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If you love paper and if you love beads then this is the win/win project for you. Anything works! All kinds of papers can be used including , recycled, old newspaper, handmade paper, old notes, gift wrapping papers and any paper that you fall in love with! Passion is the key in making any project look beautiful. I even pick up bits of paper off the street curbs because these scraps have an authentic aged look. You don't have to do this if you find it unappealing. There are other ways of making paper look aged. You can soak some scraps in tea or coffee for a few hours and then let dry. Now on with the project!

Materials:

Select paper for your beads, they should be 6" to 8" long.
Smaller scraps of paper will also be needed.
Scissors
Brush
Straw
Wax Paper
Tape
Hot Glue Gun
Mat Gel Medium
Wire
Small Ribbon
Embroidery Thread
Tiny Glass Beads
Sparkles
Varnish

Basic Method:
Cut your paper into strips either 1"wide and 7" long for a rectangle, or 1" wide at the base and tapering to a point about 7" long for a triangle. Cut as many strips as you want, depending on how many beads you want to make. Thick paper needs shorter strips and thin paper needs longer strips. Take the wider end and start rolling, when you get near the end dab a little hot glue (don't burn your fingers) and attach the end piece to the bead. This way the bead will stay rolled! You can cut the uneven ends or leave them if you like. It depends on the look you want to achieve. You can now add smaller strips around the center of the bead, including text or contrasting colors. Vary the widths and shapes of the beads you make for more interest. Place the beads on a sheet of wax paper.

Now the fun begins. Put a tiny dab of glue or mat gel medium in the center of the bead. Place one end of embroidery thread or small ribbon and wrap around the bead as many times as you like for desired effect. Don't wrap too often because the bead ends up looking bulky. Either use gel medium or hot glue and place on areas of bead where you would like decorative glass beads, embossing powders, and distressing powders. Apply these embellishments into the mat gel or hot glue. If you use mat gel the beads will take longer to dry. Remember you can use anything you want; try gold flakes and sparkles as well.

To finish your bead cover it with a coat of varnish. You can do this by placing the bead on a straw or skewer and applying varnish on the entire bead. You can use mat or glossy varnish.
These beads can now be used for decorating other projects, making necklaces or using them as Christmas ornaments.

So have fun, use your imagination and practice, practice, practice!

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.labedzki-art.com