As we head closer to Christmas and school holidays, mothers around the world are faced with preparations as well as amusing the kids. Kill two birds with one stone, by making ornaments. This will not only keep the kids busy, but will save money as well.

Christmas ornaments, made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads, are very pretty and easy to make. They look quite impressive, yet are easy enough for small children to make. This is one Christmas craft idea, to use again and again. Older people will enjoy making these, too, which can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments, for your Christmas tree.

To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, you need common pipe cleaners, in desired colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are particularly effective, when strung on pipe cleaners. One type are called sunburst beads, but are also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, or starburst beads. These beads have six faceted paddles, spaced equally around a center, that contains the hole for stringing. When several of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other, in an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead, that is also effective for this craft, is called the tri-bead, or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps, arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri-beads interlock, when strung consecutively. For the most sparkly and attractive Christmas ornaments, get tri-beads and/or sunburst beads, in translucent colors, of red, green, and clear. The tri-beads can also be found in metallic gold and silver, which can be used in this Christmas craft as well.

Pipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel, as well as chenille, of all colors.  For the Christmas craft, the best colors to use, are the metallics and Christmas colors.  The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string these beads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the pipe cleaner, so the beads don’t fall off. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, making a real needle unnecessary. For best results, show the children how to alternate colors when stringing, or start a pattern of three colors. When the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes. For instance, string red and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner, for a candy cane shape. Or, alternate red and green beads and form a circle, for a wreath.  Use red pipe cleaners to form a small bow, to decorate the wreath. Form a hanger, for the Christmas craft, or simply slip the circle over a branch of the tree.

If you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners, you can make some beautiful snowflake, or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be twisted from a  silver pipe cleaner only, without the beads, for a simple but pretty decoration.

Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, are a Christmas craft, you will find yourself using every year. Children and their parents will both appreciate this simple, yet pretty Christmas craft idea. It should, at least, give the kids something to do.

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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