- This program is written with a pixel resolution for display of 96 pixels per inch. This is what pixel per inch resolution most operating systems display images at and what typical 8½"x11" sheets of paper are based on.
- Pick a Category from the list of categories on the left
- Pick an image from the image grid.
- Type in a discriptive name for your bead sheet. Such as Cute Reindeer.
- Pick the size of paper you are using, either 8½x11inches or A4 which is slightly larger, often used in the UK.
- Pick how long you want your finished bead to be. You can make them as little as .28" to 1" long.
- Pick a bead size in thickness or diameter, 6, 7, 8, 8.5 or 9mm.
- These sizes above are all based on having a 1/16th inch hole in the beads. In the 12 years I have been making paper beads, I have made only a very small handful of beads with an 1/8 inch hole. In other words, I think, in my opinion, the beads with a 1/16inch hole are the best for jewelry making so I never make them with 1/8inch holes anymore.
- The quantity of beads on the sheet will be calculated for you. You are choosing the size beads, not how many you want to make.
- Pick a type of bead either a tube, sideways tube, tapered, variable tapered, allover print.
- Click on Make Bead Sheet
Different Bead Diameter Sizes
You can make 5 different diameters of beads with this program. Below you will see the details on how to achieve each size.
- Size 6: Use one strip, 8½" long.
All styles of beads print in portrait orientation except for the side tube beads. The side tube beads print in landscape.
- Size 7: Use one strip, 11" long.
All styles of beads print in landscape orientation except for the side tube beads. The side tube beads print in portrait.
- Size 8: Use 2 strips 8½" long glued together end to end overlapping about ¼".
All bead styles except for the side tube beads print on one sheet in portrait orientation. The side tube beads print in landscape. Cut a 2nd blank or recycled sheet the same way.
- Size 8.5: Use 1 strip 8½" and one strip 11" long glued together end to end overlapping about ¼".
All bead styles except for the side tube beads print on one sheet in portrait orientation. The side tube beads print in landscape. Use a 2nd blank sheet or recycled sheet and cut the opposite way.
- Size 9: Use 2 strips 11" long glued together end to end overlapping about ¼".
All bead styles except for the side tube beads print on one sheet in landscape orientation. The side tube beads print in portrait. Cut a 2nd blank or recycled sheet the same way.
If you are making tapered beads, you can layer and roll 2 strips together to achieve the diameter you are after.
Printer Settings
Set your printer to print either portrait or landscape depending on what beads you make.
Each type of bead, with the exception of the allover beads will tell you what printer orientation to set your printer at.
If your printer is capable of printing borderless and you don't want a white margin on the side of your paper, set up your paper to Letter Borderless in your printer set up and then put all 4 margins to 0.
Types of Beads
The Tube Bead
This is the most basic of all beads designed with this program. This produces a sheet with all of the images down the left side of your screen.
There will be as many images down the side as beads as is calculated for the size you are making. For example, if you choose to make 1" long beads, then you will get 11 beads down the side. The images may look distorted because the width of the graphic is a set width depending on what diameter bead you choose to make and the height is determined by how many beads end up being printed on the sheet. You can choose 5 sizes, 6,7,8,8.5 and 9mm. The page will tell you what orientation to set your printer at. To make beads from these sheets, cut the sheets into straight even strips as wide as the image height. Cut from the side of the image to the other side.
The Taper Bead 5 types
The quarter, one third, one half, two thirds and three quarters taper is the area of which the image is smaller than the wide end.
- One Quarter: The image is 1/4 smaller than the total length of the bead.
For example Total bead height: 1", image height 3/4".
- One Third: The image is 1/3 smaller than the total length of the bead.
For example: Total bead height: 1", image height: 2/3".
- One Half: The image is 1/2 smaller than the total length of the bead.
For example: Total bead height: 1", image height: 1/2".
- Two Thirds: The image is 2/3 smaller than the total length of the bead.
For example: Total bead height: 1", image height: 1/3".
- Three Quarters: The image is 3/4 smaller than th total length of the bead.
For example: Total bead height: 1", image height: 1/4".
In other words, the quarter taper image is 1/4 the size of the wide end which has no picture. Depending on what diameter bead you choose, the orientation of how to print out the sheets will be displayed for you on the sheets. You will have the pictures on either side of the sheet, staggard. To cut these out, just put your ruler on the outside edge of the graphic at each edge and make diagonal cuts from one side of the paper to the other.
Variable Taper Designs
When you choose a variable tapered bead, the sheet will be printed on the left and right side of the sheet of paper in a solid strip as many times as indicated above with the length. You can then cut variable widths of tapered strips and there will be color on the outer edges of the bead as well as in the center of the rolled bead.
Sideways Beads
When you choose sideways oriented bead, the browser will have the images across the top as many times as calculated for the length of the bead. The height of each image is a set height according to which diameter size bead you choose to make. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see what orientation to print out the sheet. When you cut and roll these beads up, the image will be sideways on the bead.
All Over Designs
You can use the all over designs for what ever type of bead you want. Tapered looks best but you can also cut each individual image out and wrap it around a different colored core of paper such as construction paper or recycled paper of any type. When you choose to have an all over design, the clipart will be sized just like when you are choosing to make other types of beads. If the measurements are not perfect, the right edge and bottom edge will be adjusted so it will fit on a sheet of paper so it will look distorted. Set your printer's letter size to Letter Borderless to eliminate the border. You can do this if your printer is capable of borderless printing. Otherwise, just set your printers margins to the smallest margins possible.
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