Recycled Newspaper Crafts

For this blog post, I am going to blend two of my favorite things: recycling and making art! It’s the perfect time to exercise the art of craft making, as many people would rather receive a heartfelt, homemade gift than something store bought. So, I am going to share with you a great gift idea you can make using recycled Newspaper!

This craft is a great idea as a gift, and could even be used to create a small business! These are little beads made from recycled paper; you can make necklaces, bracelets, ankles, and even key chains with this concept! The instructions below were borrowed from A Storybook Life.

Step #1 – Gather a small pile of newspapers from the recycling basket.


Step #2 – Rip the paper into small pieces


Step #3 – Put the pieces of newspaper in a large stock pot


Step #4 – Pour enough boiling water over the paper to cover


Step #5 – Allow to sit for an hour or so


Step #6 – Stir the paper to help break it down a bit


Step #7 – Drain as much water out of the paper as you can


Step #8 – Add enough glue to the paper to help it hold together in a ball shape (any glue that is clear when dry – such as Elmer’s, or PVA


Step #9 – Roll the paper into round balls being sure to squeeze out as much moisture as you can while rolling (you can make any size you would like)


Step #10 – Let them dry for a few days – rolling them every several hours – until they are completely dry


Step #11 – Sand each bead down with a bit of sandpaper to remove rough edges


Step #12 – Drill a hole in each bead that is big enough for the material that you want to string them with new bead necklace


Step #13 – Paint them with left over craft paint


Step #14 – Give them a coat of varnish