How-To

Sequin-Wrapped Beads and Foam Balls

Few things can bring a party to life like sparkling decorations, such as these sequin-wrapped baubles. Use wooden beads for jewelry, and Styrofoam balls to accent napkin rings and shoes.
Martha Stewart Living, December 2010

This technique is versatile. Use wooden beads for jewelry, and Styrofoam balls for napkin rings and shoe decorations.

Tools and Materials

  • Wooden beads or foam balls
  • Strung sequins
  • Tacky white glue

How-To

1. Pull 1 or 2 sequins off the thread to create a lead end. Starting at the top of bead (or foam ball), secure lead end with a dab of glue.

2. Apply glue one section at a time, and adhere sequin strand, spiraling it tightly and applying pressure as you work. [See image 2 above.] Leave bead holes open if you'll be stringing them; otherwise, cover with sequins.

Reviews (18)

  • BreeLeeD
    14 Mar, 2011

    Such a fun and easy project! To adhere the sequins on the wooden beads, I used E6000, which works on nearly all surfaces (except styrofoam). I put on an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and made one ring during that time. I worked slowing trying to prevent glue from getting on the sequins. However, some glue ended up on them anyway. After it was completely dry, I used a toothpick and was able to easily remove the excess glue.

  • SewFab
    28 Dec, 2010

    You may also want to consider, using the glue gun for this project.

  • potsroses
    26 Dec, 2010

    the best glue is e6000 for the wood bead and for shirts look for aileen's fabric glue. try it first because sometimes it stains the fabric. do not put to much either.

  • mslo_marcie
    22 Dec, 2010

    The bead needs to be glued to the ring base before it is wrapped with sequins. As shown in the photo above - it should have been made more clear in the text.

  • julzstufz
    19 Dec, 2010

    Neither Tacky Glue nor Super Glue will adhere the sequin-strung wooden bead to the ring. It still falls off. The photo in the magazine was probably just for show purposes; the ring would not actually be wearable according to the instructions that went with the photo.

  • mpvet053
    16 Dec, 2010

    speaking of glue, what is the best glue on the market for attaching gems to shirts that will be washed. I am talking about the ones that don't heat set.

  • NatureGeek24
    13 Dec, 2010

    Try E-6000 glue for this. It's my favorite one for all my jewelry and hair accessories I make.

  • DeniseBrightDove
    11 Dec, 2010

    Add goop glue. It works great.

  • JWelle
    11 Dec, 2010

    I want to know how to attach the ball or whatever to the ring so that it doesn't fall off!!

  • amymilder
    11 Dec, 2010

    What I did was put the wooden bead on a pencil that I stuck into a glass to hold it upright then painted the entire bead with a thin layer of the glue and let it dry completely. Once the glue was clear, I drew a thin line of wet glue with a toothpick and then pressed the sequins down into it as I worked around the bead. The fresh glue kind of re-activated the dry glue and everything stayed put nicely, with no sliding or glue squishing over the sequins.

  • Bevartly
    11 Dec, 2010

    How do you hook the bead to the ring?

  • jessmn
    10 Dec, 2010

    I made one with tacky glue, patiently waiting for small sections to dry before going onto the next. It took forever, and still looks a bit wobbly. The next two I made with super glue. It works great, and the strand of sequins is much straighter.

  • hpaige
    9 Dec, 2010

    Much more difficult than it seems. It's impossible to not get the sequins covered in glue and to get them to lay flat. I think I'm going to ditch the sequins and use glitter instead.

  • kileyb
    8 Dec, 2010

    Do you need to use a different glue to attach the sequined bead to the ring finding or will the same tacky glue work?

  • HiroLover
    6 Dec, 2010

    I just made these and i find it much easier to use the loose sequin then the strand..... just when your putting them down overlap them!! it looks great!!!

  • cookiegirl23
    23 Nov, 2010

    I am working on this and I am using toothpicks to hold the Styrofoam and push pins to hold the sequins in place. It is more difficult than it looks.

  • Erbear
    21 Nov, 2010

    I did not make these yet, but maybe you could stand the wooden bead on top of a sharpened pencil. For the styrofoam balls, maybe sticking a toothpick in it would work. Hope this helps!

  • acfisch
    18 Nov, 2010

    This seems to be a lot more difficult than what's pictured here. Does anyone have any tricks for holding the ball still to keep the glue from getting all over the sequins?