Melty Bead 3-D Purse

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

Step 2.

Start by making the design for the front panel of your purse.  The design will need notches on the side and bottom, as shown. These notches will be used to connect the pieces together in a later step.

Step 3.

While you are crafting, ask an adult to preheat an iron to a medium setting. Once you have finished your design, place the wax ironing sheet provided in your melty bead kit over your design. Have an adult use the iron to melt the beads. Make sure to keep the iron level and apply even pressure to the entire piece. Gently iron the beads in a circular motion for 10-20 seconds or until you can see the beads melt completely together. Let your melty bead design cool off before removing the wax paper and before removing it from the peg board.

Step 4.

Next, make one side panel of the purse with notches on the side and bottom, as shown. Repeat step 3 to melt the beads.

Step 5.

Make the bottom panel of the purse. Make sure it has notches on all 4 sides, as shown. Repeat step 3 to melt the beads.

Step 6.

Repeat steps 2-4 to make an additional front and side panel for the purse. You will have a total of 5 panels.

Step 7.

Connect one side panel with a front panel, as shown. The notches on the design will fit together and lock the panels in place.

Step 8.

Add the other side panel.

Step 9.

Attach the second front panel.

Step 10.

Finish the body of the purse, by attaching the bottom panel.

Step 11.

After completing steps 1-10, you will have a 3-D box. You can create lots of cool 3-D melty bead pieces with the notch technique you’ve learned here.

Step 12.

Thread a white fuzzy stick through one corner of the purse, where the panels connect.

Step 13.

Twist the end to secure.

Step 14.

Thread a few melty beads on the fuzzy stick and shape it to make a handle. Thread the other end of the fuzzy stick through the other corner of the purse and trim off the excess.

Step 15.

To finish the purse, repeat steps 12-14 to create a second handle.