Bead Crafts

Great ideas for your next bead project

A craft hobbyist in a bead store is like a kid in a candy store. There are so many beads, in every size, shape, color and texture, glinting out of vials, jars, boxes and drawers. The bead crafts you can make are limited only by your imagination. Best of all, unlike hobbies like knitting or quilting, a beading project can easily be completed in one sitting.

There are a few standard types of beads you ought to be familiar with:

• Seed beads are the tiny round beads that are commonly sold at craft stores. They are made of plastic or glass, and come in every imaginable color. These dainty beads can be difficult to work with, as they require good visual acuity and nimble fingers.

• Bugle beads have the same diameter as seed beads, but are tube-shaped rather than spherical.

• Pony beads are larger than seed beads and not quite as spherical. They have a much larger hole and are generally easier to work with.

• Crystal beads, such as Swarovski crystals, are cut to resemble gemstones. They are often used to make bead jewelry.

Bead Animal Crafts

Beaded animals are most often made from pony beads, although the very same techniques can be used with seed beads. The beads are woven together according to a pattern, producing a two-dimensional animal. Bead animal patterns are available on craft sites, but once you have done a few it’s easy to create your own patterns on grid paper: just color in the boxes on the grid paper to represent different colored beads. These fun beaded animals can be used as zipper pulls, hair accessories or pendants. Try making them with your grandkids for a fun family activity.

Plastic Bead Crafts

Fusible plastic beads, sometimes called by the brand name Perler beads, are similar in size and shape to pony beads, but they melt and stick together when heated. Simply lay out a design of fusible beads on a beading pegboard, cover with ironing paper and iron on medium heat for about 10 seconds. Then flip it over and iron the other side. If you want to get ambitious, several fused pieces can be assembled into three-dimensional designs. These bead craft projects can be used as coasters, window ornaments or even toys to give the kids.

Christmas Bead Crafts

Many seniors have a lot of people on their Christmas lists, and a limited budget for gifts. Why not create unique beaded gifts for your loved ones? Use white, clear and / or blue bugle beads and wire to make snowflake ornaments, or fashion Christmas trees out of green pipe cleaners and red and gold seed beads. Get creative! Even if you do buy larger gifts, these ornaments can be put in stockings, placed at table settings or tied as decorations onto larger packages.