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Microbeads - Beaded Pen & Notebook

By Stephanie Loomis
Crafty Cruisers
Intermediate Stamping Team Designer

Notebook and Pen Holder
Supplies:

Winter Blocks Stamp Set (TAC)
Christmas Blocks Stamp Set (TAC)
Brilliance Ink Pads:
Mediterranean Blue, Sky Blue, Ice Blue (Tsukineko~*TAC)
Stipple Brush #4 (TAC)
White card stock; 2 pieces cut to 4.5” x 3” (TAC)
Wonder Tape ¼” width (Suze Weinberg~*TAC)
2 ½” wide wire edged ribbon; cut to 10” (Dollar Tree)
Mini Composition book (Dollar Tree)
YES glue (Gane Brothers & Lane, Inc.~*TAC)
Beaded Pen (see project sheet)

Directions:

1.    Trim cardstock to fit front and back covers of mini composition book.

2.    Stamp snowman images from Winter Blocks set with Sky Blue Brilliance ink randomly on back cover cardstock.

3.    Stipple Ice Blue Brilliance ink over white spaces with Stipple Brush.

4.    Stamp snowmen images with Sky Blue ink as a frame on the front cover cardstock.

5.    Stamp framed snowman from Christmas Blocks set with Mediterranean Brilliance ink on center front cover.

6.    Stamp “I Love Winter” sentiment using Mediterranean Blue ink on front cover.

7.    Add “Winter Friends” sentiment underneath framed snowman.

8.    Adhere cardstock covers to front and back of composition book with YES glue and set aside.

9.    Roll top and bottom edges of wire ribbon and secure with Wonder Tape.      (A seamstress may choose to zigzag stitch the folds.)

10.           Fold ribbon so that one side is about ¼” longer than the other.

11.           Adhere longer edge to the binding of the composition book as shown with Wonder Tape.

12.           Insert beaded pen and refold ribbon.

13.           With the pen in the holder, adhere the bottom and sides of the ribbon to the composition book with Wonder Tape. Small sections of tape will allow flexibility for inserting and removing the pen. Add additional bits of tape as needed to ensure the pen holder “holds.”

Beaded Pens

This technique is adapted from one I learned from my friend, Suzanne Glazier of Penny Wise Beads. 

Supplies:

Winter Blocks Stamp Set (TAC)
Christmas Blocks Stamp Set (TAC)
Brilliance Ink:
Mediterranean Blue, Sky Blue, Ice Blue (Tsukineko~*TAC)
Stipple Brush #4 (TAC)
White card stock strip cut to 1.25” x 4” (TAC)
Wonder Tape; cut 2 pieces 1.25” x 4” each (Suze Weinberg~*TAC)
Clear glass micro beads (TAC)
Crystal Lacquer (Sakura Hobby Crafts~*TAC)
Round Barrel Stick Pen (The Dollar Tree)

Directions:

1.    Stamp snowman images in Sky Blue randomly on cardstock (scraps are great for this project).

2.    Stipple Ice Blue over white spaces.

3.    Stamp “Winter Friends” sentiment using Mediterranean Blue ink.

4.    Apply one strip of Wonder Tape to pen barrel (take the cap off!).

5.    Apply stamped cardstock strip to pen. Roll between the palms of your hands to ensure a good adhesion.

6.    Apply second strip of Tacky Tape over stamped paper.

7.    Pour clear glass micro beads in a tray or pie tin.

8.    Roll pen in clear micro beads.

9.    Press firmly and allow to settle overnight.

10.           (Optional) Cover with Crystal Lacquer for a slightly different look and feel.  This helps keep the beads in place.

These are the basic directions---there are a million alternatives!  Try wrapping small strips over the cardstock and making a striped bead pattern. Use colored translucent beads or colored cardstock. Roll up the stamped cardstock and put it in the pen barrel and bead the outside. You can even put beads in the pen barrel (about a ¼ teaspoon in a Pentel RSVP pen) for a fun alternative.

If you would like to print this technique, click here.  Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to obtain this file.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, click here to download and install.