Make Fun and Creative Pens With Beads (Instead of Jewelry)

I have so much fun making these pens.

During the cleanout of my mom’s house, I am the only daughter who still pursues her passion for crafts and DIY so of course I had to bring home the many boxes of jewelry-making beads and tools she had collected over the years.  Along with many other craft items as well. 

But I don’t make jewelry, or at least not in the practiced and unique personal style that my mother could make. So I needed to find other creative ways to use up those beads.

I found the answer in making beaded pens.  After the first beaded pen I made, I have been hooked on this fun and creative craft ever since.

 

 

 

This post is part of the monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop, where I cohost each month with Sara of Birdz Of A Feather blog. 

At the bottom of this post, I will direct you to the next blogger on the list to continue your journey of some wonderful and creative projects. 

 

If you are visiting from Tammy’s site, Patina And Paint, then welcome!  I am so glad you have followed along with the links in the Craft Hop.  I know you will enjoy her project for DIY Cooking Utensils this month.

 

 

 

As I mentioned, I inherited the bulk of my mom’s craft supplies when we started cleaning out her house last year.  Mama is still with us but the four of us girls could not physically take care of her around the clock.  Especially with me living in another state and the stroke my oldest sister experienced about 18 months ago.  For the last two years, Mama has been in a nursing home and is doing well despite her dementia.  Cleaning out her house with 60+ years of memories has been hard though.  

When my sisters encouraged me to take more than twenty boxes of beads, I had no idea what I would do with them. 

Since then I have been trying out different creative projects to find new uses for these beads.   At Christmas, I made a vintage-style garland for my retro-themed Christmas tree but not much else in home decor ideas for these beads. 

 

 

Where I got the idea for beaded pens.

One Sunday while sitting next to a good friend in church, I noticed she was writing with a beautiful navy beaded pen.  I didn’t know that beaded pens were even a thing at the time!  So I looked it up on Pinterest and Etsy and decided I could make those too!

After saving many ideas for beaded pens on a new Pinterest Board, I made my first batch of beaded pens that I gave out as handmade gifts at Christmas for my coworkers, family, and Bible study group.  And they were a hit!

And yes, I was told by several people that I should be selling them, even a waitress at IHop suggested it to me.  I told her I was thinking about starting an online shop and then I gave her a free one to enjoy.  

This is one of those amazingly Easy crafts to make and a perfect way to add a personal touch to a Gift or special occasion.

 

 

To start this project you will need to purchase some beaded pen blanks.  So far Amazon has the best prices and selections that I have found.

 

 

 

 

Next, you will need to purchase some plastic beads that will fit the shank of the pen blank, with the holes in the beads or the spacer beads large enough to fit on the metal shank for the pen.  

Luckily, I had a head start on the beads and spacers for my first set of pens from Mama’s stash. 

But I still quickly learned that not all beads will fit the metal shank piece of the pen blank.  The inside diameter of the bead hole needs be around 2mm to 5mm to slide onto the shank.

 

 

Below I share some tips and ideas I discovered while I learned how to assemble a beaded pen.

 

 

 

My tips for making beaded pens:

• The inside diameter of the hole in the bead to fit the pen shank should be 2mm to 5mm.  It is important to check the size of the hole of a bead to make sure it will work on a beadable pen.  When shopping at a local craft store for beads for pens such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels, I carry a bead with me from home that I know fits the pen shank to compare before I buy.  This practice saves money on buying the wrong size of beads.
• I found that keeping the overall size of the beads around 10mm to 20mm is best for a beaded pen. These sizes work well without being too big or heavy for the pen. 
• The first bead on the pen shank should be a 12mm bead or larger so that it fits over the recessed section of the pen blank.  Anything smaller will fall into the recessed area and is not a good look.

 

 

• Small spacer beads are a must to add some extra sparkle and interest to the style of the pen.  But the most important reason to use spacers is that they help to fill up the shank of the pen blank completely so that the decorative beads do not move freely up and down the shank or jiggle when the pen is in use.

 

 

• The type of bead you use for a pen is also important to something to consider.  Silicone and plastic beads are the best option as they are lightweight and decorative.  I have used a few glass and metal beads but they don’t often fit the metal shank and can’t be enlarged if needed like a plastic bead. 
• Pay careful attention to the weight of decorative beads so that the pen stays upright and light in the hand while in use. I test each pen after I make them if I find it uncomfortable to hold and write with, then I know to start over on what bead selections I have made.

 

• When buying beadable pen blanks, buying a kit with ink refills is always a good idea.  Because of the shank insert of the pen blanks, the amount of ink in the pen is less than a normal pen.  Refills are appreciated by those receiving these decorative pens as a gift.

 

 

As I gain more confidence working with beads, I plan to find more ways to use these beads in home decor projects and of course, will probably venture more into jewelry making and other easy craft ideas.  With each new style and technique I try, I understand more and more why my mom enjoyed working with beads so much.

Something as simple as adding a few decorative beads takes an ordinary pen and elevates it with a splash of color and creative flare. Beaded pens are my favorite things to make right now! 

 

 

 

Making these fun and easy beaded pens was a great way to step into the world of beads and learn more about bead crafts. With each pen I made, I soon developed a personal style and figured out how to creatively stack and assemble the beads for a one-of-a-kind pen. 

Making beaded pens is such a great project idea and one of those easy crafts to start.

They can be customized with your own designs and style, depending on the type of bead you want to use.  My Etsy cart currently has some fun focal bead options that I can’t wait to work with as well. 

“Thanks Mama for not getting rid of your jewelry bead stash when you couldn’t make things any longer.  I am enjoying learning so much along the way and feeling connected to you through it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin For Later

 

 

Now I would like to invite you to visit all of the other talented bloggers who participated in the Creative Craft Hop this month.

Starting with Carol’s project for How To Make The Prettiest Kentucky Derby Door Hanger.

 

 

Hugs,

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take not of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.