Sidewalk Chalk Beads

Wearable Chalk!

MAKE SIDEWALK CHALK BEADS

I’ve just packaged ours up as a gift but, I think that these are a wonderful side-by-side project to make.

Hop along for the full post:

Have you ever considered that you can make your own chalk? It’s a wonderful way to experiment with color and to create a project that continues to keep on creating. I made our in pastel coloured to make these Candy Necklace cards that I mailed my niece. 

LET’S GET STARTED:

Supplies:

•  Cardboard tube (saved from center of paper towels
• toilet paper, wrapping papers, tinfoil, etc.)
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Wooden skewers or Chop Sticks
• Freezer paper
• Large plastic containers (I used yogurt containers which were the perfect size and shape)
• Tempera paint
• Mixing disposable Spoons
• 1 1/2 cups Plaster of Paris
• Cooling rack
• Ribbon
• Beading Elastic or Embroidery Thread.
• Let’s get started:
• Gather cardboard tubes.
• Cut these into smaller tube.  We used tubes that were approximately 4 inches tall .
• Use duct tape to cover one end of the tube so that it is sealed well.
• Insert a sheet of freezer paper, cut to size. This is a very important step and can’t be missed. The freezer paper keeps the chalk from adhering to the paper tube.
• In a plastic container, mix 2 to 4 tablespoons of color desired of paint into the cup of water. Continue mixing while slowly adding the Plaster of Paris to the water, until completely combined. The mixture should be about the texture of frosting.
• Fill prepared tubes with mixture, assisting with a disposable spoon. Tap tube on work surface, gently, to release air bubbles.
• Once filled, place a wooden skewer or Chop Stick, standing, in the middle of the tube. This will create the hole to be used later for threading the beads. Note: if you use the chopstick, rather than the slimmer skewer, continuosly twist this so that it doesn’t harden permentantly. I learned the hard way that this is very tricky. As soon as the plaster is set, in about 30 minutes, remove the chopstick. If using the wooden skewer, there seems to be less surface and I didn’t encourter the same problem. We twisted the skewer just a few times and it was very easy to remove.
• The plaster will set in about a half hour, and can be removed from tube after about one hour . Test the hardness by gently squeezing the tube. Once chalk is removed from tube, place on a cooling rack and let dry completely at least 24 hours before using.
• When dry, string multi colored beads to make a necklace or I also like having just one on the string.
• If stringing one single chalk piece, fold your cord in 1/2 and insert through the bead. Make an oversized knot at one end and wear as a necklace! Happy Making!

We experimented making these with a few different techniques, in different sizes and variations. These sidewalk chalk beads are sturdy enough to use for play as well as looked pretty as beads.

Something you might like:
Card: Candy Necklace Card Printable
Melted Bead Necklaces
Felt Flower Necklaces
Beaded Wrapping Paper (A perfect bead for this two-in-one gift wrap)