I used these really cheap Turkey Lacers from Amazon for the base and I have literally hundreds of beads in my craft room, from when I used to make the hatpins that I added to my cards.
There are other ways to use up beads, old zips and wire and here are just a few ideas that you may like to try, most of them are videos.
Creating a Pearl Spray Adding a pearl spray to your card Creating A Pearl Flower
Creating Zipper Rose Decorating Hatpins Working with beads
And here is the video to show the Pokey Tools and who knows you may be lucky enough to get one of these in with the Friday Freebie.