Make Paper Covered Wooden Beads

Here is a family friendly craft idea for making colorful beads. My new friend Mary Ann Lenhard, who is a fiber artist, showed my family how to make these beads. My two daughters and I had a blast making tons of beads last Saturday. Even my husband joined in on the fun!

The paper covered beads can be combined with other beads to make bracelets, earrings, or necklaces. Just use your imagination...


















Materials

Wood Beads (comes in large bags at craft stores)
Earth Love'n Gift Wrap (or other scraps of recycled paper)
Mod Podge or Lineco Methyl Cellulose Adhesive
Paintbrush
Toothpicks
Miscellaneous beads, string for beading, header pins, etc...

Instructions

1. Rip used gift wrap or other paper into small pieces. I used scraps of the Brillant Floral Gift Wrap Design. Glue paper on to the wooden bead. Put glue under and on top of the paper.
























At the suggestion of my fiber artist friend, I used methyl cellulose adhesive for this project. Methyl cellulose is acid-free, nontoxic, and it dries clear and is often used for bookmarking and archival materials. Mod Prodge will also work for this project.

2. Use your fingers to work the paper around the beads. After you cover the entire bead, try rolling the bead in your hand to make it smooth. Use a toothpick to punch the hole in the bead if it was covered over by the paper.












That's it! Use the beads to make bracelets, earrings, necklaces or any other type of beading project. I made earrings with my paper beads. The collage look of the bead and the colors gave the beads an oriental flair. To me the earrings look like Chinese lanterns, but my friend said they look more like hot air balloons!