At Makeshift Crafts, you'll find a curated selection of bead kits that make beautiful jewelry with minimal waste. From single bracelets to party trays, we offer a variety of items that are perfect for beading hobbyists or as a gift for someone special. I put a lot of love and attention into every kit I make, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

That was the TLDR, but if you are here for the full story, let me tell you a bit about myself, how I got here, and why I know my products are an essential evolution in the crafting industry.

The year is 2020. The world is in a global pandemic. I was working from home, living at home, eating at home, and never leaving my home. Like so many others, I needed something to break up the monotony of lock-down life, so I took up a new hobby. Beading was fun, easy, and quick. The satisfaction from making a bracelet in less than 5 minutes got me through most days. But what started as a hobby turned into a deep passion. There is a big problem with the beading industry - waste. Too often, I would go to Michael's and buy a box of beads, only to use part of the box. I would end up with 11 extra mushrooms because they only came on a string of 12. I would buy a box of beads on Amazon that felt so cheap I couldn't bear to use them. After a while, I stepped back from jewelry making to re-enter the world, travel, and ultimately move from Texas to Colorado, leaving behind a closet full of half-used materials, supplies, and unfinished projects. (Sound familiar?)

My first year in Colorado was a bit lonely. I returned to beading to resume an old hobby that brought me joy. After digging out the old bead boxes, I still didn't want to use anything in them! And that's when Taylor Swift released her album Midnights. As a HUGE fan, when I heard her sing "make the friendship bracelets" in her heart-wrenching song "You're On Your Own, Kid," I knew what I would do: make friendship bracelets for when she inevitably goes on tour. And make bracelets, I did! I opened my first Etsy shop, Vigilante Britt, on December 15th, 2022, and in just 7 months, I made and sold over 2500 beaded bracelets!

That's when I noticed a growing demand for people wanting to make bracelets themselves, leading me to make my first friendship bracelet kit. People loved that it was everything they needed to make 13 bracelets for the tour and not be left with a bunch of supplies and materials they wouldn't use again. Thus, the concept of Makeshift Crafts was born!

The company I worked for was acquired at the time, and the new owners executed sweeping layoffs. I took my time thinking through my next move, but I already knew what I wanted to do deep down. Starting a business is terrifying, especially with the country on the brink of a recession. Still, there would never be a better time to do it. So I went all in. When naming my business, I wanted something fun and approachable, taking the pressure off perfection. To me, makeshift is just another way of saying "done is good enough," which aligns with my passion for people to feel like they can try a craft and not have to be perfect at it on the first try (or even the 1000th try).

The product offering of Makeshift Crafts is carefully considered. The mega bead boxes have fun themes and many different beads and are perfect for anyone wanting to make a few bracelets. Single bracelet kits are unique little gifts, stocking stuffers, classroom treats, and the list could go on. Finally, party boxes are a BLAST for birthdays, sleepovers, bachelorette weekends, family vacations, and more! The kits are perfectly portioned to provide you with everything you need and nothing you don't.

The last big problem I wanted to solve with my bead kits was the issue of bead quality. After spending months sourcing and testing beads from all over the US and fair-trade partners worldwide, I am proud of what I have assembled. The beads feel good and look great, leaving you looking fabulous in your hand-crafted jewelry!