Christmas Crafts Using Beads

Making Christmas Crafts Using Beads

If you love making handmade jewelry, you probably have a quite an assortment of mismatched beads. Perhaps you had four beads leftover from a bracelet project or one spectacular focal bead that was supposed to be part of a necklace you never got around to making. Put these leftovers to good use by making Christmas crafts using beads.

Decorate Your Christmas Tree

When you make beaded ornaments, your tree will have a unique look and you'll be able to enjoy your favorite beads throughout the holiday season. If you're looking for a special gift idea, remember that handmade ornaments also make great presents for the hard to buy for people on your holiday shopping list.

If you need a quick ornament project, try adding a mixture of colorful beads to the inside of clear glass craft ornaments purchased from your local Hobby Lobby or Michaels Crafts. You can also add curled bits of scrapbook paper or leftover Christmas wrapping paper for some extra flair.

Here are a few more suggestions for beaded Christmas ornaments you can make:

• Beaded Star Tree Trim: This ornaments are very easy, but lots of fun to make. Each ornament requires five chenille stems and assorted beads with holes sized to fit snugly on the wires.
• Frosty Beaded Decorations: This is another great pattern for making a beaded star ornament.
• Bead Angels: Make these for your tree or tie them to your packages for an extra special touch.
• Net Stitch Seed Bead Ornament: This ornament has a dainty and delicate appearance, making it the perfect addition to a tree with a Victorian theme.
• Wine Cork Ornaments: Recycle old wine corks into pretty ornaments by adding beads and tassels.
• Dazzling Beaded Ornaments: Use dimensional paint and small seed beads to add a special touch to simple ball ornaments.
• Knitted and Beaded Ornaments: If you know how to knit, these ornaments make a lovely addition to your Christmas tree.

Instead of using plain hooks to hang your current ornaments on your tree, try making some of these stylish wire hooks featured on the All Free Crafts site.

To make a fun garland for your Christmas tree, try simply stringing leftover beads onto a long length of craft wire. If you don't have enough beads, you can fill in the gaps with dried cranberries, popcorn, shells, or small pinecones.

Decorate Your Home

To decorate the rest of your home for the holiday season, consider completing one of these great projects:

• Beaded Christmas Tree: Made from colorful beads and safety pins, this tree makes a great centerpiece for your holiday table.
• Delicate Seed Bead Tree: This project is more involved than the safety pin tree, but the results make it well worth the extra effort.
• Bead Wreath: This wreath is a fun decoration for kids to make.

Send a Pretty Holiday Greeting

Instead of sending commercial greeting cards to your friends and family, try using colored cardstock and leftover beads to make your own cards. Here are some Christmas crafts using beads that are easy enough for even novice card makers to complete:

• Add small beads to a die cut Christmas tree to give it some sparkle.
• Use a tiny bead to dot the "i" in "Merry Christmas."
• Use self adhesive tape and tiny silver or gold microbeads to create a card that features several shining stars.
• String alternating red and white beads on a length of wire, then bend into a candy cane shape for the front of the card. The recipient can use the candy cane as a tree ornament after enjoying the card.

Additional LoveToKnow Resources

For more great ideas on decorating your home for Christmas, visit LoveToKnow Christmas.