Monday, February 1, 2010

Paper Bead Cones Pendant


I'm so excited about this new shape for making paper beads I discovered, and my first idea for how to use them. I love this pendant. I made it from 8 horn-shaped paper beads and hemp cord.

First I made the beads. I cut my paper into tapered triangles that were 1/4 inch wide and 12 inches long. I rolled them around a toothpick as usual, but instead of keeping the paper centered as I rolled it, I kept moving it slightly to the left as I rolled, creating a horn shape. The last couple of inches I rolled on top of itself to create a little lip at the edge. I glued the end down, then carefully pulled the bead off the toothpick and bent it into a slightly curved shape before I coated it with polycrylic finish.

After I had eight beads with three dry coats of polycrylic, I strung them on a bit of elastic beading thread. I formed them into the circle shape I wanted, tied the elastic, then adjusted the shape until it was perfect. Then I dunked the entire pendant into the polycrylic and hung it up to dry.

I used three, one-yard lengths of hemp for the necklace. I attached the paper bead pendant in the middle, tied an overhand knot, then braided the hemp to the ends and tied another overhand knot. Voila! I think this is a fun, casual paper bead pendant. I'm looking forward to making several with different colors of paper.

9 comments:

  1. Sometimes mine come out like that when I have them wound too tight on my bead roller. Maybe I should not try and 'fix' the mistake, but instead go with the flow and create something new! This pendant is gorgeous!

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  2. Eveline--that was my thought as I watched my son wildly making beads without giving a thought to perfection--and some of them were really neat. If you can't experiment in art, where can you?

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  3. I love your work Melissa. I am just getting started with experimenting in different materials and shapes for beads. I was wondering what brand of polycrylic you use, and your supplier as you have a beautiful finish to your beads.

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  4. Hi Felicity. I use Minwax polycrylic, and I just get it at Wal-Mart. Thanks for the compliment! Good luck with your beads.

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  5. This is gorgeous! I'm trying it now myself, but the beads just won't curve! Is there a secret?? I'm using a toothpick and magazine paper...doesn't seem like this should be difficult...lol.

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    1. I'm not sure exactly how you've done it, but if you haven't, try taking them off the toothpick right after you roll them, curving them by hand, then coating with your sealer.
      Good luck :)

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  6. How did you bend it into the curve shape?

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  7. The bead MUST be wider at the end order for the next bead to fit into it, so it could not have been made with a toothpick or you're not telling us all the details of how this was made.

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