Hey Everyone, welcome back to Technique Tuesday on Thursday.
This isn’t a quilting technique but I am sure many of you will be very interested in creating paper beads that could be used to embellish a quilt, journal cover, hand bag, etc.
Last spring when I confirmed my reservation for this year’s retreat hosted by The Purple Sock I was also asked to teach the surprise workshop on Tuesday morning. The last 2 years the surprise workshops were awesome. The first year we upcyled felted sweaters and the second year we made wet felted balls. Both were so much fun and the bar had been set.
Now I had to wrack my brain to come up with something just as fun and different from what we did the previous years. Very few of the participants in this retreat are quilters but rather knitters, weavers, rug hookers and fibre junkies so I really didn’t want to do anything quilt related. I happened to be on Etsy one day and saw something about paper beads so I did a Google search and found all kinds of sites about paper beads and how to make them.
I had found my workshop topic.
These beads can be of all shapes, sizes and colours. All you need is paper, glue, scissors, toothpicks or skewers and some mod podge to create these fun little beads. It is a great craft for all ages and perfect for a rainy or snowy day.
Supplies gathered
We even had some furry on lookers in the workshop. I don’t think they did much creating but a lot of supervising.
Our furry supervisors
Different shapes of paper create different shapes of beads. Just as different widths of strips create different sizes of beads.
Different shapes of paper strips
Use up old magazines, coloured paper left over in the craft cupboard, tissue paper or flyers.
A variety of paper
One of the tables at the workshop with lots of wonderful bead creations.
Beads being created
String them with some other beads to create bracelets, necklaces or earrings.
Beaded bracelet
I am going to use mine on some little mini art quilts as embellishments. I think they would make great ribbons to decorate gifts with as well.
More beads
If you would like to try making some paper beads then check out this great tutorial I found from Big Bead Little Bead.
Give it a try and don’t be surprised if you become addicted.
Happy Quilting!
