DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Bead Pencil Toppers

A cute retro look for your pencil.  We just used old magazines, but if you wanted something a bit more color coordinated you can use gift wrap or other colored paper.

Materials:

• scrap paper:  here are some ideas
  • we used the paper that flower bouquets get wrapped in (yes, I keep everything),
  • used gift wrap
  • magazine pages (glossy ones with lots of pictures and little writing.
  • even construction paper will work)!
• something long and round to wrap the beads around:  -- younger children will need something fatter  (so the beads have a big hole) and older children can use something as thin as a toothpick.  Here are some ideas 
  • a pen or pencil
  • a bamboo skewer
  • a toothpick
  • a knitting needle
  • a straw
• glue (we used a glue stick, but regular white glue works too).
• scissors.
• Optional:  clear (or fairly light) nailpolish
• string, wool or ribbon (it has to fit through the hole in the beads so must be thinner than the long and round base you've chosen)

Instructions - Making Paper Beads:

• To start, you'll need to make some beads for the cross.  
  • Make 3  one-inch beads and 1 two-inch bead.
  • don't get too fussy... just have the kids make a bunch of beads and then pick out the ones that make a nice cross.
  • any leftover beads can be threaded onto the necklace part of the cross necklace (sort of like a rosary) or can be used for a different necklace
• Cut out long triangles from the scrap paper.  
  • They should be at least 11 inches long (standard paper size), but can be bigger.
  • They should be as wide as you want the bead (so a one inch bead would have a one inch edge).
  • We just estimated ours and cut them out freehand, but if your children are at the age where they are practicing ruler use, have them measure it out!

• we used a skewer as our base...  You can use a straw, knitting needle, etc.  I'll use the word skewer through the remainder of these directions to mean whatever base you've chosen.
• apply glue to the back side of the triangle (don't apply glue to the beginning 1/2 inch or so or else your bead will end up glued to the skewer and you won't be able to pull it off
• starting at the wide end, wrap the triangle around the skewer all the way to the point.  The triangular shape of the paper will give you a tapered bead.  If you use a long enough piece, your bead will be almost round.

• Optional:  apply a coat of clear (light) nail polish.  Although this is optional, it does make the beads shinier and a bit more sturdy.

Templates:

• set your skewers over a bowl or glass (so the beads are suspended in the air) to dry

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