Boho Paper Bead Chicklet Bracelet or Keychain, a Fun and Easy Project

Here are the instructions for a fun paper bead chicklet bracelet, that can be a keychain if you aren't a bracelet person. This is a super easy project for people that want to dip their toe into paper beads. This project was designed for a beginner and in this case, beginners that are blind or have low vision. This project is fun for everyone.

1 popsicle stick, two pieces of black cardstock, one sheet of copy paper with the design you want on your beads, bottle of Mod Podge, one black nylon knee high stocking (can be new or used), Floss Threader (for adding button and beads), one foam brush (or a wider type or artist paintbrush), one bottle of white school glue, decorative shank button with a large hole (that will go nicely with the design on your beads), snap hook and keyring (if you are making the keyring), Baby Wipes.

Prepare your paper to make paper beads.

1. Pick a design for your paper beads. Choose something with a smaller type design if you want to recognize the pattern on the bead. Make a full page copy of the design with no white edges.
2. Take your sheet of copy paper with the design you want on your chicklet paper bead and cut it into four even strips with the short side being the top.
3. Using the Mod Podge and your foam brush, glue the strips to the bottom quarter of the black cardstock, gluing it on the bottom of one of the short sides. (You can also glue this with Elmer's glue but I find it has a smoother adhesion if you use Mod Podge.)
4. Use a credit card or a roller to make sure the copy paper is glued smoothly to the black cardstock.
5. Do the same process with the second piece of cardstock and one of the other strips of copy paper with the design.

**These steps are optional, I am using them because I am preparing to use this to teach a class of low vision students. Following this process, the beads strips will be sealed and shiny without having to coat them after being formed into beads (and having to wait for the glue to dry). It can make it a bit more difficult to roll the paper into beads because the strips will be thicker. It will also make the beads harder to glue the end, because of the shiny texture on the paper. Make sure you hold the end to the rest of the beads for twenty or so seconds to make sure the end adhere well. If you choose not to use Modge Podge to seal the paper before rolling the bead you can seal the bead after it has been made but this will require at least an hour drying time.

1. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the entire front side of cardstock, including the glued section with the design. Let paper dry completely.
2. Once the front of the paper is dry, brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the back side of the cardstock with design (the design will not be on the backside of the paper). Let paper dry completely.

Now it is time to cut the two pieces of cardstock with the design into strips.

1. Once the paper is completely dry, cut the paper into 1 centimeter strips, with the top being the short side of the paper, so the strips follow the long side of the paper. The bottom of the strip will be the portion with the design. Try to keep the strips as consistent size wise from top to bottom (the edges should be the same size). You will need about 24 strips

1. You will need to make approximately twenty four beads
2. Get your popsicle stick and one of the 1 cm strips.
3. The top of the strip will be black cardstock and the bottom will have the design.
4. To start rolling the strip on the popsicle stick, making sure the design on the bottom of the strip is face up. Fold the top edge down about half the size of the width of the popsicle stick. This is the start of folding the bead, continue folding the strip with the design facing up, until it is completely rolled.
5. Glue the end of the strip to the folded bead so it will not unroll. If any glue comes out the edges, wipe it away with the baby wipe. If you have rolled it correctly, the design will cover the rolled paper to make the bead.
6. If the glue is not adhering the end of the strip to the rest of the rolled bead, reglue the end, press it down, and hold it for at least twenty seconds to let the glue adhere well to the shiny surface of the bead.

**Optional. Seal the beads if you did not cover (seal) the strips with Modge Podge in Step 1.

1. After the bead's end has been glued securely and dried, use the foam brush to brush a coat of Modge Podge on the front and back of beads and let dry.
2. Brush Modge Podge on the edges of the bead and let the bead dry.

A strip of panty hose will be used to string the beads, since the hole of the bead is so large.

1. Cut the toe and the top cuff off the black nylon panty hose. (Don't worry, cutting it will not make it fray.)
2. Cut the black nylon knee high panty hose in half. (You will have two strips, one for this project and one for another bracelet, if you desire.)
3. Thread the shank button on one end of the panty hose using a Floss Threader (this is the only way I have found of easily pulling the wide, thick fabric through a small shank button hole). If you don't have a Floss Threader, I recommend leaving off the shank button.

Now for the fun part! You get to decide where each bead will go on your bracelet.

1. Look at your beads and decide where you want each bead to go.
2. Place beads in a line, the way you will string them on the panty hose.
3. Using the Floss Threader, string all your beads.

Whether you decide to use this as a simple bracelet or a Keyring bracelet you will size it the same way.

1. Wrap the panty hose with beads around your wrist. You do not want to see the panty hose stretch between the beads. You want enough beads on the panty hose to circle your wrist but when the ends are loosely tied does not slip off your wrist. Take off or add however many beads needed to fit your wrist.

Decide whether you want a standard bracelet or a keyring bracelet.

1. For A Bracelet: If you are using a shank button tie a double knot under the shank button and cut the ends close to the knot. If you are not using a button, tie a double knot. For A Keychain: tie a half knot, insert the keyring and then tie a double knot (under the shank button if you are using one).
2. Use the School Glue to coat the knot to prevent knot loosening.
3. Add a snap hook to the key ring.

Enjoy your bracelet.

If you have decided to make it a keychain, you can use the beads as the decoration or you can use the bracelet as a keychain bracelet. The snap hook allows you to not only wear the keyring as a bracelet but clip your keys on a pant or belt loop, to a bag or purse, anything with a loop the clip fits on.

F.Y.I.: You can adjust the size of the strips to make different size beads. You can change to white cardstock and white panty hose if you prefer the beads to have a white center. Or you can do any combination you wish. Mix and Match, have fun!