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Christmas Craft: Bead
and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments
Christmas ornaments made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive
acrylic beads are very pretty and easy to make. They look
quite impressive yet are easy enough for children to
make (Not recommedned for children under age three due to swallowing hazzard). This is one Christmas craft idea to use again and
again. Everyoneinthe family will enjoy making this Christmas craft,
too, which can be varied to make a number of different sparkling
ornaments for your Christmas tree.
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. For best results, show the children how
to alternate colors when stringing, or start a pattern of three
colors. When 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.
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.
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.
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