Handmade boho beads

As a distraction from wrapping Christmas presents, I had a try at making boho style fabric beads this morning. My efforts would've been a lot more successful if I'd got the right glue ... but more of that in a while.

The bead shape is easily made, using a paper straw as your base. If you haven't any straws then improvise, as I did, by rolling a piece of paper around a paintbrush handle or a pencil, securing it with double sided tape. Then it's a case of winding little pieces of brightly coloured fabric around the paper tube and adding a dab of glue to keep them in place. I used Decoupage Medium as my sticking agent as I'd got it to hand, but PVA would've been fine. As far as cotton fabric was concerned that is.

You see, the problem came when I tried using the Decoupage Medium to stick ribbon. Fine gauzy ribbon, slippery satin, petersham ribbon, none of 'em would stay stuck, and I doubt PVA would've been any more effective. I think Fabritac or another glue specifically for fabric is what's required, so my bead making is put on hold until I can buy some.

I did manage to complete two beads, and here's how - once you've wound whatever fabric you want around your paper tube, you take a thin length of wire. Florists wire or similar. Take a pair of round nosed pliers and bend a loop in one end of the wire. Thread on a bead or two on to the wire before pushing the wire's tail inside the bead. When it pops out the other end you add more beads before using pliers again to bend the wire around the final bead and cut off any spare. You can add any charms you want or thread seed beads on to wire or thread and wind those around your fabric, or stick on sequins or whatever you fancy to prettify your bead and give it that boho vibe. (If my instructions aren't too clear, simply head over to YouTube and you'll find several videos by various crafters showing you step-by-step how to make these.)

Let me know if you've had a go at making these already as I'd love to see what you've created. Enjoy your weekend. Bye!

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