Making Paper Beads

Lael made a couple of these beads at a Girl Scout event a few weeks ago and promptly forgot about it. Spring Break was a perfect time to pick it back up again. It took her about 1/4 of a day to start proclaiming she was bored, so this was a perfect project! They are really easy to make, and fun too! Try it! Here are some directions.

Making Paper Beads

Any kind of paper will work for making paper beads. This would be a great way to upcycle all that junk mail! Pages from magazines would work well also. What about wrapping paper from birthday parties? Old calendars, brochures, maps, your kids schoolwork……the possibilities are endless!
Paper cutter, Exacto-blade or scissors
Glue stick, Elmer’s glue, Mod-Podge
Clear nail polish or spray varnish
Toothpicks or skewers
Styrofoam or shoebox

Making the beads is easy! Here are the steps.

Using a paper cutter or an utility knife, begin cutting the page into triangles. The base of the triangle will determine the width of the bead, the longer the triangle, the thicker the bead) The base, or large end of the triangle, can range in size from 1/2 to 1 inch. The entire strip should be no longer than 8 to 12 inches.
Take a toothpick or skewer and one paper strip. Roll the wide end of the paper strip completely around the toothpick one rotation. Next, take the glue stick and quickly cover the remaining paper surface with glue. Start rolling the strip of paper carefully and tightly so that when the bead is entirely rolled, the end point of the triangle will lie at the center point.
Brush the entire bead with Mod-Podge or clear nail polish. Or you could spray with clear varnish. This will seal the bead.
To allow the beads to dry, stick the toothpicks in a Styrofoam tray. Or if you used skewers, you can cut notches in a shoebox to lay the skewers across.
Carefully slide bead off the toothpick or skewer. If you rolled your bead too tight at the rolling step, you will discover it at this time, as your bead will be stuck! (If this is the case roll more loosely with the others…)
Now you are ready to thread the beads on your choice of string or thread for a bracelet or necklace.

If you would like to download a copy of these directions, click the link below.