Making beads from old magazines is a cheap alternative for making jewellery. Simple and easy instructions to make homemade beads in a variety of colours.
Making jewellery as gifts or to wear is a wonderful activity to do with children. Before heading out to a bead supply store, check the recycling bin for glossy magazines to create unique beads at an inexpensive price of free.Homemade beads can be turned into necklaces, rosaries, bracelets, bookmarks, picture frames, and much more.
Materials
- magazines
- glue
- pencil, skewer or thin dowel
- scissors
- ruler
- yarn or string
- clasp (optional)
Magazine Bead Making Instructions
- Decide on the colour of the beads. If red is the chosen colour, tear out all magazine photographs with a high percentage of red. If the beads are to be multi-coloured rip out a mixture of photographs.
- Make a thin triangle on the torn out piece of paper. Simply place the ruler at one of the four corners. Next, align the ruler to make a thin triangle and draw the line on the piece of paper. Last step is to cut out the slender triangle. This thin triangle will be the template for cutting out the bead patterns. Another option is to cut out the triangle from card stock for it will have more durability as a template.
- Place the triangle template on a paper from the magazine and use it as a guide to cut out numerous triangles. The template can be placed horizontally or vertically on the paper. The vertical triangles will create longer beads while the horizontal cut will create shorter beads.
- Take the dowel, skewer, or pencil and place at the longer end of the triangle opposite side of the pointy side. Wrap the paper around dowel. At the end of the dowel, place a drop of glue on the backside of the paper to hold it in place. Press for a second to ensure the paper adheres.
- Continue with the remaining triangular pieces.
- After all beads are complete it is time to create jewellery.
Paper Bead Bracelet
- Gather all the homemade paper beads.
- Decide the colour of the bracelet. If the bracelet is blue, only choose blue beads but if the bracelet is to have a pattern, chose the appropriate colours.
- Size the wrist of the child who will be wearing the bracelet. Make the bracelet about 1/3 bigger and than size again after the beads are attached. A soft material such as yarn is a good base for the beads to be attached to as the beads will shift at times and the material may be exposed.
- Thread the beads onto the yarn. If the holes are not big enough to simply bead, thread the yarn on a plastic needle and thread using this method.
- After the bracelet is complete, resize to the child. Finish the bracelet with a clasp or slip knot, to allow it to be loosened and tightened.
- Final step is to enjoy wearing the masterpiece.
Making recycled beads to create one of a kind bracelet is a fun and inexpensive activity to do as a family. The gifts are great conversation starters at any kids or adult party.
Copyright Debbie DeSpirt. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Debbie DeSpirt - Debbie DeSpirt is an Elementary Teacher for the York Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada. Her post secondary education ...
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