Lesson 2: Natural Materials
In this lesson we'll continue our exploration of bead making with a look at some of the natural materials that can be used to make beads. We'll go over techniques for creating beads out of paper, wood and potatoes.
Recommended Reading:The Bead Maker pg. 57-73 and Making Beautiful Beads pg. 28-34.
Paper Beads
If you are interested in learning how to create beads out of natural materials, paper is a great medium to start with, since it is both inexpensive and easy to work with.
Rolled Paper Beads
Rolled beads are just one of the many styles of beads that can be created using paper--and they present some pretty exciting possibilities.
To get started on your own set of paper beads, you'll first need to decide what sort of paper you'd like to use. Magazine pages, newspaper, wallpaper samples and sheets of Oragami paper are all good options, but virtually any kind of paper will do--so get creative in what you choose.
Then, once you've made your paper selection, it's time to get started. Refer to the instructions found at the following website:Granny's Paper Beads for complete instructions.
Notes from Experience: One-inch strips are a good starting point if this your first time making paper beads.
If you're cutting out of an 8 1/2"x11" piece of paper or something similar, aim for a strip that is as long as your page. This will give you a good size bead, without giving you too much material to work with.
Be careful not to roll your beads too tightly, or they may be difficult to remove from the form.
Also, decoupauge medium can be used in place of shellac. The finished beads won't be as hard, but it will protect them from moisture and some wear and tear.
Fun Variations
After you've mastered the technique of rolling paper beads, experiment with strips of different shapes and sizes to see what other effects you can create. Straight strips will create beads of uniform thickness like the beads shown in this example.
Experimenting with different types of paper is another fun way to alter the look of your beads. Try using scraps of wrapping paper, construction paper or rice paper for a variety of interesting colors and textures. Or for a custom look, draw or paint a colorful picture, and then cut it into strips, and roll it into beads.
In the example shown here, I used a handmade piece of paper that I found at the craft store. The beads were created using triangular strips of paper as described above.
For even more fun with rolled paper beads, try out the technique shown at this website:Japanese Washi Paper & Straw Beads or consider the designs found at this website: Bead for Life
By now I hope that you have come to realize that paper beads can far exceed their humble beginnings to become exquiste, one-of-a-kind works of art. Try your hand at this wonderful folk art, and see what you can add to the tradition.
A Historic Note
No one seems to know exactly when paper bead making began, but there's no doubt it's been around for quite some time. Historians know that paper bead making was wildly popular during The Great Depression when money and supplies were scarce, but suspect that its roots go back much further.
