How To Make Your Own Paper Beads

Summer is here and I am sure all the parents out there are looking for ways to keep their kids busy (we sure are!) here is a fun and easy tutorial on how to make your own beads. You can then watch some of our other videos for ideas on what to do with the beads.

Material needed:

Old magazines
Ruler
Pencil
Glue
Modge podge (varnish)
Styrofoam
Toothpicks
Paint brush

Instructions:

First lay your paper flat. Measure 1 inch intervals on one side and draw lines 1 inch apart. Then angle your ruler and draw a line cutting each interval into half and turning each inch interval into two triangles.

You can experiment with different shapes of paper cutting; this will result in beads of different shapes.

Once you have a size of paper strip you like, use a small paintbrush and coat the top side with white glue. Starting with the widest end of the paper, roll it tightly around a toothpick.

Roll the last bit and press down on it for a few seconds to hold the bead in place.

Leave each bead on the toothpick and stick each toothpick into the piece of styrofoam.

Start varnishing. Use a brush and give them at least 2 coats of varnish. Leave to dry for 2-3 days.

Amber teething necklaces for babies

We at Beading Buds just love jewelry, and are always looking for the latest trends. Nancy Ripton, from www.justthefactsbaby.com, is sharing with us a trend she came across, amber teething necklaces.
Nancy says, we were recently at a mommy event and we saw a mom and her little baby wearing beautiful matching necklaces. We commented on them and were told that it was an amber teething necklace. We were instantly intrigued and decided to do some research. Amber, a fossilized sap from prehistoric trees that grew as far back as almost fifty million years ago. It is always warm to the touch and has been used for centuries for its healing properties. It produces negative ions, eases pain and activates the healing process. This mommy wearing the necklace was from Europe where babies have been wearing these necklaces for generations.
If you are as intrigued as we are and would like to see how to make one yourself, check out this link http://www.ehow.com/how_2099756_make-amber-teething-necklace.html
For more great baby facts, check out Nancy's blog at www.justthefactsbaby.com/blog/

Beading programs and the Canadian children's arts tax credit

We are all so excited about the new Children's Art Tax Credit that the government has recently unveiled. Since we teach lunchtime programs and afterschool programs at many schools in Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto and all over the Greater Toronto Area, we are so happy that the parents of our little beaders will now be able to claim a portion of what they pay for these programs when filing their taxes.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/txtps/2012/tt120326-eng.html

Beautiful Boho Hoop Earrings

While looking for fun projects to teach at my lunchtime school
program, I came across this super easy and fun video on how to make
beautiful hoop earrings using seed beads and glass beads.

Materials:

2 Earring wires
2 Jump rings
1 spool of bracelet sized memory wire
Size 11 seed beads
4 6 mm beads
2 8 mm beads

Tools:
Needle nosed pliers
Wire cutters

1) Cut the memory wire so that you have one hoop. Repeat so that you have two hoops in total. Using your needle nosed pliers make a loop at one end.
2) String on 48 seed beads. String on one 6 mm bead, a seed bead, a 8 mm bead, a seed bead and another 6 mm bead. Then string on another 48 seed beads.
3) Using your needle nosed pliers make a loop on the remaining end of the hoop.
4) Using your pliers open up the jump ring and put booth ends of the hoop through, as well as the bottom of the earring wire. Close the jump ring. Repeat with the second hoop so that you have two earrings.

This beautiful pair of earrings will be perfect for this spring's boho trend.