- 1). Decide how you would like your beads to look. You can use clip art or design your own background on your personal computer to be printed on your shrink plastic paper. You can even use a solid color if you choose, or even a mixture of color and geometrical designs for a retro look!
- 2). Place your shrink plastic paper into the printer and select the print option on your computer. When printing is complete, you should allow the ink to set for a few minutes before moving onto the next step.
- 3). Cut your plastic into 1 inch by 1/2 inch pieces. You can do this by premeasuring with your ruler and marking the 1-inch sections before cutting. Careful measuring will allow you to create a symmetrical assortment of beads.
- 4). Begin the bead-making process by taking one of your 1 by 1-inch pieces and laying it out in front of you on your workspace. Since your bead will be rolled into a tubelike shape, you will need acquire a tool to assist you in the process. A hemostat works great, is inexpensive and can be found in many hobby stores.
- 5). Lay your piece of decorated shrink plastic in front of you horizontally, and grip one of the ends with your hemostat. Make sure you have the shrink plastic gripped securely; this is very important!
- 6). Hold the heat gun in your free hand and direct the heat onto the piece of shrink plastic. But do not hold the heat gun too close. You want to soften the plastic, not burn it.
- 7). Roll the bead from one end to the other, onto itself, as the plastic softens. Perform this step slowly; make sure the plastic is pliable enough to do so.
- 8). Remove the heat from the rolled plastic and set aside to cool. Once the plastic hardens again, the bead is complete.
- 9). Continue the process until you have created as many beads as you need.
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