Go Green with Design:
Paper Beads
Resources Organized By:
Angela Abts
UNL Extension Educator
Dakota County
Resources Needed for Paper Beads
 Glue
 Magazines
 Toothpicks
 Rotary Cutter with dull blades
 Rotary Cutting Mat
 Rotary Cutter Ruler
 Mod Podge
 Small Craft Brushes
 Foam Board
 Acrylic Sealer
Instructions on making basic beads.
1. Cut paper into desired lengths for the width of the beads (recommend 1/2” to 1” wide).
2. Cut the strips into 11” lengths (It can be shorter or longer based on thickness of paper and
the size of bead desired for the project).
3. Roll the strip around the toothpick. (Note: You may need to remove the bead to straighten
the paper.)
4. Glue the end of the paper and seal the ends.
Different Bead Shapes
Basic Beads
Elliptical Beads
This pattern will make
one basic bead.
This pattern will make
one elliptical bead and
two cone beads.
Cone Beads
This pattern will make
two cone beads.
Hourglass Beads
This pattern will make
one hourglass and one
elliptical bead.
How do you make the Cone, Elliptical, and Hourglass Beads?
1. Start out with the basic bead design and cut the paper to resemble the diagram above.
(Note: The elliptical and hourglass beads are isosceles triangles.)
Finishing the Bead
1. Place the glued bead on a toothpick. (Note: You may need to wrap a rubber band on the
toothpick to keep the bead from slipping). Brush the bead with mod podge to seal the bead.
Apply a few coats. Let each coat dry before applying the next layer. Spray each bead with
acrylic sealer after the bead dries.
2. Now you are ready to use the beads for a variety of projects (i.e. jewelry, cards, scrapbook
pages, .
Additional Finishing Touches
1. Tie fibers (eyelash yarn, etc.) around the beads.
2. Wrap wire around the bead using 24 to 26 gauge wire with an unique design.
3. Add glass beads to the fiber or wire before finishing your design.
4. The ideas are endless. Experiment with unique designs.
Types of Paper Beads
You may use a variety of papers for your next beading project. Here are a couple possibilities
to try.
Newspaper
Scrapbook Paper
Gift Wrap
Magazines & Catalogs
Brown Paper Bags
Copier Paper (plain & colored)
This is the fun part of trying new materials. You can even design your own paper with markers,
paint, watercolor, etc. After mastering the paper beads, be sure to try fiber beads using fabric,
ribbon, etc. The ideas are endless with beads. It is a great way to use recycled products.
Online Resources
www.paperbeadcrafts.com
www.tappi.org/paperu/art_class/paperBeads.htm
paperbeads.org
paperbeads.org/paper-bead-Christmas-star-ornament
paperbeads.org/paper-bead-flowers
enchanted-art.blogspot.com/2007/08/fabric-and-paper-beads.html
Resource Books
Altered Paper Jewelry by Jenn Mason
Creative Beads from Paper and Fabric by Ann Kristen Krier
Fabulous Fabric Beads by Kristal Wick
Picture Sources:
Cover: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70081034.tip.html
Bead Patterns: http://papereden.blogspot.com/
Back: http://www.beadingdaily.com/forums/t/4018.aspx