Hi Everyone
Here is a super fun activity for a Summertime Camp, party or sleepover – a necklace made from paper beads. You can use old magazines, or dcraps of scrapbook paper. This is a great activity to do with your kids, or pre-cut the shapes for them and leave them to it!
First, using a sharp knife or scissors, cut your paper to the shapes shown below. I like to cut a template from an old cereal box and then draw multiple images by tracing onto scrapbook paper lightly with a pencil. Then use a knife or scissors to cut out (your kids may be able to do this depending on age – but you DO need to be reasonably accurate).

Using a cocktail stick, wrap the wide end of each strip around tightly and secure using a tiny spot of glue (I used Tombow liquid glue which holds and dries in a couple of seconds).

Keep on rolling the paper into a bead shape using the occasional spot of glue until you reach the end – and you are done! You can see below several examples of each bead – you don’t have to worry at all about them all looking identical – they won’t!

I then gave my beads a coat of Glossy Mod Podge for extra shine and protection – but even without that the beads are pretty solid. Remember – they ARE paper though – and won’t really tolerate getting wet! You can then thread them onto string or elastic – they look really great with some plain acrylic beads separating them – especially in these bright colors.
Shop at scrapbook.com for a wonderful selection of bright papers. We suggest you check out Echo Park Paper for some bright, fun colors and collections!
<!-- LinkDeli Code Start --><!-- PAPER BEADS --><a class="linkdeli-image" target=_blank href="https://linkdeli.com/view/13448b65-9d81-450b-9c94-53253c0cf05a" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://linkdeli.s3.amazonaws.com/public/placeholders/13448b65-9d81-450b-9c94-53253c0cf05a.jpg"></a>
<script class="linkdeli-widget" data-campaign="13448b65-9d81-450b-9c94-53253c0cf05a" src="https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708" async="true"></script><!-- LinkDeli Code End -->
We would love to see any beads you have made – please share on our FACEBOOK PAGE!

39 Comments
Lowri – these are so vibrant and perfect for summer jewelry! Definitely adding this to my summer to-do list 🙂
These are beautiful! I've never tried the different shapes before; I'll have to give that a whirl.
What a great idea and this is a perfect way to use scraps !
Oh wow Lowri! these are awesome and you make them look very easy to do!
Love it! 🙂 Just pinned this.
Love those vibrant colors! Great idea!
cute beads!!
Thank you!!
These are so pretty!! I would love to feature! You picked some great paper.
🙂 I shared your link at http://creativityunmasked.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/six-for-saturday-or-sunday_14.html
I love how the beads turned out! So pretty and colorful!
I pretty much LOVE those paper beads…what a great tutorial! I hope you will link up with me here:
http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/2012/07/sweet-saturday-link-party-v47.html
Absolutely gorgeous!
Hey Lowri! You have been a busy girl! I am loving all of your projects but this one is my absolute favorite!! I had no idea you could make beads from paper! Thanks so much for linking up to The Creative Spark. I'll be featuring this tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Jenn 🙂
Would it be okay if I share a photo and link back to your tutorial on my blog as part of my 101 Days of Summer Fun for Kids? Let me know!
What a fun project! The beads are so colorful! Patsy from
HeARTworks and
papemelroti
Such a creative idea! I love your colorful beads! So pretty!
Wow, that looks great! Such a nice idea! Liz
The beads look so amazing! I just bought a necklace like that at a book store and I wear it all the time. I would like to invite you to share this on Saturday Show and Tell (http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/saturday-show-tell-20/). I'm sure my readers would love this post as well as some of the other posts you have on your site. Thanks and have a great weekend.
-Mackenzie
http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com
SO cool! Thank you for this tutorial!!
I am inviting you to come and share this in my Show Your Stuff blog hop:
http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2012/07/show-your-stuff-33-upsidedown-brownies.html
Oh, I love the colors you used! And you made this look so easy. Love it!
This is a fantastic project! I don't think I have ever seen paper beads. They are beautiful though. Would you consider linking this up at my Pinworthy Projects Party? I hope to see you there!
Do you seal your beads with anything?
Hi Joni – I sealed them with glossy mod-podge – just because it gave then a shine (see above) but they are pretty solid without.
I wouldn't want to wear them in the rain though!
Hope that helps – Lowri 🙂
That's an awesome idea! Simple, but how impressive 😀
Whoa, Lowri, this is AWESOME! And your photos are sooooo nice, too. What a good looking post and a terrific project.
Good Morning! I wanted to let you know that I featured this today in my "What I Bookmarked This Week" post – stop by and see!
Congratulations! Your project was featured in July's Top 5 most popular posts on Fun Family Crafts! Thanks for sharing your creativity, we love it! If you would like a special top 5 button to display, you can grab it at the bottom of the feature post. Thanks! http://funfamilycrafts.com/july-2012-top-posts/
Wow, what a fabulous idea. They are gorgeous. Thank you for the fab inspiration and post. I am going to try this today. Thanks for the tutorial. Hugs, Jill x
I like the bright, but I am doing a project using pages from old books and brown paper. do you think these beads would work with brown bag paper?
Hi Tessia – the paper might be a little thin – I guess you would have to just give it a go and find out!
I have seen it done with magazine's though – so I am sure it would work.
Don't use too much glue and make the paper too wet would be my best advice 🙂
Let us know how it works out!
Lowri
I think that the paper works just fine. My beads did turn out well. I did use hot glue, however, since my gun was already on for other things, so I don't know how it works using other types of glue.
muy buena idea para usar las revistas y las hojas de los libros,lo intentare con mis niños.
I love your ideas on how to make different shaped paper beads. Our church is having a sleepover tomorrow evening, so I'm getting to work today to make these beads. Thanks a lot for sharing.
I like your tips and tuorial very much I also recommand to use a paper bead roller to find at http://www.paperbeadpatty.de, if you not already do.
Great tutorial on making these gorgeous beads! We will be sharing your post on our Facebook page, hope that is ok! Thanks for sharing!
Susan
Very nice! And so helpful for those who are learning how to make paper beads. I have an Etsy shop that offers precut paper strips for making paper beads, paper bead rollers, and paper bead kits. One of my customers purchased the kits for their church so the kids could make paper beads. I thought that was such a wonderful idea! But if any of your readers would like to make the process easier, I invite them to visit my shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/GroundZeroCreations
I have been looking for ever for a tutorial on these types of beads. I have gotten my soon to be daughter-in-law into beading and wanted to show her this style. Thousands of different beads on a budget. Thanks.