"I" is for Informative Paper Bead, I love it when my Jewelry has something to say!

This is such a pretty and easy project to make with paper!

Click on image to read the full directions.

 

I love this simple yet elegant bead.

Have you guessed where this project is from?
I'll tell you:

Altered Paper Jewelry
Artful Adornments from Beautiful Papers
By
Jenn Mason

Paper is a wonderful medium for creating jewelry: It’s lightweight, easy to work with, and comes in a dazzling array of styles, patterns, weights, and designs. By mixing relatively simple jewelry-making methods with standard paper arts techniques, Altered Paper Jewelry offers paper crafters, altered art aficionados, and jewelry makers creative new ideas for creating stylish and contemporary jewelry from gorgeous paper.

In this book, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry are decorated and constructed with found paper, photos and beautiful scrapbook papers. Beads are fashioned from rolled paper, covered with decoupage, and molded with paper craft accessories. Paper-like materials such as vellum, transparencies, shrink plastic, and printable fabric paper are punched, cut, shrunk, and rolled into mini wearable masterpieces. Paper is folded into lockets, embedded into belt buckles, and glued into unique shapes, all in the pursuit of personal adornment. Illustrated step-by-step instructions and templates are included.

Jenn Mason is a fine artist, writer, teacher, product designer, and industry consultant. She is author of

The Cardmaker’s Workbook, Pockets, Pull Outs and Hiding Places, The Art of The Family Tree and co-author of two books, with co-authors Jennifer Francis Bitto and Linda Blinn:

Paper Art Workshop: Handmade Gifts
Stylish Ideas for Journals, Stationery, and More 

and

Paper Art Workshop: Celebrating Baby
Personalized Projects for Moms, Memories, and Gear

Here is the bead I made using Jenn's great instructions. I did add a bit of Crafty Chica Glitter onto the bead by mixing it in with a bit of her Glossy Gloss Varnish. Yes, that is a noose. To see the rest of the piece of jewelry that the bead is used in, pop on over to Sweater Surgery.

Which brings me to today's question:

Do you have an image or topic you consistently use in your designs?

I have been using deer and antlers a lot and I use bunnies in tons of stuff. I liked this noose from a cartoon because I thought it mimicked the texture of the phone cord. Or do you use random images and topics?

Leave your answer in the comments and as a thanks for sharing you will be entered to win a free book!

Comments

[Janet]

I like including text, a word or phrase, into my work. The text is intended to lead the viewer into directions where the image itself may not.

[LindaM]

Your bead is lovely. I bought that same book because I specifically wanted to make the "cube" bead on page 92. Imagine my surprise when I found that there weren't any directions for that one. Do you have any idea where to find instructions for folding that cube?

[MonkeyGurrl]

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I use skulls. A LOT. At first it was for the shock effect, but when they became so commonplace as to find them at Target (and places like Hot Topic popped up, obviating my need to craft things skully), I figgered maybe I should taper off my skull mania.

[julie m]

I like using flower stickers to dress up the inside and back of cards. Just one or two here and there to break up the monotony of otherwise blank cardstock.

[Tamara]

I've been very into mandalas lately and try to incorporate them into any project I make.

[Lynda Taylor]

I am a more random type person. If I am making jewelery or art for a particular person I choose something that suits them. But if I am just crafting I go where the flow goes.

[Jenn Mason]

Hi, Jenn Mason here! Author of Altered Paper Jewelry.
This message is especially for LindaM. The necklace on page 92 is actually part of our inspiration gallery. These gallery pieces were meant for inspiration. Many of the artists make a living selling their altered paper jewelry so their techniques are sort of like their "trade secrets". BUT, I can tell you it is a modified Jacob's ladder and if you go to http://www.craftideas.info/html/tutorial_jacob_s_ladder_b.html you'll see a little hint at how to do it!

Stop by my new website, www.EverydayArtistStudio.com dedicated to helping you live more creatively every day!

[Tammy]

Love this post, paper's always been a favorite medium to work with, especially since it was the first thing I could ever afford to make and play with as a kid.
As far as images or topics that always pop up in my work - I'd have to say swirls. They make their way into my stitching or drawing a lot of the time. I also adore houses and trees but haven't worked with them in a while.

[Kathy]

Stones or rocks are a recurring theme in my work. I love nature and like the play of rocks included with my sculptures.
Handmade papers offer a wonderful texture to the paper beads!!

[BrendaLea]

I'm pretty random. But some of the more recent reoccurring items are flourishes and birds. Unless I am creating for a particular person then I use colors or items that they prefer or present who they are.