Evening Jewelry, Creating your own Elegant Papier-Mâchè Beads and Pendants
Like any papier-mâché project, you must create a form for your beads and pendants. Aluminum foil is an excellent choice for bead forms. It’s lightweight and easy for kids to work with.
Here’s how you create a basic foil form:
1. Take pieces of foil and wad them up. Start with roughly a 4-inch by 6-inch square to see how you like the size.
2. Shape them into whatever size and shape you want. Check out Figure 13-6 for ideas. Add more foil if you need bigger pieces, or take some foil away to make smaller pieces.
Insert a toothpick in the forms. Squeeze the form tightly around the toothpick to reduce the air pockets and firm up the forms.
Remove the toothpick, but make sure the hole is intact.
Other form mediums include Styrofoam, prefab cardboard ornament forms, floral foam, and even empty walnut shells or eggshells. Use your imagination and find articles around your home or in nature for your kids to use.
After your forms are ready, you can apply the papier-mâchè. Here’s how:
1. Prepare the papier-mâché recipe in the “Making papier-mâché for jewelry design.
2. Squeeze any excess solution from the paper.
3. Apply the papier-mâché to your form.
4. Smooth the papier-mâché to create the finish you prefer. The smoother you make your finish now, the smoother your finished bead will be.
Make sure not to cover up the stringing holes in the finished beads and pendants. You can cover them lightly, but keep the bead hole open
(re-insert the toothpick and remove it again if you need to), just to make sure you don’t cover your stringing hole with papier-mâché.
5. Allow your beads to cure completely. This step usually takes 24 hours Or so.
After the beads are cured, paint them with the paint of your choice. Fabric-safe, washable paints are great for kids to use. They come in a variety of colors and can keep your cleanup easy. You can also add a sealer or varnish of your choice. Look for matte, satin, and high-gloss finishes in the paint department of your local crafts store. Follow the directions on the sealer you use. Almost all require you to wait for the paint to dry before applying.
Congratulations! You and your kids have now handcrafted your very own beads. Have a graham cracker and Kool-Aid break and enjoy your beautiful creations.
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