Paper beads
By Veronique Christensen — Thursday, December 4th, 2008
My Mom is visiting & one of the fun benefits for the kids is her excellent memory of the crafts she used to entertain me with when I was a kid in the 70's (that, and endless rounds of "Bataille"/War and Solitaire). This time she brought out the paper beads.
I have such vivid memories of making these for hours on end at the kitchen table. Full of the kind of patience only a child could muster. Cutting the triangles of paper just so, wrapping them carefully around a toothpick, and finishing them off with a good slathering of glue to secure them. Once completely dry I would paint them, and string them up, or just leave them as-is if the paper was particularly pretty. I loved sorting and classifying them by size, patter, color, and even just the feel of them over-flowing from my hands when I'd scoop them up.
Paper University has a good tutorial where they use straws instead of toothpicks, which will be much easier for smaller kids, if you'd like to try this one out as well.
we always wound them around those giant plastic kid needles – then threaded them with a regular big metal needle, which is one size smaller. :^)
I’m so glad you posted this–I have a favorite bracelet made out of paper beads, and I always think, “I could probably do this!” and now, thanks to you–I can
Paper crafts are endless. I love that we can combine recycling with creative fun, too. This is a great idea. I’m going to add it to my site.
[...] head, shoulders, upper arms, fore arms, hands, trunk, thighs, shins, feet. Just as you would for paper beads, cut strips of paper for each body part, roll your strip around a toothpick (or thin straw), and [...]
Indeed a great way to recycle and be creative at the same. You won’t be disappointed by what I have found over the net that provides wonderful paper crafting.