Scratchy Straw Painting

Posted 2013-11-23 by Oxford Explorer ⇒ follow

Create a cool recycled bracelet by making your own beads out of an old magazine. Our beads were made out of long thin triangle strips to make a rounded bead. Have fun experimenting with different shaped strips.

Time: 30 minutes
Age: 5-10's, Over 10's
Level: Medium

Materials

Magazine (or anything paper)

Scissors

Glue (any type ok)

Skewer

Elastic

Method

Cut the magazine page into long thin triangles. The widest part of the triangle will be the length of your final bead. A long triangle will make a chunkier bead whilst a short triangle will make a slimmer bead. We cut one triangle then used this as a template to cut around for the rest.

Cover one side of the triangle with glue, leaving a little piece unglued at the widest part of the triangle (this will help stop it sticking to the skewer).

Wind the triangle tightly around the skewer, glue side inwards, starting at the wide edge of the triangle.

Continue winding until you get to the pointy end of the triangle. Add a little more glue if needed to finish it off securely.

Slide the bead off the skewer.

Make as many beads as you want to, then thread on to a piece of elastic.

Tie the elastic, then snip the loose ends and slide a bead over the knot to hide it.

Your bracelet is now ready to wear, or give to a special friend.

Try making chunkier beads by cutting several gently tapering strips and gluing end to end to make a very long roll length.