Christmas ornaments fashioned with pipe cleaners and cheap acrylic beads are really attractive and simple to make. They appear spectacular but are simple enough for even young toddlers to make. This is a Christmas craft that you will use again and again. Older adults will also enjoy making this Christmas activity, which can be modified to create a variety of shining decorations for your Christmas tree.
Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments
You’ll need common pipe cleaners in the desired colors and acrylic beads to make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments. When strung on pipe cleaners, two types of beads work very well. Sunburst beads are one variety, but others include paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, and starburst beads. Six faceted paddles are evenly distributed around a center hole for stringing on these beads. When several of these sunburst beads are strung together in a row, they form an interlocking pattern.
The tri bead or propeller bead is another type of bead that works well for this Christmas activity. It has three circular bumps that circle the stringing hole. When strung sequentially, the tri beads, like the sunburst beads, interlock. Get tri beads and/or sunburst beads in transparent red, green, and clear colors for the most glitzy and appealing Christmas ornaments. Tri beads are also available in metallic gold and silver, which can be utilized in this Christmas project.
Pipe cleaners are available in silver and gold tinsel, as well as chenille in a variety of colors. Metallics and Christmas hues are the perfect colors to utilize for the Christmas craft. The beads hide the pipe cleaners, but the ends must be twisted together and formed into hangers so they can be seen.
These beads can be strung on pipe cleaners by anyone, including little children. Bend the pipe cleaner end up so the beads don’t fall off. The pipe cleaner functions similarly to a needle, eliminating the need for a needle.
Show the children how to alternate colors when stringing for the greatest results, or begin a three-color pattern. When strung on pipe cleaners, the beads can be bent into various Christmas forms. String red and clear beads alternately, then bend one end of the pipe cleaner down to make a candy cane form. Alternate between red and green beads to make a wreath. To adorn the wreath, make a little bow out of a red pipe cleaner. Make a hanger for the Christmas craft or simply slip the circle over a tree branch.
Clear beads and silver pipe cleaners can be used to construct lovely snowflakes or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be made from silver pipe cleaners alone, without the beads, for a simple but lovely decoration.
Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft that you will use year after year. This easy yet lovely Christmas craft will be appreciated by both children and their parents.
