How to make a paper bead bracelet

The rainbow flag

The rainbow flag is a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. Originally designed by Gilbert Baker, the different colours represent the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. LGBT is a modern term that people from the past wouldn’t recognise.

The Queen's House has been home to a wide range of relationships over its 400 year history. Sometimes it’s difficult for people to celebrate their friendships and relationships publicly and sometimes when we look back at the past it’s difficult to understand people’s relationships.

Before King James I married Anne of Denmark (who lived in the Queen's House), he had a very close relationship with his friend the Duke of Lennox. When the Duke died, James was devastated and even wrote a poem in his memory. Many people at the time believed that James I and the Duke of Lennox had a close, romantic relationship. James I had close relationships with other men and women that were thought to be romantic.

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A Rainbow Bracelet

Can you make a rainbow bracelet to give to a friend or someone you love to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community?

You will need:

Coloured paper/magazine pages/wrapping paper

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

Pritt stick

Skewer

String or thin elastic and PVA glue and a paintbrush to varnish (optional)

Step 1

Draw out a series of triangles onto your coloured paper. The base of the triangle will be the width of your bead. You can cut the triangle out or tear against a ruler to create a more texture edge. Vary the width of the base to make different size beads.

Step 2

Put glue over the wrong side of the triangle and place the base on the wooden skewer.

Step 3

Tightly roll the triangle on to the skewer from the base to the point. Make sure you keep pulling it tight and rubbing each layer to check it sticks properly together.

Step 4

Slide the bead off the skewer and make your next one.

Top Tip: if your bead feels stuck on the skewer gently hold the bead steady and rotate the skewer to loosen it.

Step 5

When you’ve finished you can paint the beads with some PVA glue to varnish them and protect them.

When the beads have dried string them on some elastic and tie the ends in a knot. Wear your bracelet to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community or give it to someone special.