Putting Together Kits for Beading Parties

by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved

How to Put Together Jewelry Kits for Beading Parties, by Rena Klingenberg, Jewelry Making Journal

For beading parties, I found that the party moves along better if the participants can choose from “kits” to work with, instead of choosing each individual bead themselves.

(Some people can take an hour or longer to choose the beads for a pair of earrings, which can really slow down a jewelry making party.)

The kits are little “designer collections” of jewelry components, with everything the party guest needs to make a necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings.

I always include a few more beads than the party guest will actually need to make the piece of jewelry, so they can have the fun of choosing which beads to use from their kit.

It’s a good idea to have kits available in a variety of color schemes so there’s something for everyone.

Making Kits for Beading Parties - Rena Klingenberg

Kits for Children’s
Bracelet Making Birthday Parties

Here’s how I’ve put together kits for bracelet-making birthday parties:

First, ask the parents hosting the party to send you a list of the guests’ names and favorite colors, so every guest will have a kit in colors they love.

I put each kit in its own mini-ziplock bag, along with a slip of paper that has the party guest’s name and desired colors, so they’ll be easy to hand out when we’re ready to get started.

I use a beadboard to measure how many inches of beads from my bead stash to put into each kit.

I focus on creating a nice variety of colors, shapes, etc. in the desired color combos.

Then I toss in a few beads in a coordinating color – or some hematite, onyx, or pearl beads for color contrast.

I also make sure there’s at least one cool focal bead in each bracelet kit.

Although I know each bracelet only needs 4 to 6 inches of beads for most children’s bracelets, I put about 8 or 9 inches of beads in each kit, so the guests will have a nice selection to design with, and they’ll get to take the extra beads home with them for other projects.

Into each kit I also put a 10″ strand of beading wire with one end of a small toggle clasp already attached to it (I help them put on the other end of the clasp when they’re finished).

This is a very simple version of kits, done for elementary-school age kids, but you can use it as a springboard for creating your own kit projects.

And of course, always bring along extra kits in case other people want to join in the jewelry-making fun!

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