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 impressive and are easy for small children to make. You can use this Christmas craft idea again and again. This Christmas craft is an enjoyable project for older people 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 assorted colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are effective when strung on pipe cleaners. One type of beads 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. Once these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other in an interlocking pattern.

The tri bead or propeller bead is the other type of bead that is also essential for this Christmas craft. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. The tri beads interlock when strung consecutively, like the sunburst beads. 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. Metallics and Christmas colors are the best colors to use for the Christmas craft. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they are visible.

Anyone, including 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. For best results, show the children how to use alternate colors when stringing, or start a three color pattern. When the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes. For example, string read and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane shape. Or form a circle for a wreath by alternating red and green beads. 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.

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

Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft that you will use year after year. The whole family will appreciate this easy yet pretty Christmas craft.