How to Make Your Own Ornaments with Your Kids

I have been making decorations for the Christmas tree for a few years now. I have tried a variety of crafts and I always enjoyed making these ornaments. My kids started to help me make these this year and they have a good time making them. It is also a great learning experience and is good for their coordination. There are many variations you can do with these beads but today I will discuss how to make a candy cane and a candle.

You can buy all the supplies pretty cheap at a craft store. I included a picture of the beads in case you cannot find this particular brand, you will know what the beads look like. Of course you can experiment with other beads as well, but these are ones that I have found to work well. The beads are made by Nicole and I buy them in the value pack. The beads are called TRI. I get the colors: red, X-mas green, white, clear, and sun gold for all of my ornaments that I make. I also get a reel of 26 gauge craft wire. It is easy to bend and work with. If you get a slightly thicker wire that is okay too, as long as it is not too thick and it is flexible.

For the candy cane ornaments, cut a piece of wire about 10 inches long. Put your finger about an inch up from the bottom of the wire and add the first bead. I start with white or clear, depending on if you would like to make your candy cane white or clear. Clear reflects the lights nicely but white looks good for the candy cane too. After adding the first bead, take the inch of extra wire that was left on the bottom and fold it up over the bead. Bring the end of the wire to the rest of the wire, with the bead in the bend, and twist the end of the wire around the long piece of wire until completely wrapped around. This will tie off the bottom so your ornament holds together. Now you are ready to add the rest of your beads. I usually use about 8 white or clear beads then 2 red and 2 green. You can follow the green with 2 more red if you like. Then do 8 more white or clear and continue the pattern. This is how I do it but you can use the colors however you would like. You can make the candy cane as long as you would like, I usually make them about 7 to 8 inches long. When you get the amount of beads on there that you would like, you are going to tie the wire off in a similar way to how you started. Make sure that the beads are pulled tight, tightly bend the excess wire around the last bead and wrap it around the main part of wire where the other beads are. Now your candy cane is done. Bend the top slightly to give it the candy cane shape and hang it on the tree.

The candle is very easy to make as well. It is made exactly like a candy cane except you pick a color of the candle and use that color all the way to the top. Make it about 5 to 6 inches long. At the top of the candle put 3 or 4 sun gold beads for the flame. When you tie the candle off at the top, you will want to make a big hoop on top with the wire and then wrap it around the wire in the body of the candle. This hoop is what you will use to hang it from the tree.

Kids, especially girls, love to help with these. They like playing with beads and it is simple for children to put the beads on the wire. You will need to be the one to tie the wire off to ensure that it is tight enough so the beads do not spread apart.

I started making these as an experiment playing around with beads a few years ago and I liked the way they turned out. I have been making them ever since and now my girls are making them as well.