Tag Archives: bead crafts

Little Ribbon Totes and Miniature Purses

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, miniature, sparkling

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Rainy day fun with ribbon and beads making tiny totes and miniature purses.
I started with the Klutz book Ribbon Purses (no longer in print) and made this tiny purse following their directions and using the kit materials.

A tiny ribbon purse made with Klutz book kit materials.

A tiny ribbon purse made with Klutz book kit materials.

I really wanted to stick with just the kit items but then I thought of this one, using some of the kit supplies and adding my own seed beads and charms.

Tiny ribbon purse with charm dangle.

Tiny ribbon purse with charm dangle.

I didn’t follow the directions on this one but did use the kit supplies plus seed beads.
3 Ribbon Totes-6
I used the purple beads from the kit to form the purse bottom.

Then I got a shiny new idea.

Tiny ribbon tote bag supplies: ribbon, chain, metallic trim, square beads, brass beads and eye pins.

Tiny ribbon tote bag supplies: I used the ribbon from the kit but the chain, metallic trim, square beads, brass beads and eye pins are my own.

Tiny ribbon tote bag.

Tiny ribbon tote bag. This was fun to design!

For the last one, I used the Klutz kit ribbon but added my own embellishment. I would love to make a full size clutch purse like this. The hardest component would be finding large, clear, flat-sided acrylic gems to form the sides of the clutch. I love how the light passes through this purse. I used a tiny turtle from a pierced earring for the decoration on the side.

The light passes through the gems in the sides of this tiny clutch purse.

The light passes through the gems in the sides of this tiny clutch purse.

I used a tiny turtle from a pierced earring to embellish this miniature clutch purse.

I used a tiny turtle from a pierced earring to embellish this miniature clutch purse.

Miniature Perfume Bottles

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, miniature, sparkling

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I was cleaning out old photo files and found these photos from way back in 2003.

All the perfume bottles are made of beads, earring backs and jewelry findings. They are tiny, some less than half an inch. To help the bead “bottles” stand up, I glued the bead on a pierced earring back. If you want to see the most detail in these photos, click on the photo to open a larger image. Then at the upper left of each photo will be a link that says “ORIGINAL SIZE AT (number) “. Click that link to see the largest image.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads and jewelry findings.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads and jewelry findings. Please click on the photo to see a larger image.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed made an elegant faux glass shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed served as an elegant “glass” shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads. This dresser tray is a mirror with trim glued around the edge.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads. This dresser tray is a mirror with trim glued around the edge.

To make the tray, I glued seed beads around the edge of a small mirror.

To make the tray, I glued seed beads around the edge of a small mirror.

The first two photos were taken in my kitchen window… so many years ago, even before we planted the rose bush which has climbed all the way up to the kitchen window. I don’t remember where I put all the tiny bead bottles. When I find them, I think I’ll put the display case in the bedroom or bathroom window. I love tucking miniatures around the house. Most people never see them but I like knowing that my home has an even smaller story for those who have eyes to catch it.