There’s nothing more beautiful than wearing something lovingly crafted by nature’s gentle hands. One way to wear a bit of nature is to make beads out of rose petals. If you have a rose garden, this is a great way to recycle the fragrant petals that fall to the ground. Surprisingly, rose petal beads have been made for many centuries. Some date the art of making beads out of rose petals back to early medieval times. Although this craft is quite old, it’s nice to know you can still practice this ancient art while preserving rose petals from your own garden. Here’s how to make rose petal beads:
How to make rose petal beads: Gather your rose petals
If you’re lucky enough to have a rose garden in your yard, finding raw materials is as simple as stepping out your back door. If not, you can purchase roses from your local nursery or grocery store or ask a neighbor to save her rose petals for you. Before buying roses, ask the manager of a store that sells roses if they’ll sell you the petals that fall from the roses in stock. This may be a less expensive alternative than buying roses. You’ll need a number of rose buds depending upon how many beads you want to make. In general the petals from one small bloom will make about six beads.
How to make rose petal beads: Make your rose petal paste
Making rose petal paste is simple. Toss the rose petals you’ve collected into the blender along with enough water to just cover them. Run the blender on high until you’ve formed a paste. Transfer the paste to a bowl and place it into a tea strainer. Shake the strainer to remove as much excess water from the paste as possible. Transfer your rose petal puree into a container for storage.
How to make rose petal beads: Roll your beads
Pick up a small amount of rose petal paste with your fingers and roll it into a ball. You’ll want to make your beads larger than what you need since they’ll shrink somewhat when drying. Use a thin nail to make a hole while the bead is still damp. Allow your beads to dry in a warm place for around five days until completely dry.
You now have fragrant, all natural beads made out of rose petals that can be strung into necklaces, bracelets, or made into earrings. These make wonderful gifts. With a little imagination you can come up with lots of ideas for how to use rose petal beads. Why not preserve rose petals from a friend’s wedding by making them into beads and giving them to the bride as a gift? You could also make a beautiful rose petal friendship bracelet and give it to a special friend along with a poem. It’s also a great way to recycle roses you received for your anniversary or other special occasion. Enjoy wearing your fragrant, nature inspired beads!
