How To Decorate Paper Beads

Painted beads

Many paper beads are created from gift wrap and scrapbook paper with colorful designs part of the bead from the start. You can also make paper beads from newspaper or a brown paper bag and decorate them with paint and markers to create your own designs. Decorating paper beads will entertain kids and adults of all ages. When the beads are ready, you can make necklaces, bracelets and earrings, just as you can with any other type of bead.

Things You'll Need

• Paper beads
• Toothpicks
• Acrylic paint
• Artist's brush
• Floral foam block
• Fine permanent markers
• Polyurethane spray
• Scissors
• Tissue paper, magazine or photos
• Decoupage glue
• Small paint sponges

Instructions

Decorate Paper Beads with Paint

1. Insert a toothpick halfway through each bead. The toothpick protruding from either end of the bead will be handles which will make decorating the beads easier. Paint the paper bead one solid background color with acrylic paints. Insert one end of the toothpick into a block of floral foam so that the paint can dry on the bead without touching anything.

2. Remove the toothpicks from the floral foam. Leave the beads on the toothpicks so that you can hold them while you decorate them. Make stripes or polka dots on the painted beads with a fine permanent marker. Depending on your artistic ability, you can decorate the painted paper beads with any type of design. Replace the toothpicks back into the floral foam and allow the marker to dry.

3. Remove the toothpicks from the foam and spray the paper beads with polyurethane spray for glossy protection. Replace the toothpicks back into the floral foam so the protective coating can dry.

Decoupage Paper Beads

1. Cut or tear colorful tissue paper, pages from a magazine or photos into sections small enough to fit on the paper beads.

2. Insert a toothpick through the individual beads to create handles. Apply a layer of decoupage glue to the entire bead.

3. Press the cut or torn paper into the decoupage glue. Smooth the paper onto the bead with an artist's brush or a small paint sponge. Coat the top of the paper with decoupage glue.

4. Place the toothpick into the floral foam to dry. Decoupage glue has a glossy or semi-glossy finish. One coat over the paper beads should be sufficient, but you can add another if you like, after the first coat dries.

References

• Paper Bead Crafts: Papers for Beads

Resources

• Paper Bead Crafts: How to Make Paper Beads