Paint Wood Beads the Easy Way!

This long weekend is the perfect chance to catch up on some crafting-- I on the other hand am on pins and needles as I near the end of the Mrs. Meyer's Hunt for the Next Home Maker-- vote for me, Lindsey M., through monday HERE please and thank you!

I found this great five dollar bag of multi-colored wood beads at Michaels and used a couple of coupons to get it for a steal! I've painted beads a few different ways in the past--but the holes of these beads are large (great for crafting with kids) so they slide around on wood skewers.  Painting a single bead at a time on the end of a paintbrush isn't always practical so I found the perfect AHA tool to paint several beads at the same time without them slipping around: pipe cleaners!

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED 

Wood beads

Pipe cleaners

Several colors of acrylic paint 

Skinny paintbrushes

Large paintbrush

Clear varnish 

Necklace chain or colored elastic

Large mixing bowl 

HERE'S HOW 

1. Thread 3-5 wood beads onto a pipe cleaner 

2. Pick up a small amount of acrylic paint on a skinny paintbrush and create geometric patterns with stripes or dots

3. Once your beads are painted bend the ends of the pipe cleaner over the edges of a large mixing bowl to dry. 

4. After your beads have dried apply a thin layer of clear varnish with a large paintbrush to keep the paint from scratching off.

5. String your finished beads along with other bits and baubles ( I like using brass hex nuts from the hardware store) onto a ball-link chain.

6. Cut short lengths of colored elastic and string a few of your patterned beads to create cute hair elastics or bracelets. Melt the ends of the elastic with a lighter before matching up the ends and tying in a knot 1/2" from the ends.

Happy crafting!