Potato Beads

In all my years of making jewelry I've created lots of different types of beads. Paper beads, clay beads, and salt dough beads, are just some of them. But if I had known that I could make beads from a potato, well, I would have made lots more jewelry than I did. Once I learned the easy technique of making potato beads I was able to craft chunky bracelets, necklaces, and other costume jewelry.

Chunks of potatoes look like chunky beads once you change them just a bit. First, peel a potato, then cut it into one-inch cubes. If you want, you can round the corners of the cubes to give them a slightly different appearance. When the cubes look like you want them to, slide them onto a skewer to dry. Leave spaces between the cubes so that all sides of each one can dry. Set these out on newspaper for about a week as they dry completely. You'll have to turn them over once everyday to ensure all sides dry. Or, to do away with that bother, and just stick the skewers into a Styrofoam block.

When the drying process is finished you can then paint the potato beads with acrylic paints. Leave them on the skewers, for now, and they'll be easy to decorate. There are many techniques you can do to create various looks for the beads. Paint with a solid color, use a sponge to create a blotched look, or use two colors to make a marbled look with the sponge. After painting the beads you can use other craft supplies to broaden the choices for the look of the beads. For example, you can glue on tiny rhinestones or even attach stickers.

When the beads are finished you can keep them looking brand new by applying a clear-coat finish. Just use the spray-on acrylic and it will be easy to apply it. Allow to dry and remove them from the skewer. Now string them just like you would any other beads. Make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, ankle bracelets, and even chokers.

You don't absolutely have to cut the potato into cubes to make jewelry. Experiment with other shapes to create your own line of beads. However, from my own experience, thin shapes will break when you slide them onto the skewer, so make shapes like cubes, balls, wide ovals, and other chunky shapes. You don't even have to put yourself out to make the beads. Just wait until the next time you're peeling potatoes for supper and peel one more for beads.