Christmas Craft

 Christmas Crafts: Decorations with Beads and Pipe Cleaners

Christmas decorations made from regular pipe cleaners and cheap acrylic beads are very beautiful and easy to make. They look pretty impressive, but are pretty easy for kids to make. This is one Christmas craft idea that you can use again and again. Even older people enjoy making this Christmas craft, which can be turned into various sparkling decorations for the Christmas tree.

To make beads and pipe cleaner decorations, you will need standard pipe cleaners and acrylic beads in the desired color. Two types of beads are particularly effective when strung into pipe cleaners. One type is called sunshine pearls, but they are also known as fan pearls, snowflake pearls or star pearls. These beads have six beveled blades spaced evenly around the center and have a hole for string. When several such sunlight beads are strung in series, they come together in a locked fashion.

Another type of bead that is also effective in this Christmas craft is called a triple bead or helix. It has three rounded edges placed around the lacing hole. Similar to sunburned beads, the triple beads lock together when stretched in sequence. For the brightest and most attractive Christmas decorations, get triangle beads and/or sunshine beads in translucent reds, greens and bright colors. There are also three metallic gold and silver beads that can also be used in this Christmas art.

Pipe cleaners are available in silver, gold and all chenille colors. Metallic and Christmas colors are best used in Christmas crafts. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but to show them you have to twist the ends together and make a hanger.

Anyone, even small children, can string these beads into pipe cleaners. Bend the end of the pipe cleaner so the beads don't fall out. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, so no needle is needed. For best results, show children how to change colors during the strip, or start with a three-color pattern. By stringing beads to pipe cleaners, they can be bent into various Christmas shapes. For example, string alternating red and clear beads, then bend one end of the pipe cleaner down to form a candy dish. Or use alternating red and green beads to form a circle for a crown. Use the red pipe cleaner to make a small bow to decorate the wreath. Make a hanger for a Christmas craft or just slide the circle onto a tree branch.

You can make beautiful snowflake or star jewelry by experimenting with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners. Snowflake patterns can be simply spun with a silver pipe cleaner without beads for a simple but beautiful decoration.

Beeper decorations are a Christmas craft that you use every year. Both children and their parents will appreciate this simple but beautiful Christmas art..