I like to use corsage pins for these. they are longer and don't bend very easily. I found them where I get my long arm supplies- they are the pins that long armers like best to pin the quilts to the leaders. Alphabet / number beads I found at Hobby Lobby in the kids craft section. If you don't want to glue, try those rubbery backs you use on wire earrings. (they remind me of plastic tubing but with a really tiny hole) I might make these for my Christmas present to my small quilt group.