Spinning Top Paper Beads

My poor son has had strep throat this week. It's been very low key around our house! I think the antibiotics are finally kicking in, and he's finally making a recovery.

In the meantime, I'm having fun playing with this new bead shape I... discovered? invented? They make me think of a child's spinning top toy. I've made them in two different sizes, as you can see, but I think I prefer the longer ones. I made these by first rolling a traditional paper bead, all the way to a point, then rolling a second, thinner strip around the middle. It's kind of a challenge to get the second strip to stay centered, but I think it's worth it. They're fun, unique little beads.

I've also been playing with painting my own paper, as I talked about in the last post. Some of that is coming out really well--I love it! I don't have pictures yet, but I'll put some up when I have them.

I love the way being creative means there's never a lack of new things to try!

Paper Bead Wall Art

I've been thinking lately about ways to use paper beads other than jewelry. They're great for jewelry, of course--so lightweight and easy to wear--but I'm not much of a jewelry designer. My necklaces all look pretty much the same except different beads. Now, with paper beads, the differences between beads may be enough to make that work, but still, I'm looking for a project that's more uniquely me.

So I've been experimenting with wall art. I'm starting small, for now, making 5x7 plaques. I'll post some pictures once I have one completely finished, but I'm excited about the way they're coming out so far. I'm using half a sheet of paper to make beads, and the other half as a mat. I sew the beads onto card stock in interesting designs and mount it on the coordinating paper. Very cool.