In a previous blog I wrote about my obsession with decoupage. Decoupage is an ancient art form where you glue pictures to wooden household items and varnish them.
When I started I did the usual things, boxes, coasters, chairs, place mats etc. Well if it was wood and did not move I papered it. My dear husband however drew the line when we recently purchased a wooden toilet seat.
Wanting a change of scale I started decoupaging jewelry, papering small wooden tiles and lavishing them with varnish. Pendants and earrings is where I perfected the art. Now my pendants have grown into large feature necklaces.
While I really like the decoupage necklaces I wanted to create something a little more upmarket and found these wonder full silver trays.
Decoupaging the small wooden tiles are a bit tedious but I find the varnish process quite therapeutic and just love the actual making of the jewelry. So why use the tiles at all. Enter paper beads.
In theory you take some colored paper, cut into strips, roll and varnish. A lot of people cut up magazines. Yes you get an attractive bead look, but I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist and want more.
When it comes to paper I only use high quality paper: Japanese, Indian, good quality wrapping paper and scrapbook paper. Stardream paper makes excellent plain beads to use as accents.
Take an A4 (30cmx30cm also works well) sheet of paper and cut stripes across the sheet, about 2cm-3cm wide. Depending on how fat you want your bead, cut width wise for skinny beads and length wise for fat beads. I would normally measure and draw lines first then cut with scissors. It is important that the paper is cut nice and even if you want nice beads.
Rectangle stripes gives you plain rolled beads. Triangles you give a more shaped bead. A triangle with a centre point gives you a more rounded bead. A right angle triangle gives you a bell shaped beads. if you feel adventurous try a u-shape and you get an hour glass shaped bead.
Now take you stripe dip one end in water so its damp. (I do not recommend put it on your mouth, not sure what is in some of the dyes)take a tooth pick and roll the paper on the stick in a nice even manner. When you get to the end add a small amount of PVA glue. Now you have done one keep going until you run out of paper or think you have enough beads. for smaller beads of 1cm I use a quilling tool.
The next stage is to varnish. I know some people use nail varnish and I am sure it works well but as with all my decoupage I use water-based estapol. If you can use it on furniture I am sure it will protect my work as well.
What I do is put each bead on a toothpick, like a handle. Take a sheet of polystyrene. I always save the smaller pieces of polystyrene sheets from packaging. Holding the bead by its handle apply a coat of varnish and push stick into styrene. This way they stand up nicely to dry. You may want to apply a second coat depending on the paper.
Now take you beads and create that love necklace, earrings, what ever.
If you would any help please feel free to contact me.
If you would like to see some of my creation please visit my web sire www.erykasplace.com
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