The Upcycling Nanny: How to Roll Upcycled Beads

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Upcycled Magazines into Rolled Paper Beads

Using paper to make beads is one of the most well known and easiest ways to Upcycle. I enjoy teaching children to use wrappers, chip bags and labels to turn their trash into something creative and beautiful. Children enjoy cutting paper into strips, rolling beads and making jewelry to show off their newly made beads!

How to Upcycle with Paper Beads Beads

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Cut Paper Strips and Beads

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You will need a rolling stick, glue and strips of paper. The widest end of your paper will determine the resulting size of the bead. The size of your rolling stick will determine the resulting size of the bead hole.

Insert the widest end of your strip into the the slot of your bead roller. If your bead roller has to pin sticks insert it between them.If you are using a stick with no slot simply hold the widest end against your stick. Begin wrapping the strip around your roller. Take care not to pull too tightly and tear your strip.

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Paper beads rolled by a 7 year old

Stack your strip neatly. Both straight edges do not have to be stacked for every bead design. Some are centered for a more round bead and others are stacked on one side.

As you can see with the beads on the right stacking tightly and evenly is important for any design.

When you reach the tail of your paper strip dab glue directly onto the bead or onto the tail and finish wrapping. Push the bead off your roller and you have a newly made paper bead! Congratulations.

You could harden your beads with acrylic sealers, waterbased varnish, and mod podge.

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Spool Beads

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Construction Paper Beads

I like to roll many styles of beads from many materials. Here are some construction paper beads. I rolled these but I find using construction paper strips for children a wallet friendly craft!

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Sunkist Wrapper Beads

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Chip Bag Beads

Here I cut bags and wrappers into strips and rolled them the same. I just used craft goop as a glue instead of mod podge.

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Paper Bead Wire Herringbone Bracelet

Magazin Paper Bead on a Spiral Lollipop Headpin

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Wire Wrapped Gum Wrapper Bead Chain Bracelet

Try fabric, magazine paper, Chip bags, Scrapbook paper, plastic bags, tea bags, gum wrappers, candy wrappers or coffee filters. Roll bigger beads and smaller beads of the same material. Paint your beads solid or make designs with paint or nail polish.

Check out how you can make letter beads here.

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Twisted Paper Bead Wire Herringbone
Bracelet

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Paper Beads Rolled by 7 year old

Here are some paper beads my daughter rolled with me. She loves crafting as much as I do. I used her beads to make her a bracelet.

I hope this has helped you to make some awesome rolled paper beads or at least inspired the need to make something!! Good luck to you! I look forward to your feedback and would love to see pictures and hear how you Upcycle materials into beads. Send me an email at jennifer@theupcyclingnanny.com Follow me for a tutorial on making a candy wrapper bag!