1st Attempt at beaded pens-Not sure if it was a success

[dawn g]

Help! I did the beaded pens, and it actually went pretty easy, but there were little black dots in my microbeads that I couldn't pick out! Is this normal? How do you get them out? Then I set them down, and they picked up even more black stuff. Was I supposed to seal them with something? I'm trying to pick the black stuff out but the good beads keep getting picked off! They look terrible! Plus they are bumpy.

Other than those few little problems, they look really cool!

[Sheila Wildman]

The beads you used may be the bigger ones. Hobby Lobby has brand name "Beadies mini marbles". Read the small little sticker on the tube. There are some that say Crystal Transparent and some say Mini Crystal Transparent. The mini ones are so small that when you look through the tube, you don't really see round beads. They almost look like super small grains of sugar. These work the best. You can see your image through it better. Also press down real hard when rolling, the sprinkle glitter on it and rub it in with your hand. The glitter covers the exposed tape so other things don't stick. I hope this helps.

[stamper_stef]

Have you used the SU micro beads for the pens? Do they work well?

[StampinMelis]

I've used the SU! beads and like them better than what I have seen others use. Ours seem to be smaller, and make for a smoother pen surface.

[Shirleyone]

Yes, I have noticed little black things in some of the micro beads I have purchased. I get them out by wetting a fine art brush with my tongue. Sorry if that seems gross. Then I touch the black things they stick and I pull them out. It can take a little while, but beats having them on the pen. ugh!

HTH,
Shirley

[dawn g]

Quote:

Originally Posted by madew

Yes, I have noticed little black things in some of the micro beads I have purchased. I get them out by wetting a fine art brush with my tongue. Sorry if that seems gross. Then I touch the black things they stick and I pull them out. It can take a little while, but beats having them on the pen. ugh!

HTH,
Shirley

Good idea about the brush Shirley. I was trying to pick them up with my fingernail! I bought the microbeads from queen pennywise, and I believe they are smaller than SU's. Overall, I was really pleased with the results of the pens, they were much easier than I thought. I will have to try the glitter though. I never thought of that!