Advice for nice but inexpensive beads

I used to buy beads from The Brighton Bead shop but I’ve just googled it and it’s closed down . I wonder if there are other specialist bead shops in other parts of the country?

Has anyone used "Light in the Box"?
Are they like Temu do you think?

I was in TK Maxx this afternoon, and they do jars of beads, including some with letters on, which looked to be ceramic. They were £5.99 per jar, and would make a nice present. They may have them online too.

pascal30

I would go round the charity shops and see if there are any necklaces you can take apart.
also google bead shops.. there is one where I live where you can choose fittings, threads and beads...

There’s one near here called Peppy Beads, which also sells online.

Charity shop jewellery can be brilliant for using to make necklaces etc. Sometimes you can even reuse what they're strung on. It can be worth asking the staff if they ever have broken jewellery too. They may sell such items very cheaply.

Etsy have some lovely kits that aren't tacky .

Ha ha!

My other daughter says that grandchild likes dangly "charms!"

I will look out for those too!

Etsy do some lovely beads, you could make up your own kit with those and some findings if you can't bear to give plastic. But I agree with others, loads of small plastic beads is probably what she is after! 😀

GD enjoyed making beaded things with people’s names from alphabet beads - from The Works I think. The holes are big enough to thread elastic through without a needle.

Mmmn. You are probably all correct.

I hate to buy tacky though!
However - it's not my birthday!

Children tend to like tacky, they prefer the bright and sparkly kind. They also like to make jewellery to give to friends so cheaper from the Works may suit better.

Range has lots of stuff also.

I would go round the charity shops and see if there are any necklaces you can take apart.
also google bead shops.. there is one where I live where you can choose fittings, threads and beads...

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/314629963

This one looks rather pretty - and not too expensive for something a little different. However if she's anything like my GD was at 8, she preferred quantity over quality and preferred the plastic sparkly stuff. She could make 10 bracelets an hour when she was in the mood!
www.lightinthebox.com/p/charm-bracelet-making-kit-girls-diy-beaded-jewelry-making-kit-unicorn-mermaid-gifts-toys-crafts-for-girls-birthday-gift-festival-new-year-with-pink_p9678412.html?currency=GBP&sku=276_28117&country_code=GB&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21799810703&adword_mt=&adword_ct=&adword_kw=&adword_pos=&adword_pl=&adword_net=x&adword_tar=&adw_src_id=3516490533_21799810703__&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDBMYZ7U1pA_IYDk3CggAFOW_0QR4IlnVN6aufaUpkJxsAF3BEXZZNYaAiUvEALw_wcB

Sorry for the long link...

There's a lot of "pony beads" (pkastic).

Thank you.
I've looked in The Range and The Works. Also online.

Shops like B&M and Home Bargains often have these kits in the toy section and not at all expensive. There is also Hobbycraft, but find them more expensive.