How to make those pretty bead sticks - How did you do that?

Pretty Bead Sticks. - How did you do that?

Once these bead sticks are dried hard, they can be cut to any size with a safety blade.

HOW TO INSTRUCTIONS
You will need ...
Straws
8 ply colored yarn of any kind.
Scissors
Elmers White Glue
Water
Piece of old towel
Skewers for putting the straws to dry


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut a slot about 1 cm into each end ofa straw.
2. Pass the end of the yarn through the slot and lay the end of the yarn against the straw and hold on to it.
3. Start wrapping the yarn around the straw and also around the loose end that you are holding down, keep pushing the wrapped yarns close up tight against each other as you go.

4. When you have the whole straw wrapped right down to the other end where you cut the second slot, pass the yarn through the slot and secure it by tying a know.

5. When you have a few straws wrapped it is time to glue the yarn together so they don't come unravelled when you cut them.

6.  Dilute some of your elmers glue half/half with water. and paint your wrapped straws making sure the glue is well soaked in.  Then roll the glued yarn rolled straw on a soft piece of old towelling to get rid of any excess glue and bring the surface of the yarn back to it's natural look.  If you skip this step, you may end up with some ugly looking bead sticks with shiny spots or dull opaque spots. It helps if you put a skewer through the straw so you can stand it up to dry.

7.  If you are going to be doing lots of these, you can drill holes in a piece of heavy timber so you have something to stand the skewers up onto.  If you are only going to be making one batch, then stand them up at an angle against the edge of a wall or cardboard box.