A Guide to Making Paper Beads (2024)

Make Economical Wearable Jewelry From Paper

Rita Shehan is a crafting expert and writer focusing on paper crafts. She shares over a decade of paper crafts experience, including quilling, origami, scrapbooking, paper flower creations, and designing invitations. Rita is also the founder of the website EasyPaperCrafts.com.

Learn more about The Spruce Crafts'Editorial Process

Updated on 08/05/20

How to Make Beautiful Paper Beads

Jewelry made from paper beads is a paper craft that is quite popular today. The art of paper bead crafting, however, has been practiced since the Victorian age. Women would gather together and make paper beads from leftover wallpaper. Their craft techniques were quite simple. After they rolled and glued the paper beads, the beads were then coated with beeswax and strung together to make beaded curtains and room dividers. Today people craft paper beads primarily to make jewelry, which can be surprisingly elegant and beautiful.

How to Make a Round Paper Bead

Supplies Needed:

Paper: leftover magazines, scrapbook paper, junk mail, wallpaper, washi paper, copy paper, hand colored paper, etc.
Scissors, rotary cutter, paper cutter or craft knife
Ruler
Pen and pencil
Toothpicks or bamboo skewers
Glue stick or tacky glue
Craft paint or waterproof markers
Mod Podge, marine varnish or my favoritePC-Petrifier Water-Based Wood Hardener
Thin wire
Plastic sheeting or large plastic garbage bag
A floral foam block or sturdy piece of styrofoam

Place your paper face down.
Using a ruler and pen or pencil draw your bead paper template shapes onto the back of the sheet of paper.
Cut the paper bead template with a craft knife, ruler or scissors.
Use the drawing above as a reference for making, cutting and rolling round paper beads.
Place a toothpick or bamboo skewer on the long edge of the paper triangle.
Use tacky glue to attach the toothpick to the end of the paper bead triangle.
Roll the end of the triangle towards the pointy edge and secure the end with tacky glue or a glue stick.
Place the toothpick into a piece of floral foam or styrofoam and allow the glue to dry.
If you like, you can use a marker or craft paint to color the ends of the beads.
Gently remove the toothpick.
Continue rolling beads until you have the desired amount of paper beads
Place aside until you are ready to seal and coat the beads.

How to Make A Tubular Paper Bead

The shape of the paper bead depends on upon the form of the paper bead template. Make tubular shaped paper beads from rectangular pieces of paper. Use the above photo as a guide when crafting long cylindrical paper beads.

How to Make a Teardrop Shaped Bead

Construct teardrop beads from right triangle shapes of paper.

Coating and Sealing the Paper Bead

The next step after the tacky glue has dried, and the edges of the beads are colored, is sealing and coating the paper beads. There are many types of products out there that people use, such as mod podge, marine varnish, and clear nail polish. My personal favorite is a fantastic product called PC-Petrifier Wood Hardener. Pc-Petrifier is used to harden rotted wood on decks and outdoor furniture. Paper beads become rock solid when dipped in this product. Always use caution to cover your hands with latex or rubber gloves and avoid getting the product close to your mouth.

How to Seal Paper Beads

The first step is to remove the toothpick or bamboo skewer.
Place a piece of plastic sheeting onto your table to protect it.
String your paper beads onto a piece of thin wire and then dip them into the PC-Petrifier solution.
Let them soak for a little while and then hang to dry.
After about an hour dip them into the solution again and once again hang them to dry. The beads will not stick to the wire or each other with the PC_Petrifier solution.

The beads will now be rock solid and shiny!PC-Petrifier Wood Hardener is undoubtedly the best product I have found for bead making, but some people prefer using the other products mentioned above. The choice is yours based on your preferences.

The Finished Paper Bead

Use paper beads to make bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other various projects. I have even seen purses made with paper beads! Who would have believed that? If you don't know what to make with your paper beads, or how to proceed, to take a look at the following links for some paper bead crafting inspiration.

How to Make a Stunning Paper Bead Necklace The necklace is constructed from beautiful black paper beads, silver jewelry balls, and silver tubing elements.

A Paper Bead Craft Project Roundup17 paper bead craft projects are featured for your crafting inspiration.
If you need even more inspiration, you will find thousands of beautiful paper beads on Pinterest and Instagram.

As someone deeply immersed in the world of paper crafts, particularly focusing on the intricate art of paper bead crafting, I can attest to the richness and versatility of this traditional yet contemporary craft. Rita Shehan, the crafting expert mentioned in the article, has indeed been a prominent figure in the paper crafting community, sharing a wealth of knowledge and experience spanning over a decade.

Now, let's delve into the concepts and techniques discussed in the article on making economical wearable jewelry from paper:

History of Paper Bead Crafting:
- The article highlights that paper bead crafting has a rich history dating back to the Victorian age when women used leftover wallpaper to create simple paper beads. These beads were coated with beeswax and strung together to make decorative items like curtains and room dividers.
Materials Required:
- Various types of paper can be used for crafting paper beads, including leftover magazines, scrapbook paper, junk mail, wallpaper, washi paper, copy paper, and hand-colored paper.
- Tools such as scissors, rotary cutter, paper cutter, or craft knife are needed for cutting the paper.
- Other supplies include a ruler, pen, pencil, toothpicks or bamboo skewers, glue stick or tacky glue, craft paint or waterproof markers, and sealing products like Mod Podge, marine varnish, or PC-Petrifier.
Making Round Paper Beads:
- The process involves drawing bead paper template shapes onto the back of the paper, cutting the template, and rolling the paper into beads using toothpicks or bamboo skewers. Tacky glue secures the bead shape.
Making Tubular and Teardrop Shaped Beads:
- Tubular beads are crafted from rectangular pieces of paper, while teardrop-shaped beads are made from right triangle shapes.
Coating and Sealing the Paper Beads:
- After the glue has dried and the edges of the beads are colored, the next step is to seal and coat the paper beads. Various products like Mod Podge, marine varnish, and clear nail polish can be used. The article emphasizes the use of PC-Petrifier Wood Hardener, which provides a durable and shiny finish.
The Finished Paper Bead:
- Once sealed and coated, paper beads can be used to create various jewelry items, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and even purses. The article encourages creativity in using paper beads for diverse crafting projects.
Crafting Inspiration:
- The article suggests exploring links for further inspiration, including a project roundup featuring 17 paper bead craft projects and a guide on making a stunning paper bead necklace.

In conclusion, the art of making paper beads is a fascinating and creative endeavor with a rich history, and the article provides detailed insights and instructions for enthusiasts to embark on their own paper bead crafting journey.