There is something magical about creating while camping.
Perhaps it’s the slower pace of life and the sound of birds in the morning or, is it the gentle rhythm of days spent outdoors?
Whatever it is, I always find that my creativity seems to wake up when we are camping.
Sleeping under the stars in a tent really seems to set my spirit soaring to new heights.
Because although we could sleep in the caravan, we prefer to sleep close by in a tent, in the fresh air.
This latest paper bead design began while we were camping in our caravan and tent.
So in this video, I have included a behind the scenes look at our campsite for anyone interested in seeing into the heart of rural England.
I had packed a few paints, an assortment of art papers and a few brushes and tools.
There was no particular plan. I simply sat outside in the sun, masked off my 12 squares and started making tiny abstract paintings.
The process of layering colours, adding marks and seeing where the paint wanted to go was so enjoyable.
By the end of my outdoor painting session, I had created twelve miniature abstract artworks.
Each one was different, but together they felt like they belonged to the same family. I loved the marks and textures so much that I began wondering whether I could transform them into a paper bead design.
Back at my computer,(my computer and printer travel with me!), I scanned the paintings and started to experiment digitally.
I arranged the tiny artworks into a repeating mosaic pattern on an A4 digital canvas in Photoshop.
Then I played played around with the layout until the design felt balanced.
Next, I softened the whole thing slightly, digitally adding a gentle watercolour effect.
And so the finished design has a dreamy, painterly feel.
Please take a moment to read the very few Terms & Conditions I have for downloading and using this and all my other designs.
And that is how this free paper bead printable was born!
In the video, I take you through the whole process of making my unique folded paper beads with it.
You’ll see it from beginning to end.
You’ll see the printable sheet, how I cut the bead strips, the tools I use and exactly how I roll and finish the beads. If you’ve never made paper beads before, don’t worry. The process is simple, relaxing and surprisingly addictive.
I think one of the reasons I love paper beads so much is that they allow us to turn something flat and ordinary into something tactile and beautiful. A printed sheet of paper becomes jewellery, embellishments, decorations or simply a little collection of colourful treasures sitting in a bowl on your desk.
For me, these beads also hold memories of camping life.
They remind me of quiet mornings with a cup of tea, art papers spread out on the table and the freedom to experiment without worrying too much about the end result. Sometimes the best ideas appear when you give yourself permission to play.
If you’d like to make your own beads, you can download the free printable and follow the steps in the YouTube video. I recommend printing it on good quality 120gsm paper or lightweight card for the best results, although do experiment with whatever you have available. Different papers produce different effects, and that’s part of the fun.
I used 120gsm copy paper called Navigator , made for color documents – if you use a thinner or thicker paper, you will get different results to mine.
(Don’t forget, if you click on any of my Amazon links to products, I do get a tiny commission if you buy. You can read my Amazon Statement here.)
Other supplies I used for this project:
- The printed free design
- Craft knife/scalpel & metal ruler
- My ultra lightweight paper bead rolling tool.
- Glue Stick
- Glaze or varnish for finishing
- Elastic, wire or findings if making jewellery
I would love to know what you create with this design. Do you make jewellery, embellishments for journals, ornaments or something completely different? Please leave me a comment over on YouTube and let me know.
You can always show me what you made by posting a picture in the YouTube community section on my channel.
Just visit this post and leave a comment and a picture of what you made. It won’t appear straight away as all posts are moderated but be patient, it will show up if it’s legit.
Don’t forget to watch the video and download your free printable. I hope these little beads bring a touch of creativity, colour and perhaps even a little camping magic into your day.
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