Last week, I showed you a the best video I have found on making paper beads, here. The method used to seal the beads involved painting each one individually with glaze, for a total of 3 coats. Ugh… how time consuming. I knew there must be a better way. Today, I will share how I sealed 125 beads in 5 minutes (not including dry time, of course)!
Supplies:
- Paper beads
- Minwax Polycrylic
- Fishing line
- Toothpicks
- Newspaper
- Some kind of place to hang your strands of beads to dry
BTW, that handy little sharp tool you see, a needle tool I think, is way handier than toothpicks for rolling paper beads. Just saying. I got it in the clay section in a pack of tools at Michael’s.
Instructions:
- So easy. Just string your paper beads on fishing line (cause it is strong and cheap). I tie toothpicks at both ends of the string of beads so that I don’t lose any, and to hang the strands from in the drying step. Here are some strung beads…
- Now, dip the strung beads in polycrylic, submerging every bead. You hands will be dripping with the stuff. Do this over newspapers to protect the surface, and do it where you plan to hang them. I use my closet wire shelving, with plenty of newspaper on the floor to catch the drips. As you pull the strand out of the polycrylic, run it between 2 fingers over the can, to remove excess polycrylic. It will still be drippy, but you won’t waste as much.
- My handy dandy drying area:
- Tips: I like to separate the beads from one another about 1 hour into drying so that they don’t completely dry together. You can even turn the strands, hanging them from the other end. After 2 hours, I dip them one more time and let dry for an hour or so.
I think this method is way easier, and quicker, especially if you are sealing a lot of beads at once. Since I am so obsessed with making these things, they are everywhere, and I needed to find a quicker way to do this. The dry time is slower than if I individually paint each one, but the hands on time is literally 5 minutes, leaving me to do one of the 10 other projects I have going at any given moment. I love the shine and durability afforded by the polycrylic too. Check out some comparisons…
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Ahhh! This is great news! I have polycrylic on hand! I was looking all of the place trying to find the same glue like substance you used to seal each individual bead!
Thanks a million for sharing your sealing technique. I love paper beading but I hand seal each bead which takes forever. I can’t wait to try this!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have hundreds of paper beads that I have made and was actually “dreading” sealing them to make them into jewelry. I love making them, just hate sealing them one at a tme. This will save me HOURS of work. Thank you so much.
Valeria, I am so glad! I know exactly what you are talking about. So time consuming! That is why I was so determined to find a better way. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
O WOW! ME TOOO!!! I have to say it as I said on the FB page THANK THANK THANK YOU! too lol..I have spend countless $ on how to ways to seal n harden my paper beads what a mess I actually came the closest to flipping the table over just last evening..I desided to give the web 1 more shot before letting my friends know I was done~ I help a group of woman from my church, the lady’s are from Burma which is now called Myanmar ( I may have spelling wrong ..forgive me lady’s) Anyway I have learned so many new ways & tought them each one for making the best product they can..our principle is to use only things God has supplied..everything is recycled and re-purposed and then with offerings received from what jewelry is make the lady’s have an income..Woman Helping Woman~~ Gotta love it..in fact I am so driven by it I have spent when I shouldn’t have (they don’t know..giggle but only to figure out the best way to use the time & supplies that are received~ Now I can take a deep breath & get back to it! I am blessed by your post..For Sure~ Thank You again ..I will be following Your FB page too
Kathleen, how cool! I love what you are doing, and that I could make things easier with this sealing tip. God bless!
Are they waterproof sealed with Polycrilic?
I use a similar method but I brushed on the sealer onto the paper beads while they are hanging on a clothesline outside. I wait about 20-30 minutes between coats (usually 3 coats). I live in San Diego, so there’s plenty of warm days even during winter time. I love making paper beads too. I save the leftover paper beads and I used them to cover bird houses and flower pots (for indoor use only as a cache pot). Recently I had an idea to use the leftover beads to make them into dragonflies.
I too am obsessed with making paper beads. I too use the PolyCrylic. Works great!!
I just tried this dipping method today and it works great. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Karen, I am so glad it was helpful. Anything to take some time off of the paper bead process. I would love to see what you created!
Hi there, Iam an avid paper bead maker and am looking for the most efficient way to dry the beads. Currently I’m using a rack I constructed from cardboard that I can hang about 110 strands on with about 8-15 beads per strand. I have two waste beads on the bottom of each line and the top has a paper clip. What happens is after 5 coats of hardener and one coat of varnish the bottom two beads get clogged up. This is the reason I use waste ones on the bottom trying not to lose any keeper beads, but it still happens anyway. Looking for any suggestions.
If you don’t want to waste a paper bead – just tie a seed bead on the end of your line. This keeps the beads from coming off and they are inexpensive. If you don’t want to take the time to tie a seed bead on the end of your line use metal spiral mini bead stoppers. They fit in the grooves easily without having to make a knot and you can reuse them over and over with no waste.
I have been glazing beads for some time now with a similar technique as you are using. I use Varathane for the last coat find it rather thick though and have considered cutting it with water. What product do you use?
When dipping your beads like this, how do they not stick together. Even if you separate them an hour into the drying process it still seems to me like they would stick together, especially if they are hanging. I use the polycrylic but paint them individually. And yes, I’m looking for a faster way!
Hi Johnnie,
Love the tutorial. How do you get your bead ends to the line up so well when you hang them? Do you cut them off if they’re not perfectly even?
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