#scraptember2025, More paper beads

I needed to add to my mini-stash of beads, just in case. You never know when I might need a bunch more! 

Here's my simple process: 

Choose the paper or scrap you want to use for your beads. This pattern is a digital file by Studio on Glore (Etsy). For the small beads, I use a 5in strip. 

You can mark them as I did here, or you can just cut them with a trimmer or scissors. I wanted them to be fairly uniform, so I drew lines and cut with scissors. 

This is a quilling tool. Makes it easy to roll the strips, but you can do it as easily with a pair of tweezers. Roll them tightly and glue the end. 

Add ink to cover the edges and add depth.

I like to add just a touch of shine to them with glossy accents or equivalent, which also acts as a sealer. Squeeze out a little puddle onto a non-stick mat and dip your finger into it, then roll the beads between your thumb and finger. You barely need any of it to make it look 'finished'

So fun and super simple. I remember these from when I was a kid, but I have no memory of ever making them myself. Seems like a grade school project that was never part of my curriculum. 🤷

#scraptember2025, Beads

Did you make paper beads when you were in grade school? Never happened when I was in school. So when I saw this YouTube video from Crafty by Toni I got pretty excited. I had seriously no idea how simple these are to make! And look how fun?? Granted, they aren't perfect, but these are my first ever attempts, so there's that. But also -- who wants perfect!?? Not me! These will be so much fun to add to our Halloween junk journal next month for Halloween Every Day. 

Size comparison

How they began....just some scraps of scraps and a little ink. I love them! Are they grungy enough for Halloween? I think so. :) 

#scraptember2025, Beads and Burlap

Guys, is this not the cutest tiny banner?! It's about 10 inches long and will fit so great in a Halloween junk journal. Can you even? I love it so much. 

#scraptember2025, Coffee Dye

...the twist is, I used black tea instead of coffee for this one, thanks to Grungy Stamper on Instagram. Never thought about black tea, but I'm glad I tried it. It seems to dye much quicker than 'regular' tea or coffee, but maybe that's just me. 

I had some muslin in my sewing box from when I made a ton of masks during "the covid years", so I added that to the solution as well as a piece of lace, twill ribbon, and a bit of cheesecloth. 

After I used the black tea for what I wanted, I added just a few drops of rusty hinge distress reinker and did a test piece (see photo)....

...and then I did another test piece and added more rusty hinge and lots of drops of crackling campfire distress reinker. It isn't quite the orange I was hoping for, but I like it and will use it. I will, however, do more cheesecloth in Halloween colors coming up soon.

#scraptember2025, Paper Bag

Another prompt not on the list for today's project; #paperbag. For this adorable little accordion file I used 3 mini bags (7 1/4 x 3 1/2 inch size) and some of the grunge and texture papers I made for previous prompts. And a couple of Halloween charms as well. I love how cute it is! Now to make some tags or tickets to fit into the pockets. Super simple to make; here's a link to one of many tutorials. 

So easy, and so cute!