Carbon Motifs/ Beaded Pen

So once again the card I had started took on a mind of it's own. In the long run I like the way it turned out. Hopefully I can figure out how to make what I had intended to do work and post that card next week sometime. I went a little crazy with the 1/8" circle punch :) The scallops are done with the corner rounder. An easy way to do the ribbon ends the way I have them is to fold the ribbon in half and then cut in. The sentiment is popped up on a glue dot (I love those things!). I do not use the Soft Subtle family much in the winter so I thought the Perfect Plum went well with the Basic Gray.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Tagger's Dozen

Paper: Basic Gray, Perfrect Plum, Very Vanilla, Carbon DSP

Ink: Perfect Plum, Basic Gray

Accessories: 1/8" circle punch, Corner Rounder, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Tool Kit for Piercing, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon

---

So today I am going to show you how I make my beaded pens. These are a fun, easy and inexpensive gift. Here is what you need.

I use:
Xyron machine
An RSVP Pen
Sticky Tape
Designer Paper (stamped paper would work too)
Micro Beads

Before I got my Xyron I would open the tube and put the paper inside. If you put the paper on the inside you will need to remove the words. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser does a great job removing the words.

So either wrap the paper with adhesive around the pen or slip it into the barrel of the pen.

Make sure to press it firmly. Do not let it overwrap. The edge must stay down.

Next I take the sticky strip and run it up and down the pen. I always put the first piece over the seam of the designer paper. Be careful not to touch the sticky side of the tape. If I have any hang over I just use my hobby knife to cut the excess off.

I then peel off the backing of the tape and place it carefully in my container of Microbeads. Again make sure you do not touch the tape or the beads will not stick to it.

Carefully roll the pen around in the beads pressing as you turn it.

After it is covered I pick it up and press the beads on the pen by squeezing it all the way around.

I heat the pen slightly with my heat gun after the beads are pressed on. It makes the sticky strip grab the beads just a little bit more. I did this for a workshop once and one of the ladies forgot to heat hers and her beads did not stay as well. I used mine for over 2 years and the only beads that came loose were the onces my daughter chewed off.

While it is still warm I press it one more time.

Then your pen is finished and ready to be added to a gift or thrown in your own purse :).