Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Support MzuriBeads

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Handmade, ethically sourced, recycled beads, You can’t get better than that!

Mzuribeads paper beaders live in the village of Ndejje, Uganda, where they roll paper beads from strips of recycled magazines and posters.

The director began this business with the ambition that she will one day not be needed, and Mzuribead will be ran entirely by Ugandans. Kirstie MacLean, is currently the director and acting as the voluntary/not for profit middle man. The money accumulated will be used to establish a program to train the women in the cooperative, (who so wish), to become directors, quality controllers, global marketeers, product developers, etc. In short, they aim to generate enough funds to develop a sustainable business structure.

Visit Mzuribeads and browse their online shop for some beautiful handmade beads.

WIN WIN WIN

Thanks to Mzuribeads we are giving 5 lucky CraftGossip readers the chance to win a DIY Bracelet kit.

This little box equips you with all you need to make your own recycled paper bead bracelet.  Mzuribeads is a business working with groups of village artisans who roll paper, and other ethical and natural beads.  Each bead is unique as the colour is from the specific page selected. And they are also varnished for a waterproof and glossy finish.    Presented in a gift box; containing over 15  colourful round Paper Beads, over 15 Glass Spacer Beads, knottable Tiger tail, (no need for tools,etc), and a toggle clasp.

For your chance to win simply leave a comment on this post telling us what is your favorite bead on the Mzuribead website.

Competition Closed – Winners are IndiviJewels,BeadingHeartArt,Letha,Ken and Sally Lowe. (You have all been e-mailed requesting your postal address)

Competition Open Worldwide

Comments

  1. I love the pure purple jumbo “The Spaceships Have Landed” paper beads, but there are so many gorgeous ones to choose from. The barkcloth beads are also beautiful.

  4. I like the Barkcloth Beads. They are so unusual and tactile. The chunky size is an eyestopper for sure! It is also neat that they are a product which is made by another group and shared Through the Mazumi site- I especially like that they are networking in their enterprises!

  5. I was amazed to find such an wonderful site while I was researching making jewelry from recycled materials. These beads are so colorful and amazing…they make you happy just seeing them. Beautiful! Thank you.

  6. Hands down, my favosite is the Jumbo green beads. However, due to it being recyled, I love the recycled beads too.

    They are soo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. Gorgeous beads! I can’t choose just one! My faves are “The Spaceships Have Landed” and the “To Infinity and Beyond.”

  9. So many colors of the variety of beads but I am drawn to the Barkcloth beads. They look so organic and interesting.

  11. Definitely Omo in turquoise! I made a necklace with an earlier version of these beads and it’s been much admired. These beads are so much lighter and more comfortable to wear than glass or ceramic.

  13. Love all the beads on the Mzuribeads website, have at least one of each of everything. Especially like using the Omo (the berry bead) in my jewellery designs as the shape works so well with all my other beads.

  15. I am a Mzuribead customer and have to say ALL the beads are fabulous. I really like the jumbo recycled paper beads. I have them in black and they are awesome! But, I love the bead mixes of recycled beads – so much inspiration in one bag. OH, and the banana leaf beads are little pieces of glory! sigh. My favorite? Tough call. I guess I’ll stick with the jumbo! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  17. If I have to choose just one, I favor the Barkcloth beads. I love the color. By the way, the Paper Bead Dress is incredible!

  20. These beads are incredible! They are a good representation of what beauty can come from, like the moth into a butterfly. I would use these as a sign that all is beautiful.

  21. these beads are way more than just beads they are fair trade for a fairer world and beautiful jewelry and i drool over all the beads but my favorite are jumbo’s in all the fab colours xx

  22. I absolutely love fair trade beads!! I am teaching a cultural beading class at a school in NYC this fall (begins in a week), and will include a class on fair trade beading in Africa. The children range from 5-8th grade, and I am sure they would absolutely love to work with such beautiful, ethical beads.
    🙂

Have you read?

Halloween Jewellery To Complete Your Costume Look

There is something wonderfully satisfying about a Halloween costume that looks like you planned it weeks in advance, even when the truth is you were rummaging through the craft cupboard at 9pm with a cup of tea going cold beside you. The trick, I’ve found, is not always in making the biggest costume. It’s in the finishing touches — the earrings, necklace, brooch, hair clip, little bit of sparkle or spooky silliness that pulls the whole look together.

Halloween jewellery is one of my favourite ways to make a costume feel clever without having to sew a full outfit from scratch. A pair of blood drip earrings can turn an old ripped shirt into a zombie costume. Tiny ghost earrings make a plain white outfit feel instantly Casper-cute. Spiderweb earrings, pumpkin charms, skull earrings, witch hats and bat pendants are all small projects, but they do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to costume styling.

I also love these kinds of DIY Halloween jewellery projects because they are wearable beyond the party. Pop them on for work, handing out treats, school events, Halloween dinner, or just because October deserves its own accessories. Aloo would absolutely judge me if I wore a full costume to walk him around the block, but spiderweb earrings? Perfectly acceptable. Probably.

