Hourglass Paper Beads

I've finally realized that if I want to be better about updating this blog regularly, I should stop worrying so much about writing profound things and focus more on putting up pictures of my beads. I suspect that's what most of my readers are looking for anyway!

(Excuse my occasional foray back into deep thoughts, though--I am what I am!)

I made these beads a while ago but hadn't ever posted a picture. This paper was half and half found/painted. It was scrapbook paper that I added color to; the background was originally white. I cut these strips in 3/4 inch rectangles, then cut long triangles out of the rectangles to leave two separate strips for rolling. I love making paper beads in unusual shapes.

Granite Paper Beads

I just had to post a picture of these newest beads I listed on my Etsy site, because they might be my favorite ones yet! Can you believe this set of beads began life as a sheet of plain white paper? These beads are the result of the experiment I mentioned several posts earlier--the one where I was trying to imitate a restaurant wall I loved. To me they look like a polished granite countertop.

I used a mixture of blue and green paint to create that deep turquoise color, then I added some bronze paint and sponged it all over my paper. Then I cut strips that were 1/2 inch on one end, narrowing to 1/4 inch at the other end. The spacer beads are 1/4 inch triangles. I gave these beads four coats of the polycrylic gloss.

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again... the wonderful thing about art is that it's ALL available to you. Any idea is open for trying. You may fail spectacularly, like when I tried rolling sandpaper into a bead. (Hint: that doesn't work!) Or you may create something beautiful. But the fun is in the experiment.

Handpainted Paper Beads

We've had 12 inches of snow in north Texas--a genuine record amount!--and that means it's great weather to stay cozy and make beads (with plenty of hot chocolate, of course).

So here's the pictures I've been promising for the last couple of posts. This is my first set of truly handpainted beads. The pictures are of the paper after I'd painted it, then the finished beads. I love the way these came out! I keep running the strand of beads through my fingers, marveling that it was just a sheet of typing paper a few days ago. They are so pretty and shiny and glossy.

I anticipate lots of fun making these in different color combinations and different shapes. They make me feel so creative and artistic--it doesn't matter that I can't draw a recognizable person for this kind of art. Playing with colors speaks to something in my soul.

Paper Bead Greeting Card

A friend recently said to me, "Don't you ever stop being creative?" I guess the answer is, No--I can't. The ideas just keep coming, and I love it! Here's my latest. This is a greeting card decorated with paper beads.

I found some card stock that I thought would be a good background for a card, and I cut part of it into strips to make beads. These are regular, inch-long tapered beads. Then I sewed the beads onto plain card stock and the decorative card stock, just like I did when I made the paper bead plaques. Then I used glue dots to attach it to a plain 5x7 greeting card.

I love this because it's so simple yet so elegant. It would be a great greeting to send to a friend, because after they read the note you'd written inside, the card would be ready to hang in a 5x7 frame.

Round Paper Beads

I'm thrilled with this necklace I just finished. First, beacause I finally figured out how to make round paper beads! Also because I love the combination of white, black and silver. It looks so elegant.

I made the round paper beads by rolling strips of scrapbook paper that were 3/8 of an inch wide and 18 inches long. I strung them with silver bead caps and black seed beads on elastic. I like to use elastic because this way the necklace can either be worn as a long single strand, or looped twice for a double strand choker. I can also wear it as a chunky, four strand bracelet.

Family Fun

My son Nathan, who's 11, has had an on-again, off-again relationship with my paper bead creation. Sometimes he acts like he's too cool to even notice what I'm doing. At other times, he's been handing my website address to his art teacher and talking me up like I'm the next big thing. So most of the time, I let him decide whether or not I'll share what I've been up to.

The last two days, though, it's been on-again. He's decided he wants to try to make beads too. And he quickly discovered (imagine that!) that making paper beads is a lot harder than it looks. Before he got frustrated and walked away, though, he made some really funky beads. And it got me thinking.

Maybe I'm being a little TOO careful about making sure my cut lines are straight. Maybe I'm taking too much time lining everything up to end up with a smoothly tapered bead. It is, of course, important to be able to do that. And for many bead sets, I want a uniform product at the end. But I could picture a really cool necklace made from Nathan's funky, misshapen beads.

I'm thinking about experimenting with more randomness. Maybe I'll just tear some paper strips and see what kind of beads those make. Or maybe I'll roll with abandon and not worry if my paper ends up in an X at the end. After all, what is the point of art if it's not uniqueness and experimentation?