Making beads out of old recycled magazines is practiced all over the world. This craft will cost you next to nothing and you can customize their size, shape and colour. It takes a few tries to get the hang of this craft, so if you decide to try it out, don’t get discouraged!

You will need:

1. Old magazines
2. Glue stick
3. A piece of wire
4. Varnish (optional)

How to make it:

1. Pick out a few pages from a magazine that have colours and designs that you like. Remember that you will be rolling the paper, so don’t look for specific images but rather an over-all pattern on the page.
2. Cut your page into long narrow strips. The size of your bead depends on how wide you cut the strips. Strips can be cut into rectangles or long, narrow triangles. Cutting strips into triangles will give you a more rounded bead, whereas rectangular strips create cylinders.
3. Put the side of the paper that you want to be seen face down on the table, and coat the opposite with the glue stick. However, at one end of the strip leave 1-2 cm uncovered. If you have cut triangles, be sure that you do not apply glue to the base of the triangle.
4. Take your wire and begin rolling the bead around the wire, starting with the end of the strip that has no glue on it. Be sure to wrap them tightly. This might take you a couple tries, and you may need to apply more glue.
5. Allow your beads to dry. You can either stop here and make your necklace or proceed to varnish your beads. Clear varnish can be bought at any hardware store for a reasonable price. It is always a good thing to have around. If you are really hoping to cut costs, the Guelph’s recycle depot has a paint exchange program, where residents can pick up half empty cans of paint products for free. There are usually a collection of stains and varnishes. However, be careful that there isn’t any dirt or debris in the varnish before you use it.
6. To varnish, take two or three paper towels and dip them in the varnish, wringing out the excess product. Place the paper towel on a piece of cardboard. Keeping your beads on the wire, gently roll them on the varnish. Be careful you don’t soak them. The varnish is just a coating that protects the beads from moisture.

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