Paper Beads

Here's what's kept me occupied for the past week.

Beads. Beads, beads, beads. Beads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Beads while watching numerous movies. Beads in sunshine, beads in rain.

Here's how to make them:

Take some magazines that you've already read or that would otherwise go unread (like this Ecuadorian soccer magazine that inexplicably appeared in my house). Pick out pages that are full of pretty colors. On the back side of the page, mark off long isosceles triangles with bases about 2cm. Cut with scissors.

Starting at the base of the triangle, wrap the slip of paper around a toothpick. Wrap with the colors you want on the outside (and the pen/pencil marks you used to draw the triangles on the inside, where they won't show).

When you get near the end, smear a bit of Elmer's glue on the point of the triangle.

Wrap to the end of the triangle, using the glue to secure the tip.

Place the toothpick in an upright position (I used a styrofoam takeout lid) until the glue dries. Then, coat the beads with clear nail polish or translucent lacquer to make them shiny and water resistant. Let dry again.

Reasons Why This Activity is Awesome and You Should Teach it to People You Know:
It encourages (1)Recycling; (2)Ordering Chinese takeout, because you will need more styrofoam lids; (3)Watching The Last of the Mohicans about five times in a row. Yes I do, I know exactly what I'm saying, and if it is sedition, then I am guilty of sedition too!

Here's some more quotes from Movies I've Watched While Making Beads this past week. Points to those who correctly ID them.

Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.

This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, princess.

Hey Ray, wouldn't it be funny if I went to Harvard, you went to jail, and we both ended up surrounded by crooks.

That's their story. Wanna hear mine?

Mo cuishle! Mo cuishle!

When you have to shoot, shoot; don't talk.

My father is coming for me on Saturday. (translated)

Is Rome worth one good man's life? We believed it once. Make us believe it again.

Sergeant Butterman, the little hand says it's time to rock and roll!

Put that thing back where it came from, or so help me...!