Marbled Wood Beads 3 Ways

If you've followed me for a while you know that I save every little scrap, jar wood scrap and cardboard box that comes into my house.  I can't help it because I just KNOW that eventually I'll use it for something down the road. This week I used my wood scraps to make some beautiful, chunky wood beads!  Truth be told I went a little crazy and cut several hundred of them because I couldn't stop. We'll get into the psychology of that another time.  In their raw form they were pretty but plain, but after I marbled them, the bead party really started!  My favorite product this year is the Marabu Marbling Paints.  They ROCKED my world AND these wood beads!  Remember, save your scraps, use them with abandon and always Make Your Mark!  

Love the turquoise squares so much!

 I finally mastered the nail polish marbling technique!

    

Learn 3 ways to marble beads here!

STUFF I USED

Americana Acrylics

Americana DuraClear Gloss Varnish

Dollar store nail polish

Marabu Easy Marble Paints

Wax paper

Drill press (or drill)

1" x 1" wood trim

1" thick pine board scraps

Band saw (or jigsaw)

HERE'S HOW

1. - 3.  Cut and sand wood beads on a band saw or with a jigsaw and then sand the edges

with a Dremel sanding attachment or sandpaper

4.  Drill each bead with a drill press or carefully with a hand drill

5. & 6.  Base coat each bead with different colors of Americana Acrylics

METHOD 1

7. Spread Americana DuraClear & 5 colors of Americana Acrylics on wax paper and drag a toothpick through the colors to swirl them

8.  With a toothpick in a painted bead, press each side into the paint and let dry

METHOD 2

9. In a plastic cup of water drip several colors of nail polish on top of the water

10.  With the base coated bead on a toothpick, carefully swirl it in the floating nail polish, and poke the other end of the toothpick in cardboard to allow it to dry

METHOD 3

11.  In a cup of water float several colors of Easy Marble on top of the water

12.  With the base coated bead on a toothpick, carefully swirl it in the floating Easy Marble to pick up the colors and then poke the other end of the toothpick in cardboard to allow it to dry

13.  Coat everything with more DuraClear Gloss Varnish and let dry

Can't wait to rock these on a keychain or make my friends some funky jewelry!