One pen. One little ghost. That's it. That's all there is to this business.
This pen toppers diy details the very top of a pre-decorated, beadable pen, and nothing below it. The bow, the little skulls, the rhinestones that cascade down the body of the pen—those were all there before the camera started rolling, so we aren't building any of those today. We will add in the top stack, a holder, a clear round bead, and a black ghost facing out. If you'd prefer to look at styles rather than building, the Pen Toppers collection is a good place to begin.
A little disclaimer before I begin. The following video demonstrates one combination—not the one—and you can use basically every part of it—more info on that in a second. Think of this as a method rather than a shopping list that you have to follow exactly.
Who is this for? You- anyone with a beadable pen and a topper they want right on top. Beginners-even! No work bench (or other fancy thing) necessary-hands do it all. But I will warn you. The facing area at the very end-is where most people speed up and then curse! No rushing there. That tiny part is what makes or breaks your neatness.
[VIDEO FRAME - finished black ghost topper on a decorated beadable pen]
What This Pen Toppers DIY Video Actually Covers
The abbreviated version. This is the short-assembly tutorial. Video begins with an exposed post positioned high in the air over the orange sugar bead and ends once the ghost is seated and pointing forward. Everything under that post was here from the beginning. In other words. The hat is done.
Here is what you actually see on screen:
- they intercept the GunBlack holder going down onto the post;
- a quick visual check that the holder is centered;
- The translucent round bead was flat then pressed down;
- named black ghost got into position, facing correctly, and pressed in;
- A slow final turn to have a look at the front, the sides, the back.
And here are the things you are leaving out. It doesn't show the bow, the skull, the charm or the lower bead work, and it isn't a full beadable pen built from scratch. And just in case you are wondering about the black sugar crystals in the short tray clip towards the end, that doesn't count as a step. No, not a step. We will come back to it later.
Choose Your Own Pen Topper Combination
You do NOT have to use this exact combo from the video. Not even close. Change out the beadable pen, sugar bead, clear round bead, holder, or silicone topper to any color, shape, style, or design you prefer. Be creative, combine whatever makes you smile!
A quick thing, and, well, it really counts more than you think: liking a part isn't identical to the way it fits. A different pen might have an altered top post. A thicker bead alters the stacking height. A broader topper (a large one in particular) can protrude beyond the bead and just appear goofy. So, before you settle on a combo, really test how it fits.
Number one, the checklist most people skip. Go slow here:
- the top post or connection on the pen itself;
- the holder opening, and how it seats on that post;
- the transparent round bead hole, and whether it lies flat;
- the available space you've got up there;
- stack height: Once all layers are in place, check the stack height;
- to the topper orientation, so the face points exactly where you want.
- Including the finished fit, as well as the weight of the entire process.
(I would eyeball the stack height twice, honestly, it is the one that sneaks up on you.) Number three, and it is the part nobody mentions: a bead that looks fine flat can still sit proud once the holder go under it. So dry-stack it first. Just rest the pieces together, no pressing. See how the height reads. None of this means every part fits every pen. It only means you check before you press anything down. The style in the video is one example. Browse the collection you need, pick the color or shape you prefer, and keep the replacement fitting the pen correctly.
Parts Used in This Pen Toppers DIY Demonstration
There are 2 types of parts that appear in this project. Some are identical to the ZoeDIY products I sell online, so there is a corresponding SKU number you can just order that directly. Others are demonstration examples, so the video used a sample version, but you are welcome to select a different color or style from the identical collection (that's the whole point). The table below separates the two, so you can find out which is which. Look for the fit note column. That column is more important than the beautiful pictures.
| Component | Exact or Example | Where to get it | Role | Fit note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. 8mm Pen Topper Holder, GunBlack | Exact product (FS19211) | Approx. 8mm Pen Topper Holder (FS19211) | Seats on the exposed post; base of the top stack | Must sit flat on your pen's post |
| Halloween Ghost Silicone Topper, Black | Exact product (FS19437) | Halloween Ghost Silicone Topper (FS19437) | The face piece that presses on last | Underside needs to center on the clear bead |
| Beadable pen | Demonstration example | Beadable Pens | The pen the whole stack builds on | Your pick must work with the holder and finished top |
| Orange sugar bead | Demonstration example | Sugar Beads | Sits just under the exposed post | Swap it, but keep the top post and holder seating correct |
| Transparent round bead | Demonstration example | Based Beads | The clear layer between holder and ghost | Opening and size must let it lie flat with holder and topper |
And just a note about the clear bead - I get this question all the time: the bead is a clear round bead and it is simply one form of a base style bead. It's not Nano Tape. It is not an adhesive pad, not an overlay pad, and we're not using it as a confirmed acrylic or the same size. Choose another color, shape or design from Based Beads and apply it as you please. Just make sure that the opening and size still rest as flush as possible beneath when the holder and topper are applied. Clear bead is a spacer not a sticky. Think of it as a little cushion providing a flat, level platform for ghost to be pressed into.
