I said I would clue you in on my experience last evening making jewelry out of simple things such as colorful paper and white (Elmer's) glue. I was eager to learn the process since for years I have enjoyed wearing a necklace I bought at a bazaar. It was made out of church bulletin covers and made by a church secretary who used the left over covers to make her craft. I think I paid $3.00 for it, but the necklace has lasted a long time and as you can tell from the photo below, the necklaces thus made are really attractive.
Pictured are necklaces made by our instructor M.H. a former art teacher and talented artist herself. Below next to the necklaces are some of the simple supplies needed to make this creative craft.
Besides Elmer's glue, scissors, string, waxed paper and wooden skewers, you will need a ruler and colorful paper (We used gift wrap) and you will need to purchase a needle and some beads at a craft store, like Michael's or JoAnn's, to compliment your creation.
First you turn the paper over and measure one inch marks from one side at the top of the blank paper. Then, being careful to not turn the paper, you measure one half inch in from the same side, but at the bottom of the paper. It helps if your piece of paper is square. I used the natural square (about 12" x 12") of the wrapping paper. After you have marked one half inch in at the bottom, then continue from there making marks one inch from your original half inch mark on the bottom.
Then very carefully draw a straight line diagonally from the top inch mark to the bottom one half inch mark. Then draw from the bottom half inch mark to the top inch mark, complete a triangle. Continue this until you have a group of long triangles clear across the paper. You will have about 12 triangles with their base at the top of the paper and a similar number with the base at the bottom of the paper.
Cut out your first triangle and starting with the one inch base roll the strip around the skewer being careful to keep the ever shrinking width even as you roll. You will end up with a tapered bead, with the point of the triangle at the outside.
Slide the bead off the skewer, and apply glue to the open edges of paper thus sealing the bead. This is a little messy so have a cloth or something handy to wipe your hand on before starting the next bead.
Put the sticky bead on waxed paper to dry. Elmers will dry clear.
When all beads are done, figure out what color bead you want to put between the paper beads, and string them. Tie the ends. If you have between 18 and 23 beads you will have a necklace that will fit easily over your head.
M.H. sprayed glaze on hers which gave them a royal sheen. You can tell from the photos that there are many possibilities for this fun and inexpensive jewelry. M.H. even bought ear ring hardware and made half inch beads for wire ear rings. I can hardly wait to try that, although I will have to find a paper I really like before I go that far with it. I am just learning right now.
I found a lot of web sites that tell about this craft. I liked this one because it gave a history of this craft and related some of the comradie that I felt doing this with a group. Have fun!
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/art_class/paperBeads.htm
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