Christmas Craft - Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

Christmas ornaments made from ordinary pipePipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel
cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads are veryas well as chenille of all colours. For the Christmas
pretty and easy to make. They look quitecraft, the best colours to use are the metallic and
impressive yet are easy enough for small childrenChristmas colours. The beads cover the pipe
to make. This is one Christmas craft idea to usecleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted
again and again. Older people will enjoy making thistogether and made into hangers, so they show.
Christmas craft, too, which can be varied toAnyone, even small children, can string these
make a number of different sparkling ornamentsbeads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the
for your Christmas tree.pipe cleaner so the beads don't fall off. The pipe
To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments,cleaner works like a needle, making a needle
you need common pipe cleaners in desired coloursunnecessary. For best results, show the children
and acrylic beads. Two types of beads arehow to alternate colours when stringing, or start a
particularly effective when strung on pipe cleaners.pattern of three colours. When the beads are
One type are called sunburst beads, but are alsostrung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into
known as paddle wheel beads, snowflake beads,different Christmas shapes. For instance, string
or star burst beads. These beads have sixred and clear beads alternately, then bend down
faceted paddles spaced equally around a centreone end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane
that contains the hole for stringing. When severalshape. Or alternate red and green beads and
of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively,form a circle for a wreath. Use red pipe cleaner
they fit against each other in an interlockingto form a small bow to decorate the wreath.
pattern.Form a hanger for the Christmas craft or simply
The other type of bead that is also effective forslip the circle over a branch of the tree.
this Christmas craft is called the tri bead orIf you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe
propeller bead. It has three rounded bumpscleaners, you can make some beautiful snowflake
arranged around the stringing hole. Like theor star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be
sunburst beads, the tri beads interlock whentwisted of silver pipe cleaner only, without the
strung consecutively. For the most sparkly andbeads for a simple but pretty decoration.
attractive Christmas ornaments, get tri beads andBead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas
or sunburst beads in translucent colours of red,craft you will find yourself using every year.
green, and clear. The tri beads can also be foundChildren and their parents will both appreciate this
in metallic gold and silver which can be used in thissimple yet pretty Christmas craft.
Christmas craft as well.