If you love the idea of dressing up your art journal, here’s how to make “dangles” just for that purpose.

These dangles give me three things I want in my art; color, texture, and detail. You can get them with these steps too.

Let’s get started…

Step 1

Cut a plastic straw into about 1 inch long pieces.

Rip a piece of colorful fabric the width of the piece of plastic straw. The strip should be about 4 inches long.

Ripping keeps the organic look with loose threads and frayed edges

Step 1 cont.

Put a drop of glue on the back of the end of the fabric and lay the piece of straw in the glue.

More Step 1

Roll the fabric around the straw until the end.

Put a drop of glue under the edge.

This is how the “bead” will look when it’s rolled and glued.

Step 2

Using the needle-nose pliers, open the wire loop and remove all of the other parts. Close the loop with the pliers.

Step 2 cont.

Cut a piece of waxed linen thread about 10 inches long.

Thread through the loop on the bead and tie a knot in the waxed thread as close as possible to the bead.

Step 2 cont.

Thread the waxed thread through the fabric and plastic straw “bead”.

Stack on as many beads and decorative do-dads as you like. The final dangle is from 1 inch to 2 inches long.

Step 3

Pick decorative yarn, ribbon, and/or thread that will contrast with your fabric bead. The glitzier, the better.

Wrap it several times around the fabric bead.

Step 3 cont.

Tie it off with a knot.

You can use the 24 gauge wire as a wrap. The wire can also secure the yarn or ribbon in place

The first of several dangles for my Tiny Stories Art Journal.

Do you love to decorate your journal with beads? Please leave a comment and describe how you decorate your journal.

How to Make Dangles for Your Art Journal