How to Make Heirloom Beads from Rose Petals

When I was a little girl, one of our neighbors used to make beads from flower petals she collected from her garden. She preferred a combination of camellia and rose blossoms, which held onto their scent long after they had dried.

My children and I used to make rose petal bracelets for gifts. They are easy to make, but take several weeks of grinding and drying. It's not a craft for the impatient!

Materials Needed

A small laundry basket full of fresh rose petals. If you can not collect enough from your own garden, ask your neighbors or search for wild rose bushes near your home. It's easiest to pick the blossoms directly from the bush; I wait until after the rose has bloomed, and the flowers have begun to wilt.

A meat grinder, hand crank or an electric Kitchen Aid grinder attachment will work. My kids preferred using great Grandmother's old hand crank. Meat grinders can be found quite easily in thrift stores.

A cast iron skillet

A box of thin picture nails, at least 3/4 inch in length.

Jewelry string, assorted glass beads, and necklace or bracelet clasp (available at most craft stores)

How to turn the rose petals into paste

The first step is to run all the petals through the meat grinder twice. Spread the petals in the skillet, cover and set aside.

Once a day, grind the paste through the meat grinder, then return the paste to the skillet. After several days, you will notice the paste slowly beginning to turn black or deep brown. Continue to grind the petals daily, for 10 to 15 days until the rose petals have turned into a dense, putty like material.

Because climates do vary across the country, you will need to keep an eye on the moisture of the paste. If it appears to be slightly drying out, give the paste a squirt or two from a mister.

Shaping the beads

After the petals have been turned into a dense and pliable paste, you can begin to shape the rose paste into circles or squares. After the beads have been shaped, insert a nail through the center to create an opening for the thread. Wiggle the nail to enlarge the opening slightly larger than the nail itself.

Leaving the nail inside the bead, set the bead aside and let dry thoroughly. I poke the nails onto a bulletin board to allow the air to circulate easily.

Set the beads in a warm, sunny room but out of the direct sun. The drying process may vary depending on your climate, and the size of your beads. They will shrink a bit as they dry.

After the beads have completely dried, remove the nails. The beads can now be threaded onto the jewelry string. Place small knots between the individual beads to prevent them from touching each other. Or, you can alternate the rose petal beads with glass beads. Attach the clasp as you would with any handmade jewelry.