Craft Time

Project instructions: Recycled paper bead cuff bracelet

From this month’s OC Family Craft Time page— written instructions, photos and places to shop for supplies!

Off the cuff! Recycled paper bead cuff bracelet
Here’s a bit of a different take with the tried-and-true paper beads. You can make a rad cuff bracelet using recycled paper – magazine pages, old books that are already missing pages, and coloring book pages all work great!

Supplies you will need:
• recycled paper — magazine pages, coloring book pages, books that have already lost a page or two, regular printer or construction paper.
• colored pencils — these work best on non-glossy paper.
• scissors
• glue stick
• 20-lb. bamboo cord — I found a combo pack at Michael’s in several different colors. The bamboo is a good pick because it has some natural stretch to it and this allows a little give in the cuff.
• 2 tapestry needles

Color and cut
Using any type of recycled paper (I used old book pages), cut triangle strips that are approximately 1 inch wide at the base, narrowing as you reach the top. The width of the bottom of your triangle will be the height of the finished bead. If your paper has a matte finish, you can add additional color using colored pencils.

Glue and roll
Coat the back of your triangle with glue, leaving a small space at the widest end of the bead. Starting at the wider end of the paper, begin rolling the paper into a small tube. If you need a little guidance, you can roll the paper around a toothpick to ensure you’ve left enough space for threading.

Double thread
To figure out the length of your cord, multiply the wrist measurement by three. Knot together two pieces of bamboo cord together. Thread each end through its own tapestry needle. Starting with the smallest bead, thread the right needle through the right side of the bead and thread the left needle through the left side of the bead.

Tighten and repeat
After the needles are through each side, gently and evenly tighten the cording until snug. Repeat as many times as needed to get desired cuff length. Use small beads at the start and end of the bracelet to create an easy toggle closure. Simply twist the two small beads around one another to fasten.

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