Recycled Magazine Paper Beads for Jewelry

5 min read

Rolled paper beads turn old magazines into jewelry, and the transformation still feels a little like magic. A glossy page becomes a smooth, varnished bead, and a handful of beads becomes a necklace or a bracelet that nobody guesses started life as a magazine. This project costs almost nothing, uses supplies you already own, and keeps colorful paper out of the recycling bin for one more life. It is also a forgiving craft, since imperfect beads still look charming when they are strung together.

Start with a stack of old magazines, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a toothpick or a bamboo skewer, white glue, and clear varnish. Glossy pages work best because they roll smoothly and take varnish well, while matte newsprint feels rough and absorbs glue unevenly.

Choosing Magazine Pages with Good Color

The color of your bead comes from the last inch of the paper triangle, so look at the edge of each page before you cut. A page with a red dress on one side and a blue sky on the other gives you a bead with a red tip and blue bands, which is more interesting than a page of solid beige. Flip through the magazine and pull out ten or twelve pages with strong colors, then sort them into warm and cool piles so you can plan a matching set. Pages with gold or metallic ink make especially pretty beads, since the shine survives the varnish.

Avoid pages that are mostly white or black, since they make dull beads, and skip pages with heavy text, because tiny letters look muddy when rolled.

Cutting Triangles That Roll Evenly

Cut each page into long triangles, about one inch wide at the base and eleven inches long, since the triangle shape is what makes the bead taper to a point. Mark the base with a ruler and draw a line from each base corner to a point at the top of the page, then cut along the lines. A paper trimmer gives the cleanest edges, but sharp scissors work fine if you cut slowly. Even triangles make even beads, so take the time to measure rather than cutting freehand.

Cut a whole batch of triangles before you start rolling, because rolling goes faster when you are not stopping to cut. Stack the triangles by color family so you can grab the next one without hunting through a pile. If a triangle tears, set it aside for a smaller bead rather than throwing it away, since shorter triangles make smaller beads that work well as spacers.

Rolling Tight Beads

Start rolling at the wide base of the triangle, wrapping the paper snugly around a toothpick or a skewer. Keep the edges aligned as you roll, since a bead that drifts sideways comes out lopsided. When you reach the last inch of the triangle, dab a little white glue along the tip and press it down, then hold the bead for a few seconds until the glue grips. Slide the bead off the skewer and set it aside to dry, then roll the next one the same way.

Tension matters more than speed when you roll paper beads, because a loose roll makes a soft bead that crushes when you string it. Roll firmly and evenly, and if the bead feels squishy, unroll it and start again rather than hoping the varnish will fix it. Practice with five or six beads before you judge your technique, since the first few are always the roughest.

Sealing Beads for Wear

Sealing is what turns a paper bead into jewelry that survives daily wear, so do not skip it. Thread the dry beads onto a skewer or a wire, leaving a small gap between them, and brush on a thin coat of clear varnish or decoupage glue. Let the first coat dry fully, then add a second and a third coat, turning the skewer so every side gets covered. Three thin coats protect far better than one thick coat, which can drip and dry with runs.

Use a water-based varnish for the least smell and the fastest drying, and work in a well-ventilated area even with water-based products. Let the beads cure overnight before you string them, since varnish that feels dry to the touch can still be soft underneath. Test one bead by pressing it with a fingernail, and if it dents, give the whole batch another coat.

Stringing Necklaces and Bracelets

String the beads on elastic cord for a bracelet or on beading wire for a necklace, mixing your paper beads with glass or wooden beads for contrast. Lay out the pattern on a table before you string it, alternating colors and sizes so the design looks balanced.

A paper bead necklace looks best with a simple pattern, such as

three paper beads
one glass bead
repeat
rather than a random jumble

Knot elastic cord three times and add a drop of glue to the knot, since elastic knots slip if you trust a single knot.

Finish a wire necklace with crimp beads and a clasp, and test the length against your neck before you crimp, because a necklace that is too short will not sit right. Make a matching bracelet from the leftover beads, and keep a few spare beads in a small bag for repairs.

Take the next step when you are ready: How to Make Easy DIY Projects: A Beginner's Guide to Creativity is waiting below, along with more Upcycling reads.

Reference: Beads — Wikipedia

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