Create your own copper and gold Christmas decorations with beads, pendants and feathers. Explore nine ideas for handmade ornaments to hang on your Christmas tree, in a window or on a decorative branch.
Combine warm copper shades with gold tones and crystal details. The photos show the original combinations. Use them as inspiration for your own designs with materials from the current range.
Go straight to:
- How to assemble an ornament
- Ornaments in copper and gold tones
- Stars, crystals and feathers
- Choose materials for your own design
Materials for beaded Christmas ornaments
The basic idea is to attach a decorative component to the loop of an eyepin, then build a small bead arrangement above it. Choose the number and size of beads to suit your design and the space available on the pin.
- Gold-plated brass eyepins, 50 x 0.6 mm, pack of 20
Use an eyepin as the centre of the ornament. The existing loop at the bottom lets you attach a pendant. - Beads in your chosen colours and shapes. Select holes that fit the 0.6 mm pin, and leave room at the top to make the finishing loop.
- A pendant or charm for the bottom of the ornament, plus a suitable jump ring if needed to connect the components.
- Thin cord or ribbon for hanging. You can also shape an S-hook from metal wire.
Gold-plated copper wire, 1 mm, spool of 2.4 m is an option for making an S-hook. The hook wire is used separately from the eyepin.
Tools for assembly
- Chain-nose pliers without teeth for opening and closing the loop and holding small components.
- Round-nose pliers for shaping the top loop.
- Wire cutters for trimming excess wire.
Use tools you already have if they are suitable for the task. You can reuse them for other jewellery and craft projects.
How to assemble a Christmas ornament with an eyepin
- Choose an eyepin. The existing loop goes at the bottom, where the decorative component will hang.
- Gently open the loop with chain-nose pliers, attach the pendant and close the loop again. Use a suitable jump ring as a connector if needed.
- Thread the beads onto the pin in your chosen order. Leave enough bare wire to form and finish the top loop.
- Shape the top loop with round-nose pliers. Follow the technique and finish shown in the guide linked below.
- Trim and adjust the excess wire as required by your chosen finishing technique. Check that the loops and connections are closed.
- Attach cord, ribbon or an S-hook to the top loop so you can hang up your ornament.
Follow the individual steps here: Photo guide: how to make a loop above a bead.
Christmas ornaments in copper and gold tones
An elongated or triangular pendant creates a clean shape below a small row of beads. Mix shiny beads, warm copper shades and crystal details to make your own combination.
Browse pendants, hearts and stars
Christmas ornaments with stars, crystals and feathers
Use the same basic idea for Christmas ornaments with feathers or stars. Choose a bottom component that can be connected with a loop or jump ring. Crystal details add sparkle between the warm metal tones.
If your chosen charm has a removable lobster clasp, you can take it off and use the charm loop for assembly. This depends on the charm you select.
For a feather ornament, the feather needs a loop or a suitable finish so it can be connected to the other components. A loose feather may need an end cap or another suitable fitting.
Browse feathers for Christmas ornaments
Choose materials for your own Christmas decorations
Mix shapes and colours from these categories. Choose components that work together in size, colour and hole diameter:
- Flat pendants, hearts and stars
- Gold-plated steel beads
- Copper and rose gold beads
- Beads and components with crystals in gold tones
- Gold-plated beads and charms
- Headpins and eyepins in other metals
- Gold-plated jump rings
- Gold-coloured glue-in ends and wire clasps
- Feathers
- Tassels as an alternative to feathers
Browse copper and rose gold beads
Give your handmade ornament as a gift
Place a finished ornament in a gift box, or use it as a personal detail on a wrapped present. Choose the box size to fit your finished ornament, especially if it has a wide feather.
Long, matt black gift box, 210 x 40 x 28 mm, pack of 2
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