIfeboat Melt Beads