Beaded pens are one of the most popular craft trends right now — and for good reason! They make gorgeous gifts, sell brilliantly at craft markets, and are surprisingly easy to make once you know how. Whether you're completely new to crafting or just trying something different, this step-by-step guide will have you making beautiful beaded pens in no time.
What You'll Need
- A plain beadable pen (we recommend a chunky barrel for easier beading)
- 16mm beads of your choice — silicone, acrylic, or resin all work brilliantly
- Spacer or bail beads to add detail between your main beads
- A focal bead or character figure for the topper
- Strong craft glue or a glue gun (optional, for securing the topper)
Step 1: Choose Your Beads
The most fun part! Pick a colour scheme or theme — pastels, neons, Halloween, florals — the options are endless. For a standard beadable pen, 16mm beads are the most popular size as they sit snugly and look great. Mix in some 12mm beads or spacer beads to add variety and texture.
Step 2: Plan Your Design
Before you start threading, lay your beads out in order on a flat surface. This lets you see how the finished pen will look and make any changes before committing. Aim for around 5–15 beads depending on bead size and the length of your pen barrel.
Step 3: Thread the Beads onto the Pen
Simply slide your beads onto the metal rod of the pen barrel one by one, following your planned design. Most 16mm beads are designed to fit snugly onto beadable pen rods — no tools needed! Push each bead firmly down as you go to keep them tight together.
Step 4: Add Your Focal Bead or Topper
The topper is the finishing touch that makes your pen truly unique. A silicone focal bead, cute character figure, or fun acrylic charm works perfectly. If your topper has a hole, thread it on last. If not, use a small dot of strong craft glue to secure it to the top of the pen.
Step 5: Secure the Bottom
To stop your beads sliding off the bottom of the pen, use a bail bead or a small dab of glue at the base. Make sure the pen tip is still accessible so you can actually write with it!
Tips for Beginners
- Start simple — a single colour or two-tone design is easier to manage and still looks stunning.
- Mix textures — combining matte, glitter, and shimmer beads adds depth without needing lots of colours.
- Make a few at once — once you get the hang of it, batch-making pens is much quicker and great for building up market stock.
- Photograph as you go — your process shots make brilliant content for social media!
Ready to Get Started?
Browse our full range of 16mm beads, silicone focal beads, spacer beads, and craft pens at Kingyscrafts — everything you need to make your perfect beaded pen, delivered to your door across the UK.