In my first article of February 1998 “The Bead Alternative; Using Beads For Buttons”, Issue #26; , I covered how to make a metal shank and a woven shank to use with beads. 

In working with the beads that I want to use on a garments in place of buttons, I found beads that a woven shank or the metal hanging type shank do not always work well.  Shapes like hearts or turtles and teapots do not lend themselves to a woven shank and on occasion I want a more finished look than the metal wire shank formed into a hanging loop gives me.   I came up with a shank that is similar to a raised button shank.  This type of shank works well on the larger flatter beads and shapes like my favorite heart beads. 

Using a doubled strand of heavy thread, come up through the bead leaving a tail of about 5 to 7”. Come back around and through the bead twice again. [figs.1 and 2] 
 
 

Tie a knot around the strands that you threaded through the bead to anchor the tails. [fig.3] 
 

Bring the needle back up through the threads forming a tiny loop the length you want your shank. [fig.4] 

 
Holding the loose tail against the small loop just formed, wind the needle thread around the loop about 4 times. [fig.5] 
 
 

Push the needle back up through the loops you just wound about the shank [fig.6],  go under the threads from fig. 2 and then back down through the shank [fig.7]. 
 

With your fingers, tighten the shank by pushing slightly up toward the bead [fig.8].  Attach your bead to your garment with the tails [fig.9]. 

 

What can only YOU make?  Your very only Name Alien!  Since everyone has a different name, all Name Aliens will be different! 

Name Aliens are very easy to make...you will need crayons and a sheet of white paper. 

 
Step 1:  Fold your paper in half as shown by the red long in our example.    Turn the paper on it's side and write your name in cursive - our example shows the name Allen.  Trace over your name several times so your crayon lines are very, very thick and dark. 

Step 2:  Fold your paper again and rub it with a pencil, pen or ruler that is turned on it's side.  The idea is to get extra crayon onto the other side of your paper as shown in our second image.  

Step 3:  Open your paper and check to see if your crayon is dark enough.  If it isn't, try rubbing some more or repeat step 1. 

Step 4:  Now trace over the light impression name so it matches the first name you wrote.  

Step 5:  Is to create an alien out of your name!  Add eyes, a nose or mouth, arms, hands, legs, feet and other weird alein stuff too!  The more color you add, the funkier your alien will look.  

Hey Kids!  Send us your Name Alien and not only will we put up your drawing in Etcetera, but we'll send you some stickers when we send your alien back!  Click here for details!