Making jewellery at home is fun as well as a way to test your creativity. If you are not able to get the
beads that you want or you want to come up with a specific pattern, you can make your beads. You can
come up with an eco-friendly brand by using recyclable items to make beads. Or you can come up with
customised shapes and build your brand around it.
There is no end to your creativity as long as you allow it to soar high. Having your own design makes
your products unique and not commonly found, boosting your name and brand. Making beads at home
is easy. You need to know the basic steps and then you can come up with various ideas using different
materials and different methods to make beads.
In this article, we will discuss different types of bead that you can make at home. This article will just
explain what materials are required for different types of beads. Future articles will explain in detail on
how to make those beads.
1. Paper Beads
It is easy and economical to make paper beads at home. You only require few materials to make them
and you would probably have those at home already. The method to make paper beads is almost in-
built if you were interested in arts and craft while young.
Required Materials
Paper: You need paper that is thin and easy to roll. Books, magazines, craft paper, newspaper, and
wrapping paper will work.
Glue: You need paper glue which can easily be bought at a craft store. It needs to be of good quality so
that the rolled paper does not un-roll.
Toothpick: You need toothpicks to keep the holes in the beads open while drying. You can use any thin
and strong wooden or metal sticks for the same purpose.
Drying Board: You need a large board to dry your beads. Anything made of plastic, fibre, or Styrofoam is
ideal.
Scissors: You need a sharp pair of scissors to cut the paper into strips or any required shape to roll.
Nail Polish: You need nail polish or any glossy enamel to apply on your beads after they dry. This will
keep your beads dry and in shape.
2. Polymer Clay Beads
Clay beads are quite fashionable nowadays since Polymer clay is easily available in multiple colours. You
can create statement jewellery with homemade clay beads. The required material to make these beads
is easily available at your local craft store or online.
Required Materials
Polymer Clay: You need clay in different colours to come up with attractive combinations. If you are
planning to make in bulk, it is best to have as many colours as possible.
Toothpick: You need toothpicks to make holes on the clay beads. You can use a bead-making tool or a
drill if you have, for the same purpose.
Drying Board: You need a board to place your clay beads after moulding. Any board to which clay will
not stick to is ideal.
Rolling Pin: You need a rolling pin to roll out the clay to get the desired thickness. Any other heavy
object at home can be used for the same purpose.
Oven: You need an oven to bake the clay beads. All standard ovens serve the same purpose.
Tray: You need a baking tray to bake the clay beads in the oven. You can even purchase a bead rack if
you are planning to make clay beads for a long time.
Parchment Paper: You need parchment paper to line the baking tray.
Sandpaper: You need sandpaper to smooth out uneven edges after baking. You can use any textured
object at home for the same purpose.
We discussed two types of beads you can make at home for jewellery. In the next article, we will discuss a few more types of handmade beads.
