All throughout recorded history, people have used crafting as a means of spending time together and filling the hours. One such craft was beading, which utilizes pieces created from various materials including glass, stone, plastic, crystal, and metal. One can personalize the process and increase the fun by discovering how to make paper beads.

This is not only a really easy craft to do, but it enables one to get a lot of different looks which can be combined in a variety of projects. Cutting papers a certain way can create oval, tubular, or round items in many sizes and thicknesses. Following some simple instructions to build these items, one can construct projects such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, curtains, purses, and many more.

To get started, gather up newspapers, magazines, colored papers, scrapbooking sheets, or anything of the like and cut it into strips the appropriate size and shape for the desired type of bead. An isosceles triangle will end up round shaped, a right triangle will be a teardrop, and rectangular becomes tubular. Keep in mind that the base of the shape determines its height and the longer the strip, the wider the bead.

Decide what size the center hole will be by selecting either a wooden dowel, toothpick, or skewer and start wrapping the wider end of a strip around it until its whole length has been wound. Wrapping tightly is necessary to prevent the piece from coming undone when taken off the sizer. If the strip is not straight, the results will be a freeform shape, while remaining centered will build the bead symmetrical.

Once tightly and completely wound, add a little tacky glue to the end of each strip and secure it firmly. Leave the bead on the stick and insert it into a block of Styrofoam or florist foam while the adhesive dries. When it has set, one may proceed to the step of adding desired embellishments.

When the glue holding the end has thoroughly dried, the pieces can be painted or colored with markers if one chooses. Adding puff paint, wire, or thread before or after painting, can give the piece texture, and glitter adds a bit of sparkle. Be sure that all embellishments are completely dry before proceeding to the sealing process.

To seal these pieces and give them more durability, several different mediums may be used, including clear-drying glue, Modge Podge, marine varnish, a wood hardener with a water-base, Diamond Glaze and even clear nail polish. With most of these options, the simplest thing is to string the baubles onto wire and fully immersing them into the desired solution. Allow ample time for the first coat to dry before applying additional layers.

Now that the pieces are sealed, they will be durable and last much longer. They can be used to create a number of awesome projects from the simple design of a necklace to something as complicated as a handbag. Try different combinations and mediums to find the one that fits one's personal tastes best and get creative with it.