Japanese Washi Paper & Straw Beads

Materials:

6" square Japanese Washi paper
8-1/2" plastic drinking straws
white glue
varnish or glaze
spacer beads
seed beads
large glass beads
beading wire or thread
Chinese coins
assorted charms
eye pin
jump ring
bar and ring clasps
crimp beads
36" rattail cording
pin back
22-gauge wire
scissors
needle-nose pliers

Steps:

1. Measure and cut Japanese Washi paper to go around the straw, leaving about 2 inches at the end unwrapped (this is so one can hold the unwrapped end while gluing and glazing) (figure A).

2. Apply glue and wrap around the straw. Roll on hard surface to smooth out wrinkles in paper (figure B). Let it dry.

3. Varnish or glaze the whole length of the paper-wrapped straw. Apply several coats and allow to dry in between coats.

4. Let it dry and cut the straw to desired size (figure C).

5. To one end of the beading wire or thread, add a bar clasp and secure with crimp bead.

6. Use a spacer bead to cap the ends of each Washi bead. Apply glue to a spacer bead on one end and glue to the Washi bead (figure D).

7. Put the beading wire/thread through the spacer bead and through the Washi bead (figure E).

8. Take the another spacer bead and put the beading wire/thread through it and glue to the other end of Washi bead (figure F).

9. At random, thread the seed beads and larger glass beads, and alternate the Washi-paper-covered straw beads (figure G).

10. Add the ring clasp to the other end of the necklace and crimp to secure.

11. To adding 2-inch Washi beads (dangle beads) to the center of necklace: Cut the straw into three 2-inch Washi beads. Put the eye pin through the straw Washi beads and add glass beads and spacer beads; attach a Chinese coin at the end of the eye pin on all three beads. Attach to the necklace with jump rings.

Make the Washi beads as above. Cut into two 1-inch beads. Add spacer beads at one end; glue and put eye pin through. Add spacer beads and glass beads to the other end and glue. Put earring hooks on each end.

To make a bracelet:

Make the Washi beads as above. Cut into seven 1/2-inch beads. Add a bar clasp to one end, then a spacer bead to end of each bead, and glue. Using the same technique as above, connect each bead with a jump ring. Add the ring clasp to the other end.

To make a pendant:

Make the three Washi beads as above. Cut beads into 1-1/2, 2 and 2-1/2 inch lengths, and make three beads. Using the same technique as above, cap each Washi bead with glue and spacer beads. With a 2-inch eye pin, add glass beads, spacer beads and small charms to end of each bead. Connect these beads to the Washi beads. String the beads on rattail cording by alternating spacer beads with the Washi beads.

To make a brooch:

Make Washi beads as above (two 1-inch beads and one 2-inch bead). Make a fan pin with a 3" x 6" Washi paper. Fold accordion pleats from 3-inch end and fold to end of paper. Secure one end of fan with 22-gauge wire. Varnish/glaze and allow to dry. Add a pin back to back of fan. Add the beads with an eye pin with Chinese coins on each end using the same technique as above.