Beaded Ornaments:

5 FREE

Projects Using Beads

to Make Ornaments

Beaded Ornaments:

5 Free Projects Using Beads

to Make Ornaments
BEADED SNOWFLAKE EARRINGS

FLEUR RUSSE

DOUBLE MINT SPIRAL

by JEAN CAMPBELL p. 1

by DUSTIN WEDEKIND p. 3

by DUSTIN WEDEKIND p. 4

STAR TOPPED MAGIC WAND

SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT

by SYLVIA BECKER p. 5

by ROBIN COWART p. 8

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page ii

Beaded Ornaments:

5 Free Projects using Beads

to Make Ornaments
For as long as I can remember, beaded ornaments have
been part of our holiday traditions. I started out by adding
beaded embellishments and sequins to little stuffed felt ornaments, and then as I developed more of an interest in beadweaving, I started learning how to stitch fabulous beaded
netting as ornament covers for colorful glass balls. From
there, I started to explore more beading techniques for creating beaded ornamentsI learned how to make candy canes
out of beaded ropes like spiral rope, and then once I got bit by
the geometric beadwork bug, I learned how to make beaded
stars out of shaped peyote stitch!
Beaded ornaments are the perfect addition to any Christmas tree, and I love adding them to my holiday table and
other household decorations. And dont forget about decorating yourself this holiday season beaded snowflakes are
classic holiday jewelry for any party, and you can wear them
long after Christmas and New Years have come and gone.
Really, the ideas and beading techniques that can be used
to adorn your holiday season are endless, so weve collected a
little sampling of beaded ornaments projects here for you.
French beaded flowers are perfect for making holiday Poinsettias, and Dustin Wedekinds Fleur Russe would make a
beautiful present decoration, beaded holiday pendant, or
holiday brooch to brighten up a dark winter night.
Who needs the calories and sugar of regular candy canes?
Dustin Wedekinds Double Mint Spiral uses spiral rope to
create fun candy canes that wont add too many inches to
your waistline and can grace a pretty holiday table.

I can totally get behind snowflakes that you dont have to

shovel so we included Jean Campbells Beaded Snowflake
Earrings, and Robin Cowarts Snowflake Ornament. Whether
you want to decorate your Christmas tree or yourself with
sparkling beaded snowflakes, youll find plenty to love about
these free holiday beaded ornaments.
Use your skills in stitching geometric beadwork to make a
magical beaded star with the Star Topped Magic Wand by
Sylvia Becker. Instead of making a magic wand, you can use it
to add a beaded ornament to the top of a miniature Christmas tree, or get creative and hang them by silk ribbons from
your windows during the holiday season. (They also make
great holiday pendants!)
Make some time to deck the halls with lots of fun beaded
ornaments this holiday season. Whether you want to make
unique beaded holiday jewelry, beaded ornaments for your
Christmas tree, decorations for your holiday table or home, or
unique package decorations for your holiday gifts, youll love
stitching up these holiday beading patterns.
Bead Happy,

Jennifer VanBenschoten, Beading Daily editor

Beaded Ornaments: 5 Free Projects Using Beads to Make Ornaments

editor, beadingdaily JENNIFER VANBENSCHOTEN
production designer JANICE TAPIA / photography JOE COCA, ANN SWANSON
Projects and information are for inspiration and personal use only. BeadingDaily, Beadwork, and Stringing do not recommend, approve, or endorse any of the
advertisers, products, services, or views advertised in this publication. Nor do BeadingDaily, Beadwork, or Stringing evaluate the advertisers claims in any way. You
should, therefore, use your own judgment in evaluating the advertisers, products, services, and views advertised in BeadingDaily, Beadwork, and Stringing.

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page iii

Stitch Pro:
Stitch a Pair
of Beaded
Snowflake
Earrings
Jean Campbell

THE SNOW IS FALLING AS I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TODAY. I can smell the turkey roasting, and the
pumpkin and apple pies I made last night are lined up on the counter, reminding me that meals are usually better
when dessert comes first. Im excited to spend this Thanksgiving with family and close friends, sharing my abundant
bounty with those I love. In the spirit of the season of giving (and in the spirit of that white stuff thats coming down
and that I will soon be shoveling), Ive designed a snowflake component that Id like to share with you!

