Have you ever started a craft project, only to leave it unfinished for months? That was me with these matted beaded pieces. I originally planned to make a bag, but ran out of beads and lost motivation. Recently, I was inspired by @funshee Mini Square Beaded Bag post to finally finish my project but this time with a new design in mind!
Let me show you how I transformed my forgotten beadwork into a unique, elegant bag. If you have unfinished projects lying around, maybe this will inspire you to give them new life too!
🧵 Materials Used
- Matted beaded pieces
- Pearl beads
- Fishing line
- Key holder rings (as a bag chain substitute)
- Necklace spacers (for decoration)
- Cutter
Step 1: Assess Your Pieces
I start off by laying out all your matted beaded pieces.
You can see I had a mix of off-white and black beaded mats, plus a few smaller pieces.
Step 2: Complete the Main Mat
I began by filling in the open spaces on my largest off-white beaded mat.
This gave me a solid base for the body of the bag.
Step 3: Fold and Secure the Body
Once the mat was complete, I folded it in half to form the main body of the bag.
I used larger pearl beads to connect the sides, threading them through both layers
Step 4: Attach the Bag Cover
Next, I marked the midpoint of the bag’s opening.
I attached one of my black matted pearl pieces as the cover, using a small off-white pearl bead to connect the cover to the body.
Step 5: Prepare the Handle
Since I didn’t have a bag chain, I improvised with key holder rings.
I connected two rings together for each side of the handle.
For a bit of flair, I added a necklace spacer as an accessory, then strung larger pearl beads to complete the handle.
I make sure to tuck in the fishing line and tie double knots at every connection point to prevent the bag from coming apart.
✨ The Finished Look
Here’s the final result!
I love how it turned out, unique and elegant! As for the remaining matted beads, I’ll keep them until inspiration strikes again.
If you have unfinished projects, don’t be afraid to revisit them with fresh eyes. Sometimes, a little inspiration is all you need to create something beautiful. Happy crafting!
Thanks for reading!
@chatsunny