DIY: Colored Pencil Jewelry

August 23, 2011

Note from Design Mom: I asked Kate of Mini Eco to create a Back to School themed project for us to try. I think making beads out of colored

pencils is brilliant! Wouldn’t these beads be fun for your e lementary school-ers to string for a class proje ct? It would also be a fun activity

at an art-themed birthday party. Here ’s Kate :

Lately I have become a l ittle addicted to making (and wearing) colored penci l jewelry. The i tems pictu red are real ly easy to make and

only require a few basic tools. Y ou don’t even need to buy any materials, simply chop a few centimeters from the end of your kids

crayons…if you do this neatly then they wil l be none the wiser!!

I th ink the resul ts look great and you, or your ch ild, wil l definitely stand out from the crowd wearing them!

You wi l l need

Colored Penci ls

Junior hacksaw

Fine sandpaper

Dri l l and smal l dri l l bi t

Thread (for the necklace)

Superglue (for the brooch and earrings)

Brooch back (for the brooch)

How to: Basi c Bead Neckl ace

1. For the basic necklace you wi l l need to begin by making your beads. Y ou can use ei ther hexagonal or round crayons. The beads I cut

were 7mm long. To cu t your beads use a smal l , sharp, hacksaw blade. (In the UK you can pick up a junior hacksaw for a pound or two in

most hardware shops). Take your time when cutting the crayons and try not to apply too much pressure…that way you are less l ikely to

chip the paint off the outside.

2 & 3. Don’t worry i f the cu t surface of your beads look a bit scruffy…al l they need is a qu ick rub with some sandpaper. I found i t easier

to lay the sandpaper on a flat surface and rub the bead along i t.

4. Now dri l l a hole in the side of each bead using a smal l dri l l bi t. Make sure you place a scrap piece of wood underneath. It’s not a good

idea to get holes in the ki tchen table!

Once you have cu t a number of beads simply string them onto a length of thread…job done!

Tip: These little beads are also make love ly brace le ts. I f bright colours aren’t your thing then try some more subdued shades. White

colored pencil beads look especially nice .

How to: Pointy Necklace

1. Begin by sharpening your colored pencil , then cut the end off as before. My beads measured about 3.5cm in length .

2. Dri l l a small hole through the end of your beads

3. String the beads onto some thread. Y ou can add some co-ordinating beads i f you wish .

How to: Brooch

If you fancy a bi t more of a chal lenge then why not have a go at making the colored penci l brooch?

1. Y ou wi l l need to use hexagonal penci l s for the brooch. Cut your beads as before. Mine were 6mm in l ength. Y ou need 19 beads to make

the brooch pictured.

2. Pu t some sandpaper on a flat surface and sand the beads so they are nice and smooth .

3. Work out how you want the beads to be arranged before you being glu ing. Once you have decided simply start sticking the beads

together using superglue.

4. Once your beads are al l stuck together sand the underside of the brooch unti l i t i s flat and smooth.

5. Superglue a ‘brooch-back’ to the back of the brooch .

Tip: The best way to avoid making a wonky brooch is to assemble it on a flat surface . The underside of the brooch will be the most even so

make sure this becomes the front of the brooch.

Make sure you only use the tiniest dab of superglue on each bead….and don’t stick your fingers toge ther! I have done this be fore and was

reminded how powerful superglue is!

Final l y , remember these necklaces are not recommended for under three’s. I would al so avoid making the pointy

bead necklace for any chi ld…for obvious reasons.