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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
5 mins

Bringing out the Nostalgia of Shrinking Plastic since 2013
As I was working with Shrink Plastic, I found that whatever stuff I was making had a lot of tiny little scraps. I don't like to waste, so I stuck a pin through them and used my embossing gun to shrink 'em. What I found I had created were Seed Beads!

Posted by IntrepidMoose from Madison, Wisconsin, United States • Published See IntrepidMoose's 5 projects »
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  • How to make a plastic bead. Shrink Plastic Seed Beads - Step 1
    Step 1

    These are the materials you will most likely need, including an embossing gun. The hole puncher is only needed unless you have no scraps of Shrink Plastic- hole punch a bunch of circles in the plastic. You may also colour on the plastic with the Sharpies or Permanent markers.

  • How to make a plastic bead. Shrink Plastic Seed Beads - Step 2
    Step 2

    STAB THEM! Great way to relieve stress or just live out your fantasies of being a giant monster looming over a bustling metropolis. If you're having trouble getting them on the pin, try pushing them on through a pincushion or pillow. Evenly space them throughout the pin.
    *EDIT* The thickness of the pin, if you choose to use one, matters! Or, you can experiment using head pins or other pointy objects.

  • How to make a plastic bead. Shrink Plastic Seed Beads - Step 3
    Step 3

    Now heat up your embossing gun and fire those badboys until they can't shrink anymore and are about the size of seed beads.

  • How to make a plastic bead. Shrink Plastic Seed Beads - Step 4
    Step 4

    Take your ruler and quickly push the beads off the pin. Some might fuse, so if you have a design you like on a scrap, don't be completely in love with it, because it might fuse.

  • How to make a plastic bead. Shrink Plastic Seed Beads - Step 5
    Step 5

    Woo! Now you've got seed beads made from shrink plastic! Have fun with whatever you make with these fabulous beads! You can also stab the scraps with a head pin or wire to make the hole in the middle bigger and then fire them that way.

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Comments

Caren M.
Caren M.
In step 4 if you dip you pin in baby powder,tap on side of container then stab your plastic. It makes it easier to push them off. Also if you push your beads single layer into the container of baby powder you get less fusing. Be sure to wipe off the beads if you are doing anything else to them.Happy
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