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page 1

Heres how they are done:

Round 1: Use 3 of thread to string 6 seed
beads, leaving a short tail. Tie a square
knot with the working and tail threads to
form a tight circle, then pass through the
beads again, exiting through the first bead
strung.
Round 2: String 1 bead and pass through
the next bead of Round 1; repeat six times.
Step up through the first bead added in
this round.
Round 3: String 2 beads and pass through
the next bead of Round 2: repeat six times.
Step up through the first bead added in
this round.
Round 4: String 2 beads, pass through the
next bead of Round 3, the nearest Round 2
bead, and up through the following Round
3 bead; repeat six times. Step up through
the first bead added in this round.
Round 1
Round 5: String 5 beads and pass back
through the first 2 beads just added to
form a fringe, then pass through the following Round 4 bead and weave through
beads to exit up through the next Round 4
bead; repeat six times.

Round 2

For an earring: Add a jump ring to one of

the picots added in Round 5; add an ear

wire to the jump ring. Note: I used my
chain-nose pliers to firmly turn the orientation of my ear wire loop so my snowflake
would hang properly.
Since Im a low-key jewelry-wearer, I like
these snowflakes as low-key holiday wear,
but if you really like to deck the halls, make a
bunch of them to hang from a chain bracelet
or necklace. Or REALLY deck the halls by
making lots, stitching them together, and
using the garland to decorate your tree!

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5
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page 2

Fleur Russe

Dustin Wedekind

This flower combines a French beaded

wire technique with a Russian beading pattern.
Peace on earth, yo.

MATERIALS

Size 6 seed beads in red, gold,

and green
24 of 26-gauge craft wire
1 pin back
TOOLS

Wire cutters
Needle-nose pliers

1: String 1 red to the center

of the wire. Use both ends
of the wire to string 1 red.
Pull snug so that the second
bead holds the first bead
tightly in place at the tip
of the wire. String 6 red on
each end of the wire. Use
one end to string 1 gold
and pass the other end back
through it. Pull each end in
opposite directions to snug
the beads, forming the first
petal (Figure 1).

2: Use one end of the wire

to string 1 gold and 8 red.
Slide the beads down to
the work and hold them
in place as you pass back
through the second-to-last
bead just strung (Figure
2). String 6 red and pass
through the 1 gold again;
pull snug (Figure 3).
3: Repeat Step 2 to make a
third petal with the same

Figure 1

Figure 2

end of the wire, then use

the other end of the wire
to work three petals. Pass
each end of the wire back
through 1 gold of the opposite end and pull tight to
snug the gold beads into a
circle (Figure 4).

Figure 4

Figure 3

Figure 5

4: Use one end of the wire to

string 10 green; pass back
through the second-to-last
bead. String 8 green and
pass through the gold bead
that the wire is exiting from
to form a leaf behind the
red petals. Repeat once to
make a second leaf, then
repeat once more with the
other end of the wire for a
total of 3 leaves (Figure 5).

5: Pass one end of the wire

through 3 gold and pull
tight to snug the beads.
Use the wire to attach a
pin back and tuck the ends
under to secure. F

Dustin Wedekind was senior editor

of Beadwork magazine.

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page 3

Double Mint Spiral

Dustin Wedekind

The beaded spiral rope lets you easily mix

bead materials and shapes, play with complex
color patterns, even work it single-, double-, or triplespiraled for any length you like. The stitch is simpleloops of
beads surrounding a single core. Practice the double-spiral technique described here, then use it to create a
beaded candy cane.

