How to Make Bag Charms with Beads

I’ve been seeing bag charms everywhere lately and I keep thinking to myself… what if I just made it myself? So that’s what I did! Not only is learning how to make bag charms a great way to add a pop of whimsy to any purse, but it’s the perfect project to learn beginner jewelry making skills.

Plan a craft night party, or queue up your favorite show to make a huge batch for all of your friends. By the time you’re done with this project, you’ll want to make coordinating charms for every bag you own.

Here are two ways to make bag charms:

Materials

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• Key chain rings (I used these round ones too)
• Beads (I used these, these, these, and more)
• Spacer beads or seed beads
• Jump rings
• Crimp beads
• Bead wire
• Gold safety pins
• Charms (this Etsy shop has a lot!)
• Jewelry pliers
• Bead crimping pliers
• Bead board

Note if your bag charm is going to go on the handle instead of metal hardware, you will need to size up from the key rings I linked.

If there’s a bead or charm shown here that you can’t find in the links, let me know and I’ll find it for you!

How to Measure

Whether you’re making a bag charm with double loops or multiple strands, each design starts the same. And that’s with the measurement.

For a double loop charm, measure the distance across from where your key rings with hang. Double that number to give you the length your charm needs to be. This doesn’t have to be exact, it’s a great way to approximate how much you’ll need.

For a multi-strand, you can just measure the length you’d like it hang. To avoid breaking any beads, just make sure your length isn’t longer than the bag.

You’ll want to add 6″-8″ of length to your measurement. This will give you extra working wire when creating the beginning and end loops. For example, My bag measured 5″ across, so I made my bag charm 10″. I used 16″ of wire overall.

On your bead board, lay your design, ensuring they’ll be as long as you need. This step is completely optional, but I have found it saves on time overall (it’s easier to re-do before vs on the wire).

How to Make a Bag Charm

1. Measure your bead cord to size and cut.
   
2. To secure your end, add a crimp bead and a jump ring. Loop the wire over the jump ring, and back through the crimp bead. You want the crime bead to be as close to the jump ring as possible. Leave ~2″ bead wire tail.
   
3. Grab your crimp pliers. You’re going to squeeze your crib bead on the first indentation, then second, and back up to the first to fold the bead. 
   
4. String up your beads! You’ll tuck the extra tail cord into the first few beads.
   
5. To close, you’ll add a crimp bead and close with the crimp pliers.

The Final Touches

Run the extra bead cord back through a few of the end beads and them trim any excess.

Open the jump ring with plier (twist with your wrist, don’t pull apart!), attach your bead strain, and then close.

Keep adding as many strands of beads as you’d like!

Adding Charms

To take your bag charms one step further, add a charm!

You can either add these directly to your key ring by adding a jump ring. Or you can use jewelry metal safety pins. Simply open the safety pin, slide on the charm.

Add a few beads and close on your keychain!

Variations

For a double loop bag charm, instead of closing with a single crimp bead, you’ll want to use a crimp bead AND jump ring (just like you started). Loop the bead wire over the jump ring and back through the crimp bead. Crimp with your pliers, run the extra wire through a few of the beads, then trim the extra.

Slide your jump rings onto the key rings and you’re done!

So that’s how to you make bag charms with beads! Please let me know if you have any questions as you’re crafting your way through this project. I can’t wait to see what you make!

Related:

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