Part of my Dollarama Made Me Do It! craft haul series
You know how it goes.
You wander into Dollarama for a few things, take a little detour through the Christmas aisle, and suddenly you're standing there holding a Santa-shaped container full of beads.
And naturally, you need it.
Not because you're short on beads. Good heavens, no. I could probably open a small bead shop without leaving my craft room.
But this little fellow was only $3.50, and I was curious.
Could a bargain Christmas bead kit actually produce something worth wearing? Would there be enough beads to make more than one bracelet? Would the elastic survive? And most importantly, would the alphabet beads spell anything remotely festive?
There was only one way to find out.
Coffee in hand, Santa on the craft table, and absolutely no adult supervision required.
Well, perhaps a little.
First Things First: What's Inside Santa's Belly?
Let's give credit where credit is due. The packaging is adorable.
Rather than tossing everything into a plastic bag, someone decided to organize the beads inside a clear Santa-shaped container, complete with little compartments.
Inside my $3.50 kit were:
Red and green faceted acrylic beads
White pearl-style beads in several sizes
Red-and-white and green-and-white peppermint-style heishi beads
White alphabet beads with gold lettering
Clear stretch cord
Everything was separated into compartments, which made it easy to see what I had to work with.
And there was a surprisingly generous amount of everything.
One important shopping tip: I found this kit in Dollarama's Christmas aisle, not the regular craft section. So if you're looking for one, check among the seasonal decorations and Christmas goodies.
And remember, Dollarama stock can vary by location.
The Great Alphabet Investigation
Before I started making bracelets, I decided to see what Christmas words I could actually spell.
Because there's nothing quite like planning a beautiful festive bracelet and discovering you're missing the letter E.
At first glance, I wasn't entirely confident.
I was fairly certain I could spell WTF.
Festive? Perhaps not.
But after sorting through the alphabet beads, things started looking considerably more promising.
I managed to make seven Christmas-themed words:
SANTA • NOEL • MERRY • PEACE • JOY • WISH • ELF
Seven words. Seven bracelets.
Not bad for a $3.50 kit!
A little crafting tip: Before cutting your elastic or stringing beads, sort out the letters for your chosen word. That way, you know you've got everything you need before you're halfway through a bracelet.
Ask me how many times I've learned that lesson.
Actually, don't.
Let's Make Some Christmas Bracelets!
Once the alphabet situation was sorted, it was time to start stringing.
I used combinations of the red, green, and white beads, mixing the faceted acrylic beads with the pearl-style beads and peppermint heishi.
The different textures helped make each bracelet look a little more interesting.
And because I apparently cannot leave well enough alone, I also added a few decorative beads and spacers from my own stash.
Those extra embellishments were not included in the kit.
The Santa kit itself contains the beads and stretch cord listed above. You can absolutely make bracelets using only those supplies, but adding a little something extra gives you more design possibilities.
A Few Tips for Making Your Own
If you're trying one of these little kits, here's what I'd suggest:
Lay out your design before you begin stringing.
Check your letter beads to make sure they're facing the right direction.
Measure your bracelet to fit the intended wrist rather than guessing.
Follow the cord manufacturer's knotting instructions, and test the finished knot before wearing.
If you're crafting with children, supervise closely because the small beads can be a choking hazard.
And if you're adding decorative beads from your stash, try not to get too carried away.
I realize I'm probably the wrong person to give that particular advice.
But Are They Actually Nice Bracelets?
Here's where we need to be realistic.
These are inexpensive acrylic beads. They're not gemstones, and nobody is going to mistake them for fine jewelry.
Alexis Carrington would probably take one look at them and demand someone bring her pearls.
But you know what?
They're cheerful!
They're colorful, festive, and fun to make. The faceted beads catch the light nicely, the pearl-style beads soften the brighter colors, and the peppermint heishi adds that unmistakable Christmas-candy look.
Would I wear them to a black-tie event?
Probably not.
Would I wear one with a cozy sweater while wrapping Christmas presents, drinking coffee, or wandering through a holiday market?
Absolutely.
And if you're familiar with our Bead Dynasty adventures, you already know we don't require a royal jewelry budget to have a good time.
Money. Power. Pony Beads.
Alexis will survive.
Let's Talk About the Stretch Cord
One of my biggest questions was whether the included elastic would be any good.
I've worked with enough stretch bracelets to know that the cord can make or break the entire project.
Sometimes quite literally.
I gave the included cord several preliminary stretches, and it held up well during my initial testing.
That's encouraging.
However, I haven't worn these bracelets long enough to make any promises about how the elastic will perform over time.
So my verdict on the cord is promising, but not fully tested for long-term durability.
For inexpensive seasonal bracelets and supervised children's crafting projects, it's certainly worth trying.
If you're making bracelets to sell or planning something that needs to withstand regular wear, I'd consider using a stretch cord you've already tested and trust.
Seven Bracelets Later... Santa Still Has a Full Belly!
Here's the part that genuinely surprised me.
After making several bracelets, I still had plenty of beads left in the container.
And Santa wasn't even close to running on empty.
Let's do a little Christmas math.
The kit cost $3.50.
I made seven bracelets.
That works out to just 50 cents per bracelet in kit cost, before accounting for any additional beads or findings I used from my own supplies.
And because there are still beads remaining, the cost per bracelet could drop even further if I make more.
Of course, that doesn't include my time, additional supplies, or the coffee required to supervise this entire operation.
The coffee budget is a separate department.
Would I Buy This Santa Bead Kit Again?
Yes!
For $3.50, I think this little Santa-shaped bead kit offers terrific entertainment value.
It's a fun introduction to bracelet making, a cute seasonal activity to enjoy with children under supervision, and an inexpensive way to create a handful of festive accessories.
The beads are inexpensive acrylic, and the long-term durability of the cord remains an open question. But I wasn't expecting fine jewelry for the price of a fancy coffee.
I wanted to see whether a budget craft kit could provide enough supplies and creative possibilities to make the purchase worthwhile.
And it did.
Seven finished bracelets, leftover beads, and an afternoon of Christmas crafting for $3.50?
I'll take that.
These particular bracelets are destined for my little $1 bracelet bin, where I'm sure some young Christmas shoppers will appreciate them far more than Alexis Carrington ever could.
One Last Thing Before Santa Leaves the Craft Table
This little adventure is part of my Dollarama Made Me Do It! — A $10 Craft Haul Put to the Test series, where I'm trying out four inexpensive craft finds to see which ones are worth bringing home.
And we're not finished yet.
There are still some tiny Christmas decorations waiting to be transformed into earrings.
Yes, earrings.
Apparently the woman who once insisted she wasn't interested in making earrings has changed her mind.
More on that particular development soon.
Until then, if you spot this little Santa bead kit in your Dollarama Christmas aisle, I think he's worth a look.
Just don't tell Alexis.
Coffee in hand & something always on the craft table,
Julie — The Paper Artist
