I wanted to show you a quick and easy tutorial that can use up loads of scraps to make these paper beads, I'm not sure where the idea originated but I first saw Suze Wineberg making them and dunking them in UTEE to give a hard glaze to them. As well as being easy to make you can use them on cards and scrapbook pages, necklaces and broaches and all sorts of items.
The things you need to make your beads are :
A pencil, ruler, piece of paper, glue and a guillotene
This piece of paper is 6" by 4" (though you can use 12" paper to make a thicker bead too - they also look great out of old magazines so you would just use the lenght of the page for that). I divided up the top of the paper into 1" sections, because you are making a triangular shape on the bottom of your paper the 1st measurement needs to be 1/2" in from the side and then 1" marks from that. To show the triangular shapes I have drawn them onto the paper, you don't need to draw the triangles on as you can just line up the marks on your guillotene to cut them.
Once cut out this is how the triangles look.
Next is the rolling part, at the point of the triangle add some glue, then take a pencil (or skewer - any cylindrical shape) and roll from the base of the triangle to the point, try and keep your roll straight to keep the bead even.
Once you are up to the top of the triangle, hold the tip down so the glue can set a bit and then slide the bead off the pencil.
This is what the beads will look like, I made one with a Kebab skewer and the other one is from a pencil.
Alongside making necklaces you can use the beads in lots of different ways, here are some ideas
On this card I made a flower shape with the beads and stuck a button in the centre.
On this page I used the beads as a border to my photo and threaded them with string, and also as a button on my journal envelope at the bottom of the page.
I hope that has inspired you to have a go.
Katherine
Thank you for such clear instructions. These beads are lovely and look great on your sweet layout.
Posted by: Sandra | January 15, 2012 at 09:19 AM
these are gorgeous!!
Posted by: Laura | January 15, 2012 at 09:24 AM
oooh super LO...and i have some baby photos awaiting my attention...
Posted by: Alix | January 15, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Sweet projects... i love those papers too use them tons :)
Posted by: jayne | January 15, 2012 at 05:09 PM
These are lovely, katherine - I especially like them threaded round your photo ...
Posted by: alexa | January 15, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Lovely layout and card, the beads just finish them off beautifully x
Posted by: Debbie | January 16, 2012 at 07:00 AM
They are really pretty, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lynne | January 16, 2012 at 07:36 AM
Wow, this takes me back. I remember making these as a child using pages from magazines...we even made a "curtain" to hand in a door way. They are the perfect finishing touch for your gorgeous LO.
Posted by: ifa | January 16, 2012 at 08:28 AM
I love making those beads, but have never though of them as flower petals. Fantastic idea!
Posted by: Emy | January 16, 2012 at 01:52 PM
Great LO.
Hugs Erika.
Posted by: Erika | January 17, 2012 at 03:39 PM
Fantastic - a lovely idea - going to have a go today!!
Posted by: Ali TS | January 18, 2012 at 09:42 AM