This round of Earth Day craft ideas features paper beads and tubes. We first made these last spring and were impressed at how pretty they and versatile they are. You can create an extraordinary array of styles and shapes simply by varying the paper color, quality or width and by using cylinders of different thicknesses.
Great instructions for this activity can be found at wikiHow, but keep in mind that making tiny beads may be challenging for those under the age of 8. Children as young as 4 may enjoy this project as long as they use thick cylinders—nothing narrower than a pencil or crayon—in step 3. Those with limited levels of patience or finger dexterity should aim for making larger tubes for yarn instead of tiny beads for thread.
Our best results came from gently-used thick wrapping paper, magazines, catalogs and glossy junk mail.
Larger tubes, taped (back row) and smaller beads, glued. It may be easier for younger children to apply tape during step 4 instead of using glue in step 3 or 4.
If desired, you can use undiluted Mod Podge or Elmer’s Glue in step 6 rather than thinning with water.
More advanced beaders might want to visit FamilyFun.com to see their instructions for making a magazine bead bracelet.
© Liesl K. Bohan | TipsnTidbits.com