MATERIALS

Size 11 seed beads for spiral

loops (A and B)
Size 8 seed beads for core (C)
5" of 26- to 28-gauge wire
Beading thread
Size 10 beading needle
Figure 1

double spiral
1: Start loops. Use 5' of
thread to string 3C and
4A, holding onto an 8"
tail; pass through the
3C again to form a loop.
(The 4A should arc
like a D; if not, string
5A; depending on the
width of the core beads,
you may need to string
5 beads for each loop
here and after.) String
4B and pass up through
the 3C again (Figure 1).

2: Spiral. Hold the A loop

to the left, under your
thumb, with the B loop
to the right. String 1C
and 4A; pass up through
the top 2C between the
loops, pull snug, and

Figure 2

Figure 3

covering the loops to the

left with your thumb, then
use the length of the needle to push the opposite
loops down and to the
right while passing the
tip up through the 2 or 3
core beads (Figure 4).

pass through the 1C just

strung (Figure 2). Turn
the work so that the B
loop is to the left. String
4B and pass through the
top 3C again between
the loops (Figure 3).

3: Repeat Step 2 for the

length of the cord,
keeping the following
in mind:
Core: Each A loop begins with
1C and shifts up by 1 core
bead, followed by a B loop
over the same 3 core beads.
Swirl: Keep the work turning so that each new loop
covers the previous loop
of the same color to the
left of the core.
Spread: Tease the loops
apart to expose the core,

4: Ends. Without stringing a core bead, string

3A and pass through
the last 2C; repeat
with 3B. String 2A and
pass through the last
1C; repeat with 2B.
Weave back through a
few loops, tying knots
between beads to secure.
Repeat with the tail
thread (reverse the spiral
by working B, then A).

Figure 4

candy cane
Work 4" of double spiral
and weave the tail threads
through loops to secure,
avoiding passing through
the core beads; trim. Gently thread the core beads
onto the wire. Shape the
rope into a cane, twisting
to enhance the spiral. Trim
wire ends to " and tuck
them into the beadwork. F
As a technical editor, illustrator, and
designer of all things beady, Dustin
Wedekind continuously seeks the
simple structures within complex
configurations. Find such things in
his book, Getting Started with Seed
Beads (Interweave Press, 2007), or on
his website, www.bedesman.com.

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page 4

Star Topped Magic Wand

What could be more
handy than a magic
wand to whisk away a
bad day? Even though
these beaded stars
cant guarantee results,
they are certain to
bring a smile.
The pattern can be used
as a starting point for
a range of possibilities.
With a little ingenuity
it can be reworked
to make flowers,
Christmas ornaments,
or hat pins.
The star is shaped
from the outside in,
decreasing at the
points, increasing at
the inverted points.
Work the back side of the star directly off the front. Leave an opening at one of the
stars inverted points so you can add a glittery dowel for the handle.
I grade seed beads by sorting them by width. To make a flat star, use the slightly
narrower beads for the points and the wider beads for the inverted points. If you
use wider beads in the points, you can make a 3-D star.

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page 5

Joe Coca

by Sylvia Becker

Make  dec. Work 3 gold in one-drop. Work 

purple beads together in a two-drop. Rep from *
four times. PT the first bead of Rnd .

MaTerialS:
 oz. each size  Japanese seed beads in purple
luster and metallic gold
Purple Nymo B thread
6 wooden dowel (36 width)
Nail polishpurple enamel and gold glitter-flecked

ToolS:

Size  beading needle

Scissors
Fine-toothed wood saw
#0 sandpaper
Pencil sharpener

TechniqueS:

rnd 4:

PT first bead of Rnd 3. *Work  gold in one-drop.

Make  dec. Work 3 gold in one-drop. PT first
bead in next two-drop made in Rnd 3. String 
purple. PT second bead of two-drop. Work  gold
in one-drop. Rep from * four times. PT first bead
of Rnd 3.

rnd 5:

PT first bead of Rnd 4. Work  purple in one-drop.

