How to Make Bracelets out of Paper

Though some paper bracelet patterns call for just a strip of card stock to wrap around your wrist, you can make paper bracelets that are much more attractive and durable by rolling your own paper beads. Not only is the process cost-effective, but it is also fast, simple, eco-friendly and suitable for teens and tweens (such as for a sleepover party craft--then the bracelet is also their party favor). With different papers, you can make paper bead bracelets that are everything from elegant to whimsical, and even suitable for selling.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Elastic cord
• Scissors
• Paper, any kind
• Glue stick
• Wooden skewers
• Waxed paper
• Clear nail polish
• Wooden blocks

1. Decide how long you want your bracelet to be. Cut a piece of elastic cord twice that length.

2. Cut long, narrow triangles 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide at the base and 9 inches (23 cm) long between the base and the tip. How many you'll need depends on how long you want the bracelet to be--since each bead will be an inch long, you would need seven beads for a 7-inch bracelet, for example. It's a good idea to make more beads than you think you will need.

3. Lay one triangle face down on a protected work surface and liberally slather glue on almost the whole triangle. Leave a 1/4-inch (6-mm) wide strip at the very base without any glue on it to make sure it won't stick to the wooden skewer.

4. Place a skewer at the very base and begin rolling the triangle around it. You may need to stop an inch or so from the tip and apply extra glue to the tip before you finish rolling. Once it's rolled up all the way, press and smooth the bead with your fingers to help even out any extra glue and to make sure the tip stays down.

5. Set the bead, still on the skewer, on waxed paper to dry and harden for 2 to 4 hours.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for the remaining paper triangles.

7. Pick up one bead on its skewer and use your thumb to hold one edge of the bead gently down to the skewer. With your other hand, paint a thin coat of clear nail polish over the middle third of the bead, making sure you get the polish all the way around the bead. This will shine, strengthen, and protect the bead.

8. Set the ends of the skewer on wooden blocks so that the bead can hang in the middle without touching any surface. Let dry for at least an hour.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each remaining bead. You can add one or two more thin coats of nail polish if you like, making sure each coat dries completely in between, but do not put on more than three coats total.

10. Take the beads off the skewers and thread them onto the elastic cord. Tie a double knot in the cord and trim the extra ends.

Tips & Warnings

• - Roll the beads very tightly to get the most core strength.
• - Experiment with different sizes and shapes of paper. Tappi.org's Paper University has examples of various paper shapes and the beads they'll make when rolled.
• - If you already make and sell crafts or jewelry, you can use wire and a toggle clasp in place of the elastic cord if you wish.
• -Don't get the nail polish too close to the edges of the bead when you put on the clear coat. The polish might stick the bead to the skewer, and getting a stuck bead off the skewer could mean misshaping or even tearing the bead.
• -Take care to make the coat(s) of nail polish thin. Too thick of a coat could pool into a drop at the bottom of the bead and dry that way.

References

• GoMakeSomething.com: Making Paper Beads
• FamilyFun.com: Paper Beads Craft

Resources

• Paper University Paper Bead Ideas
• Rolled Paper Bracelet