Below I’ve paired each Halloween jewellery tutorial with a costume idea so you can make the accessory and then build the outfit around it. Think of it as a mix-and-match costume helper for adults, teens, last-minute makers, and anyone who wants a Halloween look that feels handmade rather than plastic-fantastic.

1. Blood Drip Earrings For A Zombie Costume

Jewellery tutorial: DIY Dripping Blood Earrings
Costume pairing: Zombie Costume Tutorial

These blood drip earrings are gloriously dramatic and surprisingly simple, using hot glue and red nail polish to create that dripping effect. Pair them with torn clothing, smoky eye makeup, and a bit of messy hair for a zombie costume that feels creepy without needing a full prosthetic makeup session.

2. Ghost Tassel Earrings For A Casper-Inspired Costume

Jewellery tutorial: DIY Halloween Ghost Tassel Earrings
Costume pairing: DIY Ghost Costume

These little ghost tassel earrings are sweet, quick, and not too scary, which makes them perfect for a friendly ghost or Casper-inspired costume. Wear them with white, pale grey, tulle, soft layers, or a simple ghost outfit and they’ll add that handmade “aww” factor without turning the whole thing into a bedsheet situation.

3. Spider Web Earrings For A Spider Queen Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Halloween Spider Web Earrings
Costume pairing: Spider Web T-Shirt Costume

These spider web earrings are a brilliant choice if you want something spooky but still stylish enough to wear with regular clothes. Match them with a black spiderweb shirt, black jeans or leggings, and dark lipstick for a Spider Queen look that is easy, comfortable, and party-ready.

4. Witch Hat Earrings For A Classic Witch Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Halloween Witch Hat Earrings
Costume pairing: Easy Witch Costume DIY Sewing Tutorial

These quilled witch hat earrings are a lovely little paper-craft twist on Halloween jewellery. They would look adorable with a black dress, boots, a pointy hat, and a broom, especially if you prefer a cute handmade witch costume over the full green-face version.

5. Pumpkin Wire Earrings For A Jack-O’-Lantern Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Pumpkin Wire Earrings
Costume pairing: Fleece Pumpkin Halloween Costume

Pumpkin earrings are one of those Halloween jewellery ideas that work beautifully for both spooky season and autumn outfits. Pair these with orange clothing, a pumpkin tunic, green scarf, or handmade pumpkin costume for a cheerful jack-o’-lantern look that is more sweet than scary.

6. Skull Earrings For A Skeleton Costume

Jewellery tutorial: DIY Halloween Skull Earrings
Costume pairing: Easy No-Sew Skeleton T-Shirt DIY

These faux leather skull earrings are a great choice if you have a Cricut or cutting machine and want something bold but still lightweight. Team them with a skeleton T-shirt, black pants, and white face makeup for a costume that looks pulled together without being fussy.

7. Bat Pendants For A Bat Or Vampire Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Easy To Make Bat Pendants
Costume pairing: Umbrella Bat Costume

A bat pendant is one of those clever Halloween accessories that can swing cute, gothic, or dramatic depending on how you style it. Wear it with black clothes and bat wings for a bat costume, or layer it with a cape and deep red lipstick for a vampire-inspired look.

8. Eyeball Earrings For A Mad Scientist Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Halloween Crochet Eyeball Earrings
Costume pairing: Easy DIY Mad Scientist Costume

These crochet eyeball earrings are delightfully weird in the best possible way. Add them to a lab coat, safety goggles, wild hair, and rubber gloves for a mad scientist costume that says “I definitely know where the spare googly eyes are kept.”

9. Candy Corn Earrings For A Candy Corn Costume

Jewellery tutorial: Candy Corn All Dressed Up Earrings Tutorial
Costume pairing: Make A Candy Corn Costume

Candy corn jewellery is cheerful, nostalgic, and instantly recognisable, even if you’re in the camp that only likes looking at candy corn rather than eating it. These earrings would be adorable with a yellow, orange, and white outfit or a full candy corn costume for a bright, playful Halloween look.

10. Colourful Seed Bead Earrings For A Fortune Teller Costume

Jewellery tutorial: DIY Colourful Seed Bead Earrings
Costume pairing: Fortune Teller Costume

These colourful seed bead earrings are perfect for a mystical fortune teller costume, especially if you love layered scarves, bangles, long skirts, and a little bit of theatrical sparkle. Add a crystal ball prop, stacked jewellery, and rich fabrics, and you’ve got a costume that feels handmade, dramatic, and wonderfully fun.

More Halloween Craft Inspiration

For more handmade Halloween ideas, browse the Halloween craft projects on CraftBits.com and the Halloween sewing and costume ideas on CraftGossip.com. Both are full of the sort of projects that make you think, “Oh yes, I could make that,” which is exactly how the best craft rabbit holes begin.