Papier-Mâché Beads

I stumbled across A Storybook Life and discovered the wonderful world of making papier-mâché beads.  I decided to give it a try and, of course, fell in love with the process.

Here's how you do it...

Step #1 – Gather a small pile of newspapers from the recycling basket.
Step #2 – Rip the paper into small pieces
Step #3 – Put the pieces of newspaper in a large bucket
Step #4 – Pour enough hot/boiling water over the paper to cover
Step #5 – Allow to sit for an hour or so
Step #6 – Stir the paper to help break it down a bit
Step #7 – Drain as much water out of the paper as you can
Step #8 – Add enough glue to the paper to help it hold together in a ball shape (any glue that is clear when dry – such as Elmer’s, or PVA)
Step #9 – Roll the paper into round balls being sure to squeeze out as much moisture as you can while rolling (you can make any size you would like)
Step #10 – Let them dry for a few days – rolling them every several hours – until they are completely dry
Step #11 – Sand each bead down with a bit of sandpaper to remove rough edges
Step #12 – Drill a hole in each bead that is big enough for the material that you want to string them with
Step #13 – Paint them with left over craft paint
Step #14 – Give them a coat of varnish