Make Your Own Christmas Decorations with Mia

Make your own Christmas decorations these beaded Christmas ornaments will look great on your tree. Making Christmas ornaments is easy with our step by step instructions and photo's.

Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

These handmade Christmas ornaments make a great present. Make a set of 4 or 6 matching ones for an unusual gift. They are quite fragile so will need to be wrapped and stored carefully just like traditional glass baubles.

These pretty beaded Christmas ornaments will give a lovely sparkle to any Christmas tree. They can be a bit fiddly to start with but once you have made one and seen how it is done they become much easier.

Mia’s Craft Ideas Guide

Difficulty: Medium Adult supervision: Will be required, the tools and wire are sharp. Beads are a choking hazard for young children.

Materials and Equipment

Round nose pliers Flat nose pliers Wire cutters Wire 1mm diameter - 1 x 30cm (12") length and 1 x 15cm (6") length Beads Large wooden dowel - broom handle is ideal Super glue (optional)

Mia’s Top Tip

Once you start to spiral one end it's hard to work out exactly where the center of the wire is. Bend the long piece of wire slightly at the half way point, not to much so it will easily straighten out again. These beaded Christmas ornaments are a great way to use up odd beads from other craft projects.

Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

	Mark the center of the wire, we usually bend it slightly. Make a loop in one end, grip the end of the wire in the round nose plies near to the bottom (the widest part of the plier). Gently mold the wire around the pliers until a loop has formed.
	Thread the some beads onto the other end of the wire. We have used approximately 30 small beads in Christmas colors.
	Make a loop on the other end of the wire to secure the beads. Both loops should be facing the same way as in step 6.
	Use the flat nose pliers to grip one of the loops flat between the jaws and gently bend the wire around the loop creating a loose spiral. Continue to curl the spiral until it reaches the halfway point. It's a good idea to slide the beads out of the way so you don't crush them with the pliers.
	Slide all the beads onto the finished spiral.
	Spiral the other end of the wire to the center.
	Push one spiral over the other keeping the spiral shape as best as you can. Using your round nose pliers pull the centers of the spiral away from each other.
	Open it out to form a spiral cage.
	Using the second length of wire form a spiral at one end.
	Slide on one bead.
	Slide the wire through the central loop of one end of the spiral cage. Poke the wire out of the cage about halfway through.
	Thread on the beads you chose for center.
	Pull the central wire out just enough to be able to thread it through the central loop at the other end of the cage.
	Slide the central wire back through until the loop is tight against the cage.
	Bend the central wire over at a 900 angle.
	Using a large dowel, we use an old broom handle. Bend the wire to form a nice curve.
	Position the curve so it sits in the center above the cage.
	Make a loop at the end of the curved wire. Adjust the spiral and the beads on the cage. You can use a small drop of super glue to hold the beads in place if you prefer.

Mia’s Craft Ideas

You can make your own Christmas decorations in a range of different sizes and colors. Try hanging a few brightly coloured ones from a lampshade for an instant chandelier. The light will catch any silver and gold beads adding a sparkle to your living room.

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