*Make  dec. Work  purple in one-drop. Work 
gold in one-drop. Work  purple in one-drop. Rep
from * four times. End working  purple in onedrop. PT first bead of Rnd 4.

rnd 6:

PT first  beads of Rnd 5 to make a dec. *Work

 purple in one-drop. Work  gold in two-drop.
Work  purple in one-drop. Make  dec. Rep from
* four times. End working  purple in one-drop.
PT first beads of Rnd 5.

rnd 7:

PT first bead of Rnd 6. *Work  purple in onedrop. PT first bead in next two-drop made in Rnd
6. String  gold. PT second bead of two-drop.
Work  purple in one-drop. Make  dec. Rep from
* four times. PT first bead of Rnd 6.

rnd 8:

PT first bead of Rnd 7. *Work 4 purple in onedrop. Make  dec. Rep from * four times. PT first
bead of Rnd 7.

rnd 9:

PT first bead of Rnd 8. *Work  purple in onedrop. Work  purple in two-drop. Work  purple
in one-drop. Make  dec. Rep from * four times.
PT first bead of Rnd 8.

Peyote Stitch

NOTE:
Make a two-drop decrease by passing the thread
from one bead through the next without adding
a bead at the gap, then in the next round work a onedrop peyote over the two-drop. Keep the thread taut to
avoid holes.
Make a two-drop increase, work a two-drop peyote
over a one-drop in one round, and then in the next round
work a one-drop peyote between the two-drop. For a
smooth increase, use very narrow beads for both the
two-drop and the one-drop between.

abbreviations used:
rep: Repeat
Dec: Decrease
PT:
Pass through
rnd: Round
Front side
rnd 1:

rnd 2:

Using wider beads without cutting bobbin thread,

string 90 purple on  yards waxed Nymo. PT
the first bead strung to make a circle. Leave
some slack in the circled thread.
Work in one-drop peyote alternating with dec in
this pattern: *Work 4 purple. Make  dec. Work 4
purple. Rep from * four times. PT the first bead
of Rnd .

rnd 3: From this round on, keep thread taut. PT first

bead of Rnd . *Work 3 gold in one-drop.

rnd 10: PT first bead of Rnd 9. *Work  purple in one-drop.

PT first bead of the next two-drop made in Rnd 9.
String  gold. PT second bead of two-drop. Work
 purple in one- drop. Make  dec. Rep from *
four times. PT first bead of Rnd 9.
rnd 11: PT first bead of Rnd 0. *Work  purple in onedrop. Make  dec. Rep from * four times. PT first
bead of Rnd 0.
rnd 12: PT first bead of Rnd . *Work  gold in one-drop.
Make  dec. Rep from * four times. PT first bead
of Rnd .
rnd 13: PT first bead of Rnd . Work 5 gold in one-drop.
PT first bead of Rnd .

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page 6

rnd 14: PT first bead of Rnd 3. String  gold. PT third

then fourth beads of Rnd 3. PBT the bead added
in this round. PBT second and first beads of Rnd
3. Weave thread through several beads to secure
and trim close to work.
Back side
To work other side of the star, cut bobbin thread to 
yards. Rnd  from the front side serves as the first rnd of
this side. PT last bead added in Rnd  from the front side.

Remember to use good ventilation. If the star does not fit

snugly on the wand, you can use a bit of glue or build up
the wand with a few more layers of nail polish. R

Pattern chart

rnd 2, back side: Work 6 purple in one-drop peyote

stitch. String 5 purple. PT the sixteenth bead of Rnd
. Work 6 purple in one-drop. PT last bead added in
Rnd , front side.
rnd 314, back side: Work the front sides pattern beg
with Rnd 3. Be sure to work the 5 beads strung in
Rnd , second side, rather than use those from the
front side (this will give you the gap in which to
insert your dowel). When done, weave thread through
several beads to secure and trim close to work. Insert
decorated dowel into gap.

