The appeal of contemporary wooden beads might dose off when you set sight onto their plain appearance. I understand that there are many colored ones available too, but many of us seem to not find the right appeal in them.
Wooden beads are one of the fundamental components for many handcrafted jewelry projects. There are limitations in terms of their colors & patterns, which is why I present you a basic guide of painting them according to your style, so that you do not feel the need to abide with the rules.
Painting your wooden beads is also meant as keeping them good for long. Their surfaces would not fall dull or shy of appearance, and you could always use color patterns for decoration. You can even make custom ones for a special project or holiday season.
First of all, make sure you have check listed the following supplies:
- Wooden beads
- Wooden dowel
- Board
- Spray paint
- Tray
- Craft colors
- Screw
- Old piece of newspaper
- Brush
- Sheet of foam – 1’x6”
- Toothpicks
Step 1: Spray paint
Arrange your wooden beads on a tray in an area where passage of air is good. Spread them out so they do not come in contact with each other and hide each other’s surfaces at corners.
Shake your spray paint can well and spray paint in a back-and-forth direction at a minimum distance of 6”.
Spare 10 minutes to let them dry and then turn the uncolored sides up. Spray paint them 6” apart.
Step 2: Dowel paint
Get your board and attach your dowel vertically onto it. The height must not cross 6”. You need to use dowels which have a diameter smaller than your wooden beads.
String your beads onto the dowel, one at a time.
Use your left hand to hold the bead from the top while you use your right hand to paint it. Take your brush and craft paints to paint it nicely. If you can think of custom patterns then make sure your darkest shade is your first coating.
Turn around the bead and keep painting the left out sides. Take a moment about 15 minutes to let your wooden beads dry up. Take them out, afterwards.
Now, your beads are semi-painted, you need to paint inside. Spread them on a newspaper and start painting inside. Take 15 minutes, as usual to let the paint dry up.
Now, again on your dowel, put your bead and put your left hand’s index finger on top and tight, so that you could paint various details on the surface with your other hand.
Step 3: Use toothpicks and foam
Lay a sheet of foam on your surface of work. Your foam has to be large enough to accommodate 20 wooden beads.
Pin toothpicks into the surface of your sheet. Keep distance in between them, so that your beads do not come in contact with each other.
Put a bead on every toothpick you skewered on the sheet. Then, paint each using your brush and paints and paint in any way you desire.
You are done! How charming do they look now? Try them in a jewelry project. Happy to have helped you with your wooden beads!