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6 Christmas Shopping Tips You Must Know
There are a variety of opportunities for holiday shoppers, including stores, catalogs and the internet. Below are 6 Christmas Shopping tips that should:
Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Shop Early
If you're heading out to the mall this year, have your...
A Classic Christmas Video
If you're as tired of political correctness as I am, I'm sure
you'll enjoy this wonderful rendition of The Night Before
Christmas, as read in a funny non-Santa Claus kind of way by
Larry the Cable Guy, part of the popular Blue Collar...
Plan What You'll Spend at Christmas
Christmas shopping is one of the most extreme activities of the
year. Embracing both the essence of a gift-giving holiday and
the over-spending associated with modern life, Christmastime is
both exhilirating for the heart and harrowing for the...
Taking Jesus Out of Christmas
I am sure you have all heard by now how the secular forces in
our country are attacking the true meaning of Christmas. These
secular forces are trying to literally replace the term
"merry Christmas" with "happy holidays." They...
What Do You Want for Christmas?
Headphones to grant me some private space . . . tickets to some far-off exotic place . . . What do you want for Christmas? Clothing to dress me to paint the town red . . . silk sheets to wrap me when I go to bed . . . What do you want...
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Christmas Craft, bead and pipe cleaner ornaments
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 this Christmas craft, 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 colours 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 centre 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 Christmas 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 colours 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 colours. For the Christmas craft, the best colours to use are the metallic and Christmas colours. 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 needle unnecessary. For best results, show the children how to alternate colours when stringing, or start a pattern of three colours. 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 cleaner 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 of 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.
About the Author
Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation. He owns one of the UK's Leading Information Providers PK eBooks (http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk)and has recently launched http://www.profitable-crafts.co.uk
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