Round by round working chart

Side 1,
Rounds 114

Wand
Select the rough end of your dowel and sharpen it to a dull
point with a pencil sharpener. Curl the sandpaper and sand
the length of the dowel. Smooth the point and the butt
end of the dowel by holding the sandpaper still and moving
the dowel. Wipe the dust off the dowel and apply a thin
coat of nail polish to all but the sharp end and tip it up
to dry throroughly. Paint the tip when you do the second
coat. (I used two coats of enamel and one coat of glitter.)

Side 2,
Rounds 1528

Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

SYlVia BecKer teaches beadworking classes and

exhibits her work nationally.

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page 7

technique >> netting

Snowflake Ornament

Robin Cowart

This festive snowflake has many uses: decorate your holiday packages with it, dangle it
on a small suction cup with a hook in a window, or hang it on a holiday tree.

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page 8

FINISHED SIZE: 2"

Materials

Tools

1 g silver metallic size 11 Japanese

seed beads

Size 12 beading needle

Scissors

16 white 3mm fire-polished rounds (A)

32 white 4mm fire-polished rounds (B)
Crystal FireLine beading thread
G-S Hypo Cement
Fire-polished rounds and silver seed beads are
joined with circular netting stitches to create an
8-point snowflake.

1: Snowflake. Use 6' of thread to string

4 seed beads, leaving a 3" tail. Tie a knot to
form a circle, pass through all beads again, and
exit between 2 seed beads (Figure 1).

rounded spoke. Continue around the next

spoke by passing through 1B, 3 seed beads,
1B, and 1 seed bead to exit on the other side
of the spoke. Repeat to complete the round
(Figure 3). Pass through the second seed
bead added in Round 1 and continue to pass
through the spoke beads to exit the center bead
at the tip of the spoke to position the thread for
Round 3.

plete the round. Pass through 2 seed beads,

1B, and 1 seed bead to position the thread
for Round 4.
Round 4: String 5 seed beads. Skip 1B on
Round 3 and pass through 1 seed bead, 1B,
and 2 seed beads. String 2 seed beads. Skip
the center seed bead from Round 1 and pass
through the next 2 seed beads, 1B, and
1 seed bead of Round 3. Repeat to complete
the round (Figure 5). Pass through 2 seed
beads, 1B, and 3 seed beads to position the
thread for Round 5.

Figure 1

Round 1: String 1 seed bead, 1B, 1 seed bead,

1B, 3 seed beads, 1B, 1 seed bead, 1B, and
1 seed bead. Pass through the next seed bead
in the circle. Repeat, completing 4 rounded
spokes around the circle (Figure 2). Pass
through the first seed bead in the circle again
and continue into the first spoke to pass
through 1 seed bead, 1B, 1 seed bead, 1B,
3 seed beads, 1B, and 1 seed bead. The
thread is now in position for Round 2.

Figure 5

Figure 3

Round 3: String 2 seed beads, 1B, 1 seed bead,

1B, 1 seed bead, 1B, and 2 seed beads. Pass
through only the center seed bead at the tip
of the next spoke (Figure 4). Repeat to com-

Round 5: String 1A, 3 seed beads, and 1A. Skip

the center seed bead of the previous round
and continue through 3 seed beads, 1B, and
3 seed beads. String 1A, 3 seed beads, 1A.
Skip the center seed bead of previous round
and pass through 3 seed beads, 1B, and
3 seed beads (Figure 6). Repeat to complete
the round.

Figure 2

Round 2: String 1B, and pass through the

1 seed bead between the 2B on the next

Figure 6

Figure 4

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page 9

2: Finishing. Pass through Round 5 beads

to exit the middle seed bead on the tip of a
spoke. String 40 seed beads and pass through
the middle seed bead again to form a circle.
Pass through all the seed beads again to secure (Figure 7). Tie a knot, weave the thread end
into several beads, and trim the thread close
to the work. F

Figure 7

With each new project, Robin Cowart strives to push and

challenge her beading skills in original ways. Robin owns
We Got The Bead, a bead store in Dubuque, Iowa.

RESOURCES
Check your local bead shop or contact: All beads and
findings: We Got the Bead, (563) 584-0305, www.wegot
thebead.com.

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page 10

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