Make your own Christmas decorations with beads and flowers. Follow the photo guide to a beaded wreath with acrylic flowers, then use the same wrapping technique to decorate wire hearts and stars.
Start by shaping a star, heart or wreath from 1 mm wire. Then use thinner wire to attach beads and flowers to the frame. Finish with an organza ribbon so you can hang your ornament on the Christmas tree, display it in a window or use it to decorate a gift. You can adjust the size to suit your design.
These colourful Christmas ornaments are a lovely project to make with children and grandchildren. Use leftover beads or choose your favourite colours to create your own version.
Materials for Christmas decorations with beads and flowers
Choose individual materials for your wreath, heart or star. The beads and flowers suggested below are alternatives to those shown in the photos, so their colours and shapes may vary.
- Gold-plated copper wire, 1 mm, 2.4 metres for shaping the frame.
- Gold-plated copper wire, 0.4 mm, 15 metres for wrapping and attaching the beads.
- Round acrylic beads in mixed transparent colours, 8 mm, 20 pieces.
- Bicone acrylic beads in mixed colours, 4 mm, 30 pieces.
- Three-petal acrylic flowers in mixed colours, 10 x 3 mm, 20 pieces.
- Red organza ribbon, 8 mm wide, 2 metres for hanging and finishing your ornaments.
For a silver-coloured finish: use silver-plated copper wire, 1 mm for the frame and silver-plated copper wire, 0.4 mm for wrapping and attaching the beads. Combine them with the same beads, flowers and ribbon listed above.
Optional alternative for a classic Christmas look: choose this box of gold- and silver-coloured acrylic beads in assorted sizes in place of the coloured bead mixes.
Choose one of the two wire finishes below. Each button adds one retail pack or unit of each of the six suggested materials to your basket. The amount you use depends on the size and design of your ornament; you can adjust quantities and your selection in the basket. If you prefer the gold and silver bead box, add it separately and remove both coloured bead mixes, in 8 mm and 4 mm, from your basket. Keep the flowers, organza ribbon and both wire thicknesses.
Add materials with gold-plated wire to basket
Add materials with silver-plated wire to basket
Tools for shaping and cutting the wire
- Chain-nose pliers without teeth for holding and bending the wire
- Cutting pliers for trimming the wire
You can reuse these tools for other projects. They are not included when you use the materials buttons above.
Beaded Christmas wreath with acrylic flowers
Use 1 mm copper wire for the ring and 0.4 mm wire to attach the beads and flowers. Choose either the gold-plated or silver-plated wire combination from the materials listed above.
First, shape a ring from the 1 mm wire. Close it by twisting the wire ends around each other.
Cut approximately 1 metre of 0.4 mm wire. You may need more to finish the wreath, but shorter lengths are easier to work with. Secure one end by wrapping it around the ring a few times.
Thread a bead onto the thin wire. Leave a short gap between the bead and the ring so there is room to twist the wire.
Turn the bead to twist the two sections of wire together beneath it. This holds the bead a little above the ring.
Wrap the wire around the ring a few times, then thread on the next bead.
Turn the bead again to twist the wire beneath it.
Thread an acrylic flower and a small bead onto the wire, then slide them down towards the ring.
Pass the wire back through the flower, leaving the small bead in place as the flower's centre.
Wrap the wire around the ring again to secure the flower.
Continue adding beads and flowers. In this example, two more beads and another small flower have been added after the first flower.
Repeat the technique around the ring. When you reach the end of a piece of thin wire, secure it by wrapping it around the ring and attach a new piece. Finish by tying on an organza ribbon.
Wire heart with beads and flowers
Use the same materials and wrapping technique as for the wreath. Shape the 1 mm wire into a heart before adding the beads, flowers and ribbon. Choose gold-plated or silver-plated wire for your preferred finish.
Beaded Christmas star with acrylic flowers
Use the same materials, shaping the 1 mm wire into a star. Attach the beads and flowers with 0.4 mm wire using the technique shown above, then add an organza ribbon for hanging.
For a different colour combination, try the set of 0.4 mm copper wire in 12 colours for wrapping and attaching the beads. Use 1 mm wire for the frame.
Have fun making your own Christmas ornaments!
More ideas for beaded Christmas decorations
Would you like to try more techniques? Explore our other tutorials for handmade Christmas ornaments:
- Christmas decorations in copper and gold
- Christmas decorations with wooden beads
- Christmas crystals and snowflakes with bugle beads
- Christmas stars with Delica beads
- 3D peyote stars
- Beaded mistletoe
- Christmas tree with seed beads
- Small beaded angel pendants
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