Beautiful Beaded Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make

What are your favorite Christmas ornaments? 

If you have kids, chances are you have a few homemade Christmas ornaments the kids made.    

Making ornaments is a fun way to pass the time as the kids count down to the big day.  These beaded Christmas ornaments are easy to make, and they look beautiful on the tree.  

Beaded Christmas Ornaments 

These homemade Christmas ornaments for kids to make would be fun to make when you’re stuck inside on a cold day.  Plus, they make cute gifts.

Young kids will also have fun making play doh ornaments. 

Affiliate links have been used below at no additional cost to you.  See my full disclosure for more details. 

Materials Needed:

• Pipe Cleaners (Chenille Stems)
• Transparent Faceted Round Beads
• Transparent “Sunburst” Beads
• Red and White Tri Beads
• Thin Red Ribbon
• Gold Thread (or invisible thread, for hanging)

Beaded Icicle Ornaments

To create your own beaded icicles, start off with a white pipe cleaner.  

For the one pictured we chose to use clear beads in 2 different sizes.  Thread the smallest ones on first to create the bottom of the icicle.  Then add your larger beads.

You can also use colored beads, if you wish.  These turn out beautiful when hanging near the lights.  

Once your icicle is as long as you wish it to be, add a drop of white glue to the ends of your pipe cleaner and fold the tips of the pipe cleaner over.  (The glue helps keep little fingers from undoing the beads later.) 

If needed, you can trim your pipe cleaner.  

Tie a loop of gold thread to the top for hanging.  If desired, you can add a bit of ribbon, flower, or other baubble to the top with hot glue. 

Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes with Beads

To create your DIY snowflake ornament, you will need 3-4 pipe cleaners. 

Twist the middles together to form 6-8 points of your snowflake. 

For the one pictured we used clear and gold beads. 

You can also do this ornament with “sunburst beads” in any color you wish, forming a star.  

Challenge little ones to create a pattern that they can repeat on each arm of the snowflake or star.  

Again, bending the ends of each pipe cleaner around the last bead will help secure them.  I also added a bit of craft glue on the ends to keep little fingers from taking them apart later.

Finally, add a loop of gold string to the top so you can hang your ornament.  

Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes with Beads

I remember making these tri bead Christmas ornaments when I was a kid.  I had so much fun making them with my own kids.  I’m sure you will too!

Once again start with a  pipe cleaner.  

We used opaque red and white tri-beads to create our candy canes.  I’ve also seen them done with round beads and transparent ones.  They all turn out pretty. 

Have your child thread the beads on, alternating between red and white.   Working on patterns like this is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.  

Once you have enough beads on the pipe cleaner, simply bend the top to form a candy cane.  (And, yes, I bent the tips on these and added a bit of glue, too!)

We like to hang ours by just sliding the hooked end over a tree branch, like a real candy cane.  You could also add a bit of gold thread to it for hanging.  

Beaded Wreath Ornament

To make a wreath ornament with beads, start with a pipe cleaner and green beads.

We used green sunburst beads and alternated them with silver round beads.  You could also use red beads between your green ones.  

Once your pipe cleaner is full, bend it into a circle and twist the 2 ends together.  

Add a pretty ribbon bow to the top.  You can tie it, or use hot glue if you wish.  We chose to add a loop of matching ribbon to hang it with.

What I love about beaded Christmas ornaments is that they are easy to make and each one is unique!  You can create an unlimited variety using different beads and adorning them with various ribbons, etc.

Looking for more homemade ornament ideas?

• Wire and Bead Ornaments for Tweens
• DIY Beach Ornament 
• Pine Cone Ornament
• Puzzle Piece Wreath
• Recycled Christmas Card Ornament

Originally published December 15, 2013.