Talk about a great way to recycle! This is also a great way to keep kids entertained without having to run out and buy beads or other supplies. It’s also a great way to make sure your children have lots of accessories when they play dress up. Help kids make their own beads from colorful magazine pages, wrapping paper, or fabric scraps.
How to Make Paper or Fabric Beads
All you have to do is cut down thin strips of paper or fabric about 6” long and roll them up (over a straw). Add a dab of glue to the end and secure the end to the body of the bead. Add a tiny piece of tape to hold it together until the glue dries, if desired (be careful removing tape from paper).
Cut your strips of paper or fabric into different widths in order to make different sizes of beads, from small, medium, and large, to extra large. You can also cut the strips longer if you want thicker, heavier beads.
Make Jewelry from Your Beads
You can use any string, twine, yarn, ribbon, or thin strips of fabric to string your beads and make jewelry. If you have elastic string available it makes great, stretchy bracelets and anklets.
Your children can make necklaces, bracelets, anklets, belts, or anything else they desire. Boys make prefer simple and plain, or they may want to add some glitter. Little girls may want to add even more sparkle by gluing sequins to their beads.
If you have a few plastic beads around, your kids can string them between their homemade beads for added effect.
Other Items that You Can Make
Kids can also make a leash for a toy pet made by stringing paper beads, or perhaps a pet collar. Little girls can glue felt together to make dress up purses to match every outfit and can string paper or fabric beads together to use as purse handles.