How do I polish (make them glossy) these beads?
Can I use any paper?
What type of paints work best?
Can I use a bead roller for uniformity?
My 11 yr. old daughter is driving me nuts to make these but I cant seem to find any really good info on how to make them look good. The process seems simple enough. Boil Paper, drain, add glue, shape, dry, paint, polish.
Any suggestions? Tips? Advice?
Thanks In Advance!
I don't think you can polish paper beads the same way you'd polish metal beads.... tumbling in polishing medium. I've never made paper beads, and I don't know much about the process, but I'd put a clear acrylic coat or sealant coat on them to make them shiny after you've painted them. Oh, and don't forget about the holes when you are making the beads. Gotta have holes to string them.
Sterling
Here is an very nice tutorial which has been very generously shared. These paper beads are incredibly beautiful.
Libby snipped-for-privacy@etsy.com
My daughter and I made them once too. We cut long, triangular strips and rolled them on to a toothpick. I can't remember if the strips were wet or dry when we rolled them. I think then we painted them with a mixture of elmer's glue and water, like paper mache. It was easy and fun, and if you use the glossy ads or magazine pages, they come out quite colorful.
I was a Girl Scout leader for 15 years with very active troops. You can find almost any instructions for everything a Girl Scout would do on some council's page. I found this one that might help.
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