The Assembly Order at a Glance
Before the detailed steps, here is the stack, bottom to top. Four visible layers. Nothing hidden, and no glue anywhere:
- the exposed top post (already there);
- the GunBlack holder;
- the transparent round bead;
- Black ghost silicone topper.
Post, holder, bead, ghost. Repeat. That's the order, and you never vary it. Say it once in your head before you begin. Four words. Easy! It will stay with you. Repeat. Then you will know exactly where you are!
How to Assemble the Pen Topper
Seven steps, in order. Make sure you read each step before doing it. The steps are straightforward, it's the order that counts.
Step 1 - Install the Pen Topper Holder
Position the center opening of the GunBlack holder on the post showing just above the orange sugar bead, then push the holder down on the post and turn by hand until flat.
Step 2 - Check the Holder Position
Position the decorated beadable pen vertically in your hand and turn it slightly to ensure the pen topper holder is aligned directly over the orange sugar bead.
Step 3 - Place the Transparent Round Bead
Place the transparent round bead directly over the opening in the pen topper holder, center the bead over the opening. Rest bead flat on top surface.
Step 4 - Press the Transparent Round Bead Flat
Using your finger, press gently on the transparent round bead until it presses flat onto the pen topper holder.
Step 5 - Align the Ghost Silicone Topper
Position the Black Halloween Ghost Silicone Topper over the top you just prepared. Turn the Topper so the face faces the way it needs to go on display. Align its underside with the center of the transparent round bead.
Step 6 - Press the Topper Into Position
Place the ghost silicone topper over the prepared top and gently press it down with your hand until it is fully seated in the position as illustrated.
Step 7 - Inspect the Final Orientation
Hold the completed pen vertically and spin to view the front, sides, and reverse. Ensure that the ghost silicone topper is facing the correct direction and centered.
What the Black Sugar Crystal Diamonds Clip Shows
Near the end, the video cuts to a tray of black sugar crystals. It appears to be a shot from the process. It is not. That shot is part of the product and material display, showing the Black 1.5mm AB Sugar Crystal Diamonds (FS1441) alongside the project pieces. It is just to give you the material, not to teach a move.
Two things to be clear about:
- the clip is a display, not an instruction;
- however the coating, rolling, gluing, filling, and the application of the crystals onto the topper and the pen are not seen in the video.
In other words, if you were just sitting there waiting for a secret crystal step, never fear. There isn't one in this video. You aren't missing anything. The tray is just a cameo.
Final Fit and Orientation Check
Last look before you call it done. Hold the pen upright and turn it slowly:
- front: Is the Ghost Face pointing where you want it?
- sides: is the topper sitting level over the clear bead, not tilted?
- back: anything bump or moved after rotating?
Placed your choosing replacements here is where you verify the fit one more time, a different type of bead or topper with alter the alignment. Hesitate a little bit in wiggle a little. When the beaded pen toppers seem to be centered from any angle and the face is directed forward, you are about done. And that is everything!
Choose More Styles for Your Next Pen Topper Project
Hooked already? Good. Each link below takes you to a separate job, so follow the one that's right for the next step you want to take. No need to follow them all.
- If you're after a different character or shape on top, check out the topper styles and select one you like:
- Looking for a new base color? The sugar bead and the clear bead will give you the look you're after:
- planning the entire pen and not just the top? the Beadable Pen Projects hub lays out the rest.
The same old story as usual and I will keep banging on about it—choose what you want and then make sure it works for you before you buy. Taste is free—fit certainly isn't. A minute at the beginning avoids a dumper at the end and that saving is worth every bit of the trade.
Pen Toppers DIY FAQ
Can I replace the parts shown in this pen toppers DIY project?
yes, and you are really supposed to. make it colorful, throw in some shapes and faces and patterns, the possibilities are endless. this includes the beadable pen, the sugar bead, the transparent round bead, the holder, and the silicone topper. the only restriction is fit: if you take the checklist above, the new piece should fit properly. there's no guarantee that any random combination will fit, only that you can create the one you want if it does!
Does this tutorial show how to make the entire beadable pen?
Sorry. lower decorations, the bow, the skulls, the charms, and the bead work were all there on the pen before the filming even started. This tutorial just shows you the top: the holder, the clear round bead, the ghost topper, and the final check on the orientation. If you want to plan the full pen from the barrel up, you would find the Beadable Pen Projects hub to be the more appropriate page.
Do silicone pen toppers fit every beadable pen?
there's no one size fits all here! and anyone who is patting you on the back for telling you something different is just "eyeballing it." check the holder connection, the topper underside and opening, the space you've got up top, the stack height, the angulation and the final fit. some combinations drop right in others simply don't; that's normal when mixing and matching from different mixes.
What happens in the black Sugar Crystal Diamonds tray clip?
it is just a product and materials presentation. the process which is demonstrated in the video do not include coating, rolling, gluing, filling, applying crystals to the topper or the pen etc. so it is a look-at-the-material process, not something you have to copy.
