A great (and cheap) bead tray idea

We got a care package from my MIL yesterday, and she made me a neat little bead tray.  I had a complete DUH moment when I saw it:  it's made out of a cheap 8x10" wooden picture frame, with Ultrasuede glued onto the cardboard backing that comes with the frame.  I think she said it cost all of $5 or so to make.

It was such a neat idea I just had to share.

 

 WOW - that is an amazing idea.
I been looking for a beadtray ... but a tray cost like $15-25...
I think I may copycat your MIL's idea =)
If that is ok.

Copy away-she said she saw one at a craft show she went to and figured she could make one of her own.  You could probably use a piece of felt instead of Ultrasuede-any fabric that keeps the beads from rolling around too much really.

 Thanks, Jsmaz, Wow! what a great tip.(and gift idea)

I currently have different projects in Emboidery hoops lined with a bead mat ( Velux think its called). I drop them in Gallon Zip lock bags. A lesson I learned from another RV Beader.

I think I can make these up and sell them at Craft Sales in the RV Rsorts we stay in.They would be a great addition to my Bead kits.(WaHOO!)

Thanks, again, I already got a  supply list going to buy for my Beading Class tomorrow. ( I will convince my husband to glue for me, while I bead:)

Gyspy Mary

Jeni ~ That's a wonderful idea & the best part is you can personalize to suit the beader ~ color, size, etc...

What fun I may have to have my daughter & nieces make some of these for themselves...get some old frames, paint, felt-fleece or ultrasuede in colors they love. 

Thank you for a great project to keep them busy for a bit

The only problem with using felt for a bead mat is that there are nice (not!) loops and threads to catch your needle or the end of your wire, which can be frustrating, when it launches your beads across the room.

I never thought about using ultrasuede. Vellux is a good choice - if you attach it with Velcro dots, you can toss it into the washer/dryer to clean it when it gets grubby.

Deb - AZ Bead Depot

 

Now clue what "vellux" is .... so I guess I go with "baby velvet" ... its like short hair velvet. Seem to work ok. I hope.

Great idea! May have to think on this one too! Wal-mart always has the cheap wood frames for like 2 for $5. They have different sizes too...Thinking...

OK Deb... no felt, very good information... we will just have to keep looking for supplies.

Happy 4th of July Everyone

 I don't know if anyone has thought of this one yet, but my beading tray is an 11 x 17 cookie sheet that has a small lip around the perimeter.  It's also called a jelly roll pan. I just put my bead mat in it and there's still plenty of room around the edges to keep beads and needles.  It's very portable.  I can move it from room to room with no problem.  BTW.....I stick my needles in little foam cosmetic wedges.

 

 I have no clue what a cookie sheet is ... you have a picture ?

 

ooo, all very neat ideas.  I remember a little while back when we were talking about using cookie sheets or lids to boxes.  It never would have occurred to me to use a picture frame.  You could also use one of those multiple picture type frames and have little sorting areas!

If you're looking for bead mats, go buy a vellux blanket and cut it up, it doesn't fray.  Inca, I would say a short nap velvet is probably pretty close to vellux.  Vellux would be like a short nap velvet on both sides and it's a little stiff (not a lot, just a little LOL).  I bought a king size vellux blanket at Kohl's for $13. 

I love the idea of an embroidery hoop too.  Do you sandwhich the beads inbetween a bead mat and something else?  You could do that and keep all the bead in place.  Yeah, I love all these ideas.  I like the cosmetic wedge pin cushion!  I just stick them in my blanket, but a wedge would be great to travel with.

Inca:

 I have no clue what a cookie sheet is ... you have a picture ?

A cookie sheet is a sheet of (usually) aluminum that you bake cookies on. :D  You can get them with different coatings (non-stick, etc.), and in a lot of different shapes and sizes.  This is the kind she was talking about: 'jelly roll' pan.  You can get things like this as well, but I think you can probably see why having the ones with the lip is better for beading. ;p

I love the frame idea (I saw it in a book a while back.. I forget which one, though).  Just be careful that when you buy the frame that it doesn't have any sort of edges that stick up.  If you end up resting your wrist on it at any point, it's not very comfortable. :P  I started with a dry erase board instead of a frame, because it was something I already had, and it had somewhat sharp (square) edges.  I took it apart again. =/  Look for something smooth and rounded!

I also love the embroidery hoop idea.. you could adjust how taut the material is pulled, right?  I think I might just have to try that. :D  Thanks!

Jeni, that sounds really nice!  It does sound easy to make too. 

I love all the ideas here, we're really inventive aren't we!  What I do when I want a quick bead tray is use the styrofoam meat trays which I have washed first...I have a stack of them.  They don't last terribly well but they are easy to replace.  I'll line it with something soft like the ultrasuede or even a washcloth depending on what kind of beads I'm using.  Sometimes I put seed beads into condiment cups instead of right on the tray, or just about any piece of acrylic packaging that has various wells in it...just anything to keep them separate...

Inca, vellux is acrylic blanket fabric....they're fairly inexpensive here in the USA.  A cookie sheet, maybe the way we say it isn't the way you do in Norway...I'm sure you have them, it's a pan to bake cookies on...

Pam 

Pam:

Inca, vellux is acrylic blanket fabric....they're fairly inexpensive here in the USA. 

 Ok - not sure they have that stuff here .... But the "short hair" velvet like  Kirsten said - that what they call baby-velvet here. And I can get that. only like $12 a meter. I think I like the picture frame idea. Its striff and cheat and re-newable - and you have the option of lots of sizes. 

Pam:

A cookie sheet, maybe the way we say it isn't the way you do in Norway...I'm sure you have them, it's a pan to bake cookies on...

 We have those big metal kind - never seem them in anything else - tho they might have that too ... tho I'm hopeless in the kitchen so I tend to not look in those kinda stores - and also they tend to be expensive.
I know I can make the picture frame think - for like less than $5 for a magazine size one. And I can also make a smaller one for "travel kit" ...