Project 365

(Yes, I know that at the start of the year I was very happy to be doing this, and I know I could have quit if I had really wanted to, but now I'm proud I stuck with it and most of all.. Happy it is OVER and DONE WITH!)

(You can see the whole set here.)

My video on Paper Beads!

As I like sharing my obsessions, I decided to do a video on how to make Paper Beads. Enjoy!



Please show me your paper bead projects. A video response would be awesome, but I'd also like to see blogs, Flickr pages or other pictures. Would love to see this paper bead obsession spread!

(Oh, and the link I referred to is one you've probably already checked out: Paper Beads.)

Bookbinding

For some time now, I watched with envy how others bound book after beautiful book. I knew that it was 'the next step' for me when it came to Art Journals, but I never got any further than hinged rings and a ringbinder.

Until....



So last night, I made this:

It's a booklet that came in one of the many Dutch magazines my sister brought over when we went on holiday together. Instead of waxed thread, or even waxing thread, I used dental floss, and it worked really well. Oh, and I've left two longer tails at the back, so I can hang some paper beads from it when I'm done. (Oh come on! You knew I would!)

Now if you like this, and are interested in learning more, you should follow Leslie on Twitter. Or even better yet... Join her (and me and many others) on Art Journaling Ning, where she's got a whole series on this Junk Journal, and there will be more workshops to come!

Round beads!!

Look! Look! I did it!
The lovely Janice from Paperbeads explained to me that I needed to cut long strips, about two magazine pages long (or longer) and only 1/4 of an inch wide. If you go to this post, you will see pictures of how she does it!
Or better yet, watch this video:


I tried to see what they would look like combined with some other beads I had made.

I like. Think this will make a nice bracelet.

Obsession is....

.... looking at shredded paper used by Lululalaland as wrapping material for a spool of elastic cord I bought there, and thinking 'Ohh cool, straight paper beads I don't have to cut myself!'

Turns out that newspaper isn't the best material (at least not such narrow strips) to turn into paper beads, but there were a few glossy strips in there that had Chinese writing on them. Have to wait and see how the actual beads will come out once glossed.

Oh.. and... I made this:
With the length it is I don't like it as a necklace, but love it as a bracelet. Wore it today and got tons of comliments, some people refused to believe it's 'just rolled up paper'. How amazing is that! And then I was told that I could start selling these, but I'm not sure if I want to go down that route. I need to get much much better.. And figure out the secret to making marble-round beads like they sell here. Until then, I will just continue making bracelets and necklaces for myself, and saving up the left over ones until I have enough to make this amazingly long necklace.

Like I needed a new obsession...

Don't tell her, but we got Tye's niece (9) this paper bead kit for Christmas. And because it was cheaper to buy them online, even with shipping, than it was buying the kit in the store, I got one too. Because I really needed a new obsession, right?

I decided not to touch the strips of paper that come with the kit, not wanting to spoil them. So I used a page from a book I thought I was going to use as an art journal, but it turned out not sewn but glued, so I can't use it. I had already put some blue, white and a tiny bit of green acrylics on this page to see if it would hold paint, thinking I would then use the paper for a book binding project. So then I thought, why not use that page to try this paper beading thing...


I'm so happy with the result! After giving them two coats of the 'glaze' (it smells like glue to me!) that came with the kit, they were ready to be turned into two little bracelets. I love them!

Since then, I haven't been able to stop making paper beads. These are tiny ones:


I'm totally obsessed now. I keep searching the many magazines I've got for colourful pages I can cut up into strips, and I've got paper cuts on my fingers from rolling the paper... But I'm loving it! And I'm not even a beader... (but feel I could easily turn into one if I'm not careful.)

Want to give it a try yourself? Have a look at this blog Paper Beads or the YouTube videos. Have fun!