Paper Bead Tutorial by Kirsty

Hello Hambly, this is Kirsty. For today’s tutorial, I’ve combined a handful of Hambly papers with a simple stringing tip to make some easy-to-wear jewelry pieces. They’re perfect to give as gifts, or – of course – to keep and wear yourself. (It’s not just me who likes wearing scrapbook supplies, right?) Supply list:

Scrap of card
Scissors
Hambly papers
Pencil
Toothpick
Tacky glue or PVA glue
Clear varnish or embossing ink pad and clear powder
Narrow cord, leather/cotton thong or skinny ribbon

Step 1: Copy the bead template onto card and cut out. Trace around the card shape onto your first piece of paper and cut this out, too.
Step 2: Starting at the narrow end, roll the bead around a cocktail stick. When you’ve rolled roughly half the strip, hold it in place and spread a small amount of glue over the remaining part of the strip.
Step 3: Continue rolling the rest of the strip, pressing the paper end down firmly to secure. Slide off the toothpick, and leave your finished bead to dry. Make as many beads as you need in the same way.

Step 4: Brush 1-2 coats of clear varnish over each bead to seal and protect, or use embossing powder instead. To do this, slip the bead back onto thetoothpick, and roll over an embossing ink pad. Dip into clear embossing powder so the whole bead is covered. Heat to melt, then allow to cool before adding a second layer on top. Step 5: Thread one of the beads onto a length of cord, thong or skinny ribbon. Slide it along so it sits roughly in the middle.
Step 6: Take a second bead, and push one end of the cord through from left to right, and the opposite end of the cord through from right to left.

Step 7: Pull the cord tight, so the second bead sits snugly on top of the first one.
Step 8: Keep adding beads in the same way, as many or as few as you like (5-8 is ideal) to form a pendant.
Once you’ve finished stringing beads, the rest of the cord becomes the hanging mechanism for your necklace. Just tie the ends together at the back of your neck to wear it.
Neutral and kraft-coloured papers work just as well as brighter shades.
You can also thread a cuff-style bracelet using paper beads and the same stringing method. Thread the beads onto wire instead of cord, alternating with small crystal or plastic beads so the wire doesn’t cut into the paper, and add a clasp at either end.
Thanks so much for reading. Kirsty