Beaded Wire and Paper Hairpin

Project by Corinne Okada Tokara of Cupertino, Calif.

Corinne has found a pastime that is playful and unique, while paying homage to her Asian heritage. In this project, she makes a hairpin out of netting, wire and beads.

Materials:

needle nose pliers with cutting edge
scissors
stick/chopstick for pressing paper in tight areas
22-gauge colored silver-plated wire
fine rice paper (mulberry paper) and wrapper/giftwrap scraps
polymer glaze
needle
thread
5 oblong pearl beads
15 tiny glass beads
barrette or pin backing

Steps:

1. Begin with a sketch on paper (line drawing on white paper).

2. With a pair of needle nose pliers, twist a loop into one end of a long strand of silver-plated copper wire. Shape the rest of the long strand of wire around this loop to create the petals.

3. The paper (Chinese fruit wrapper) is then cut a little larger than each petal. Apply liquid household glue to wrap the paper around the wire. Continue to add paper to all parts of wire flower.

4. After the flower is completely papered, add a bead to the center of the flower.

5. Lacquer the flower.

6. Use loose wires on the back of the flower to attach the flower to a hair pin.

Website: www.okadadesign.com