Book Spotlight: Creative Paper Jewelry

When you think of beading with paper, do you picture those little rolled up paper beads with the tapered ends? Rolled paper beads are incredibly fun to make and use in a design. They can even come from special places and support important causes. But when it comes to paper jewelry, rolled beads are only the beginning!

I remember making my very first papier mache pinata in kindergarten. Since then, I’ve used plaster of Paris and decoupage techniques to create all kinds of things, but it never occurred to me to use them in jewelry. I knew, somehow, that it could be done. I just never expected to see myself doing it!

When I started turning through the pages of Creative Paper Jewelry by Dafna Yarom, I discovered a whole new world of design possibilities. There are 20 unique projects for making jewelry components with paper, each one more exiting than the last. Techniques like decoupage, paper folding and sculpting with pulp are applied to everything from necklaces to brooches.

The Basic Techniques chapter explains exactly how to create the design elements in each of the projects, including an excellent recipe for making your own paper pulp. There are also helpful tips for important steps like using crimp beads, jump rings and wrapped loops. Anyone with a crafty side would be able to start a jewelry making journey from these guides.

The Materials section, of course, is my favorite part. Making paper jewelry isn’t just a fun way to have a design that it totally unique to you - it’s also a great example of upcycling. Newsprint is only the beginning, and after reading through Creative Paper Jewelry, one can’t help but keep an eye out for pretty napkins and scrapbooking leftovers to use.

I put some of the bead making techniques to the test, to see if I could finally take my own paper crafts to the next level and make a necklace all my own. I created a fun pendant using newsprint, scraps of tissue paper, and an old toaster waffle box. I think it turned out pretty well, and I can only imagine what a little more practice could do.

Crafting with paper takes a lot of patience. There’s a lot of waiting for things to set and dry. I enjoy the process of prolonged steps, because it appeals to my need to constantly multi-task. While I was creating my pendant, I was also able to complete a few small beadwork projects and reorganize my desk! The results are worth the wait, when you’re able to wear something that no one else could make exactly the same.

I would like to thank Sixth & Spring books for giving me the chance to enjoy Creative Paper Jewelry. Inspirational Beading has not received paid compensation for including the book in this blog post. I have shared my honest opinions about this book.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Sixth & Spring Books