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Christmas Crafts: 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 small children to make. This is one Christmas craft idea to
use again and again. Older people 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 colours 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 centre
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 colours 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
colours. For the Christmas craft, the best colours to use are the metallic
and Christmas colours. 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 colours when stringing, or start a pattern of
three colours. 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.
Paul
is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation. He owns one of
the UK's Leading Information Providers PK eBooks (http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk)
and has recently launched
http://www.profitable-crafts.co.uk
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