How to Make Beaded Bulb Ornaments
Okay these are so beautiful and they reflect the light of Christmas Trees so well. If you like fun and easy crafts, beads, or just want to make your own ornaments try this craft. This is also a great craft to make with kids but you’ll need some patience. I have a lot of glass beads, found the styrofoam balls at a craft store and the rest was history. Okay not really, my son saw a reel of someone making these beaded bulb ornaments and he really wanted to make one for his art teacher.
I mean what is a crafty mom to do when her little one wants to not only make something but gift it? I grabbed extra beads, pins, and poured out some PVA glue. Now I’m making these to order! If you are the hostess for your groups holiday craft party these are a great option! You can sip, stab, and gab while making a fabulous ornament.
Beaded Bulb Ornaments Material List
*This list contains affiliate links to Amazon. You can most definitely find beads at your local craft and hobby stores, facebook marketplace and other locations.
Glass Beads – Loads of them in different shapes and sizes.
Sewing Pins – Grab two different sizes like these with the colored heads, these flat pins, and these corsage pins.
PVA Glue – I like this better than Modge Podge but you can use a glue of your choosing.
Styrofoam balls – the large 3 inch balls get big and heavy so if you want a 3 inch ornament grab a smaller ball.
Velvet (or other) Ribbon.
Option Materials:
Sequins: these can help take up space, making the ornament a bit lighter, help reflect light, and create dimension.
Plastic Beads: If you want to make the project a bit lighter or more affordable, you can intersperse plastic beads.
Other helpful items are bead dishes and a container for your glue. I have vintage china that I use as bead dishes. The saucers work fabulously. You can also use plastic containers, or these little flower shaped paint palettes are nice – especially because you can use the center for the glue.
Why Glue?
When I first saw these I thought, why do you need the glue? Won’t the pins hold? But you are adding weight with the beads and the glue will give it a bit of extra hold.
How to Make the Beaded Bulb Ornaments:
Prep: Lay out your materials. Try to have everything within easy reach. This will help speed up your process. If you are hosting a party and making these crafts, try to have everything you need at each person’s station. If you don’t have enough, try to lay out your table for pairs to share.
Step 2: Cut a length of ribbon and knot it creating a loop. Leave about 2 inches of tail to pin to your styrofoam ball securing it with a bit of glue and plain pins.
Step 3: select a pin, bead(s), and thread them.
Final Touch: dip the end of your pin in glue and push it into the bulb.
Repeat these steps until the whole bulb is covered, including the tails of your ribbon (hiding them). Try to vary the heights and colors of your beads, add sequins for definition. Have fun and be free. The more relaxed you are the more you will enjoy it and the result will be even prettier.
