How to make "confetti beads"

Hello everyone! I am so glad to have you visit my blog, and I am really happy over the great response to my confetti beads that I have made!  These are very easy to make and really fun as well!! I am going to give you the instructions below, and I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do...They are definitely fun to make, and i know you will love making them too! OK...If you have any questions after reading this, just comment on here, or catch me on FB..I am always around:))

******please read thru before starting your beads, just to get familiar with the steps****

1. you will need a few things....

1. Straws at whatever size you want your beads and the center hole to be, cocktail up to regular size..I used regular size and I am glad i did because it gives me more room to go with whatever size string or cord for making into jewelry...

2. tissue paper. I am using a large package of plain white tissue paper and it is working really well for me. tear it into strips of about 1-2 inches wide, and the total length of the tissue piece..you could also use newspaper, construction paper, any type f paper that you can wrap the bead with and it looks right...

3. Beads..seed beads, glass beads, plastic, mix and match sizes and colors for lots of color and texture...use misc. small beads in various shapes and colors. i am using all different colors, sizes and shapes because I like the texture it gives to the bead...each one is a tiny little piece of art in itself...

4. fabric scraps. tear or cut the fabric into about 1 inch width, and 6-8 inches long. I am using the 6 inch length, and they work great for me because I like the way the bead is turning out...i am using pieces from fat quarters, and the length is right, i just had to tear them into 1 inch wide approx. strips...

beading wire in 24-26 gauge

clear Liquid acrylic gloss varnish, liquid glossy glaze, whatever you have or want to use, or you can skip this step, but i suggest you do this for the security of your bead

Then you will also need your glue gun, lots of glue stix, embroidery thread in bright colors, needles and sequins (your choice), fibers in bright colors and different textures such as fringe, angel hair, yarn, whatever you have or want to use, small buttons in bright colors...I am using totally just whatever I have, but I have a lot of "stuff" and I just found what would work for me...

ALSO YOU will need long paintbrushes, dowels or rods of some kind to hold your beads while you work on them

If you want, you can also use gold dimensional paint..I used Pearl Pen by VIVA, you can use whatever color or brand you want...I also added touches of Lumiere metallic paint in metallic russet and/or bright gold in spots, using a small sponge brush, very sparingly, and that really made them stand out and look great! make sure to use both of those things sparingly, so as to not cover up your bright colors..but used on the beads together, they will look fabulous!

These are the basic instructions, but you are free to play with different textures and components that you construct your bead with...use your choice of beads, sequins, buttons, whatever is small and can be sewn on...once you start making them, you may want to use whatever will stay attached using your glue gun...just have fun and enjoy making these..

The finished confetti beads

ok...bear with me, I will try to do this in the order that I made them....

slide your straw onto the end of a paintbrush handle...wedge it on kinda snug and it will stay put while you are working on it...then, using your glue gun, put down a line of about 1 inch onto the straw, then wrap the spot on the straw with a piece of your tissue paper you have torn/cut into strips. If you need to add another piece, go right ahead..these are your beads and you can and subtract what you like...

After wrapping the straw and securing the end of the tissue paper with a bit of hot glue, then you will wrap over the tissue with your fabric strips you have cut/torn to size that suits you...I went about one inch approx, maybe just a small amount wider, which makes your beads a little larger. the width of your tissue and fabric are what determines the width of the bead.
you can then start making more beads on the rest of the straw you are using...I was able to fit 3-4 beads onto the length of my regular sized straws and the size is perfect for me.

After you have wrapped and secured everything on your straw, then you will wrap them with a length of your fiber you have chosen. i used everything, yarn, colored string, cord, fringe, angel hair, eyelash fibers..it is all your choice on the type and colors you use...wrap and secure with the hot glue, in the same way you did the tissue and the fabric...


now, you will need to get your beading wire, and cut a length of about 6-7 inches long, and then load your piece of wire up with beads...you can go with all seed beads, or do a total serendipity type loading of the beads onto the wire..mine are basically a case of spontaneous assemblage, because i just grabbed and wrapped basically..there was no conscious thought of patterns, etc...i just used them how they turned out.

take your length of beads/beading wire, and wrap it around your bead on the paintbrush handle, wrapping it securely on each end to make sure it doesn't fall off. I secured mine by adding some hot glue on each end of the wire where i had wrapped each bead, and they are really secure. plus there will be more we do to secure them in a minute....

now your bead should be beginning to come to life, with your tissue, fabric, fibers, AND beads/sequins/buttons (you can use any or all of these, or add something else you like) all put together! here is where you get to make them "yours"...using a sharp needle and bright colored thread (I used embroidery thread)sew a random amount of sequins, or extra beads onto your bead shape, using whatever colors you want or have, the brighter the better! sew them into the bare spots n your bead, and As you sew them on, also make small stitches to secure your beaded wire to the bead you are making..


after hand sewing your beads/sequins onto your bead that is under construction, if you do them like mine, you will need to do this last step...it makes a big difference in the security of the bead to maintain it's shape, plus i like the look of it after the bead is all finished...

***

Finally--using clear liquid acrylic varnish in the glossy finish (thinned way down with water)use a sponge brush to dab all over your bead, on top of the sequins, beads, fibers, everything...coat everything with your acrylic gloss medium and then let them dry...they will turn out beautiful AND tough enough to withstand quite a bit of wear or handling of the beads..

once everything has been done to the bead, and you have coated them with the acrylic medium and they have dried, use scissors to cut the bead sections apart from each other. Get as close on each end of the bead that you can, so the straw piece in the center won't be seen...your beads will be beautiful, and you will love making them!

***fyi...the acrylic gloss medium at the end is up to you...they will be gorgeous whatever way you go, but the acrylic gloss medium will make them more secure and durable.plus it gives them A Look of a ceramic or torched bead...you would never know they are just tissue paper and fabric without knowing these instructions!


one last thing...you can use this same technique on wooden spools as well!! below, i am showing two wooden spools stacked on each other, and i have done the same technique using them..they turned out so cute, and as wonderful as the other beads, just wrap and glue like the others..perfect!

you can use wooden spools to make beads as well!

Aren't those adorable??!! ok, now you are on your own...lol...if you have any questions, leave them in the comment section here, catch me on facebook, pm me or post your question on my fb wall, and most of all, just have fun and make them all yours!! Thank you all for your comments and questions!

Thank you and

Happy creating!


Laura