Christmas Crafts: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments Kids Can Make

Christmas ornaments made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads
are very pretty and easy to make. They look quite impressive yet are simple enough for even small children to make.

Even grandparents will enjoy making this Christmas craft with their grandchildren and is a fun way to pass the time on that holiday vacation time at Grandma's house.

To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, you need common pipe cleaners in desired colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are particularly effective when strung on pipe cleaners. One type are called sunburst beads, but are also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, or starburst beads.

These beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When several of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other in an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead that is also effective for this Christmas craft is called the "tri bead" or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole.

Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads interlock when strung consecutively. For the most sparkly and attractive Christmas ornaments, get tri beads and/or sunburst beads in translucent colors of red, green, and clear. The tri beads can also be found in metallic gold and silver which can be used in this Christmas craft as well.

pipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For the Christmas craft, the best colors to use are the metallics and Christmas colors. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string these beads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the pipe cleaner so the beads don't fall off. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, making a needle unnecessary.

The pipe cleaner and bead strings can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree. For best results, show the children how to alternate colors when stringing, or start a pattern of three colors. Once the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes.

For instance, string red and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane shape. Or alternate red and green beads and form a circle for a wreath. Use red pipe cleaner to form a small bow to decorate the wreath.

Form a hanger for the Christmas craft or simply slip the circle over a branch of the tree. You can use a 2nd pipe cleaner or a ribben to make your ornament hangers.

If you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners, you can make some beautiful snowflake or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be twisted of silver pipe cleaner only, without the beads for a simple but pretty decoration.

You can also add holiday beads and charms to your ornaments to make them extra special. Put an ornamental bead at the corner of each "branch" point on your Christmas tree ornaments, or to the points of a star ornament. You could even hang a Christmas charm to the top of a round ornament so it hangs down into the center of the circle!

Make a set of same or similar ornaments and give them as hand-made gifts from your children to their grandparents and friends for extra special presents.

Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft you will find yourself using every year. Children and their parents will both appreciate this simple yet pretty Christmas craft.



Recommended Craft Supplies for This Project:


Beads:





Sunburst Beads 18Mm 150/Pkg-Multi from The Beadery!

700+ Tri Beads for less than $5 - Click HERE!



Pipe Cleaners:



Pipe Cleaners Chenille Stems,12", Crush Resistant, 100 CT, 4mm x 12", Assorted Colors, Sold as 1 bag

Pipe Cleaner How-to Book - You can read an excerpt of this book online!




Christmas and Holiday Charms & Beads:




TIP: Make sure the beads and charms have a center hole big enough to fit around your pipe cleaner! Most pipe cleaners and beads come in different sizes, just make sure to check that your choices will work together. :)