I have a “to-do/to-try” craft list that is about 500 items long. Seriously, it’s crazy. But today, I can cross one of those things off the list because I made paper beads, something that has been on the list for a long, long time.
I stumbled upon a tutorial that made it seem so easy and in fact, it was pretty darn easy. As per usual, I altered the process a bit due to necessity and impatience, but not significantly. For the full tutorial, go here.
These beads came from one page of a catalog, so you can see with just a few pages you could have enough beads for a fairly long necklace. I think these would also make some nifty earrings.
The best part about this entire project is turning crappy catalog pages into super-cool beads (at least I think they are super cool.) More eloquently, there is something inherently satisfying about taking something that is not useful (or not useful anymore) and turning into something unique and beautiful. It’s really my favorite kind of project.
In other news, I am anxiously awaiting a delivery of metals and wire from one of my favorite suppliers, Rio Grande. Some of it is to be devoted to a chain I am making for a friend, and the rest for a super-secret special project that I hope to reveal soon.
To make these I played with: catalog pages, glue, modge-podge, polyurethane varnish
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- Beads waiting for a coat of modge-podge.
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- Paper bead forrest.
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- Finished beads.
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- Finished beads
And because this song has been stuck in my head today, and I am so deeply digging this band, here is a video clip for you. Music is very much a part of my creative process, and I think I may periodically make mention of what I’m listening to while I create, for those who are interested. The rest of you, just skip this part, okay 
What about you? What tunes do you like to listen to while you are creating?
interesting and cool!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting
These look just awesome. And great music!! Love this song!
Thanks so much! The tutorial was great…worked perfectly
These are brilliant. I’d like to think I’ll have a go one day, which means they’re now on my ludicrously long list of craft projects. Ah well, what else is life for?
I have a long “to-try” list also
I’m glad you got a chance to cross something off of yours, the beads look great! Also, love the song, thanks for sharing
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