Making Bead Kits for My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

This is the first year I have made jewelry bead kits for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  I got this large box of 1800 beads last year when someone had it leftover from a church project and didn't want it. I knew I could use it for my shoeboxes, but it just sat on my shelf waiting.

I wasn't sure what containers I could use but knew I could get little plastic bags at the local craft store for a few pennies.  Then Office Max had these adorable plastic containers on special for 25 cents each.  I divided the beads in pink and purple sets putting the pink in the clear containers and the purple in the purple containers.  I then made satin drawstring bags using up scraps from another project to tuck them
into.  Since I had all the fabric and ribbon from other projects it was free.  The little scissors were from Office Max at 25 cents, too.  So for 75 cents each I was able to make five sets.  I still need to get the elastic for stringing, and will tuck that inside the drawstring bags with the beads and scissors.

The girls will have plenty to make for themselves and friends and also have the containers and drawstring bag to keep their finished jewelry in. I have also read of girls making them to sell, so maybe this will help them get something else they need.

If you want to make your own bags you can find several different drawstring bag tutorials on our Crafting for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Tutorials Index.