My Mom is visiting & one of the fun benefits for the kids is her excellent memory of the crafts she used to entertain me with when I was a kid in the 70's (that, and endless rounds of "Bataille"/War and Solitaire). This time she brought out the paper beads.
I have such vivid memories of making these for hours on end at the kitchen table. Full of the kind of patience only a child could muster. Cutting the triangles of paper just so, wrapping them carefully around a toothpick, and finishing them off with a good slathering of glue to secure them. Once completely dry I would paint them, and string them up, or just leave them as-is if the paper was particularly pretty. I loved sorting and classifying them by size, patter, color, and even just the feel of them over-flowing from my hands when I'd scoop them up.
Paper University has a good tutorial where they use straws instead of toothpicks, which will be much easier for smaller kids, if you'd like to try this one out as well.
we always wound them around those giant plastic kid needles - then threaded them with a regular big metal needle, which is one size smaller. :^)
Posted by: Lori | December 05, 2008 at 07:48 PM
I'm so glad you posted this--I have a favorite bracelet made out of paper beads, and I always think, "I could probably do this!" and now, thanks to you--I can :-)
Posted by: Paige | December 11, 2008 at 05:08 AM
Paper crafts are endless. I love that we can combine recycling with creative fun, too. This is a great idea. I'm going to add it to my site.
Posted by: Seedplanter | April 21, 2009 at 10:05 PM