Recycle empty tissue boxes into beautiful medallions or beads. The tissue box is made from a perfect weight cardboard that laminates into function jewelry beads. Make several tissue box beads to use in various craft projects.
Things You’ll Need:
Empty tissue box (shiny sided works without the addition of metallic acrylic paint)
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue
1/8-inch hole punch
Clippie clothespins
Fine grit sandpaper
Metallic acrylic paint
Flat artist paintbrush
Glossy dimensional sealer
Instructions:
Step 1 – Disassemble the empty tissue box. Turn it over so the front side is facing down.
Step 2 – Draw the shape of the bead or medallion on the tissue box. Cut out the first shape.
Step 3 – Place the cut out shape on the box. Trace around the outside edge to make four more shapes. Cut the shapes from the box.
Step 4 – Position the 1/8-inch hole punch in the desired location. Punch a hole through one cutout shape. Place the cutout shape over a second. Mark the hole. Repeat the process with the remaining shapes. Punch out all holes.
Step 5- When using a shiny sided box, determine which piece will be the top and back of the bead. Place the back on a flat work surface so the front side of the cutout is facing down. Match up the punched holes. Apply a layer of Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue over the cardboard surface. Center and match the edges of the next layer. Press into place. Repeat the process with the remaining three pieces making sure the front piece has the shiny side up.
Step 5 – Clip the layered bead together with clippie clothespins. Allow the glue to dry one hour.
Step 6 – Remove the clippie clothespins. Sand the edges of the cardboard beads with sandpaper until smooth.
Step 7 – Paint the surface of the bead with metallic acrylic paint if necessary. Adding a design is optional. Make sure to paint the front, sides and back of the bead. Allow the paint to dry completely before continuing.
Step 8 – Apply a layer of glossy dimensional sealer to all sides of the bead. Allow the sealer to dry completely before using in a craft project.
Tip: After the bead is sanded, string the bead onto a piece of fishing line. Suspend the fishing line horizontally so the beads hang straight down. Paint and seal the beads while hanging.