Flower Star Glass Bead Ornament ~ Craft Project Kit Assembly Tutorial + Custom Color Variations

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Flower Star Glass Bead Ornament ~ Craft Project Kit Assembly Tutorial + Custom Color Variations

The Flower Star is a beautiful ornament and another of our favorites to make using a "weaving with wire" technique. Just beads, wire and scissors are needed to build the Flower Star. Five colorways are available as project kits that contain all necessary beads and wire to create one ornament. You can also create your own custom color combinations using the noted supplies and steps below. Completed ornament measures about 2-1/2" across. The illustrated steps below show the assembly of a project kit.

Supplies to make 1 ornament:

1 Flower Star project kit

Scissors

--OR--

28 gauge Wire (about 30 inches)

6 beads GB000 (or GB284)

6 beads 10mm round

12 beads 4mm "4" bump

1 hanger made with 30mm tube bead (we'll make this below at the very end)

Skewer

Scissors

Step 1: Uncoil length of wire. Cut a piece approximately 20" long. String 1 drop bead + 2 bump beads + 1 drop bead onto the center of the wire as shown below left. Slightly bend the wire at the point between the bump beads.

Step 2: Pass the right wire up through the left drop bead and form a compact shape as shown below center right.

Step 3: String 2 bump beads + 1 drop bead onto the left wire. Slide beads down toward beads from the previous step. Slightly bend the wire at the point between the bump beads.

Step 4: Pass the right wire up through the left drop bead and form a compact shape as shown below left.

Step 5: Continue weaving beads in this manner until 5 points with 6 center drop beads is formed. Pass the center wire up through the drop bead as shown below center left. You will achieve a shape as shown below center right.

Step 6: String 1 bump bead + hanger + 1 bump bead onto the wire.

Step 7: Form the final point with hanger at top. Weave wire under to meet other wire then twist wires together several times to secure. Trim excess wire with scissors leaving a 1/4" twist. Tuck twist in to hide.

Step 8: Using the remaining 10" piece of wire, twist wire around area where the top of the drop bead meets the bottom point of the bump beads. Leave a 1-1/2" tail of wire.

Step 9: String one 10mm round bead onto wire and slide bead down so it rests in the area created by the drop and bump beads. Secure by wrapping wire around the next area where the top of the drop and bump beads meet.

Step 10: Continue adding round beads until all 6 beads have been added.

Step 11: Weave wire under to meet other wire then twist wires together several times to secure. Trim excess wire with scissors leaving a 1/4" twist. Tuck twist in to hide.

Variations: The Flower Star design lends itself well to customization with different color beads. The images below left show a mix of Flower Stars made from project kits as well as styles we made from loose beads. The image below right highlights just the custom colors and two different drop bead options. Here are the supplies used for our custom versions starting at the top and moving clockwise:

Below right, top: Red, gold and green are a classic Christmas color combo. Take it up a notch with burgundy and pearl green. Use 12 pearl green 4mm "4" bump beads + 6 burgundy 10mm round + 6 gold GB000 + hanger made with frosted amber 15mm tube bead.

Below right, right: Aqua, gold and coral match many decor styles and look beautiful together. Use 12 gold 4mm "4" bump beads + 6 pearl coral 10mm round + 6 aqua GB284 + hanger made with frosted amber 15mm tube bead.

Below right, bottom: An icy style featuring muted blue and pink with silver. Use 12 silver 4mm "4" bump beads + 6 pearl rose pink 10mm round + 6 light blue GB284 + hanger made with silver 15mm tube bead.

Below right, left: Pink, green and gold is a lovely mix and a subtle twist on red/gold/green. Use 12 light green 4mm "4" bump beads + 6 gold 10mm round + 6 pearl fuchsia GB000 + hanger made with frosted amber 15mm tube bead.

How to Make a Tube Bead Hanger:

Project kits include pre-made hangers. If you're making your own colorways from scratch, you'll need to create hangers. You can use a 30mm tube bead like the project kits or opt for a 15mm tube bead as shown in the custom colors, above right.

Using a 3" piece of wire, twist wire around skewer to form a loop then twist wire around itself for about 1/4" to secure. Slide tube bead onto wire and over twist to where loop was formed. Twist wire around skewer to form a loop then twist wire 2-3 times around base of loop above tube bead to secure. Trim excess wire close to twist.

Tips and Notes:

-- Get a project kit to have an instruction sheet on hand -- the instructions in the kits are in Czech but the images are easy to follow.

-- Be mindful of keeping your wire work orderly: not so tight that beads are stressed and break but not so loose that the ornament has poor form.

-- Take your color combinations to the next level! We stock tons of bead colors to create this style of ornament. Whether you prefer tonal, traditional, soft, or monotone, you're sure to find a few beads that strike your fancy.

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