Children can create beaded charms to personalize their belongings and to trade with friends. The charms require the dexterity to string tiny seed beads and then manipulate the wire into simple shapes.
Bead Charm Materials
Gather tiny seed beads and jewelry craft wire. Jewelry pliers are useful to cut and shape the wire. For crafters working with different colors, the single-serving plastic cups that applesauce comes in are useful to organize beads. Otherwise, use paper or plastic bowls. The wide openings of these containers allow kids to reach the beads without tipping the container.
Making Charms and Ornaments with Beads
Have children think out the shape they will create. If they want, they can draw out the shape. The first time children make a beaded charm they should stick to a shape small enough to complete the project while being large enough to manipulate. Try making a form approximately three inches. As children create the charm, they will twist the wire to anchor the beads and the shape.
Cut eighteen to twenty-four inches of wire. Bend one end into a hook that will prevent the beads from sliding off the wire. Hold the wire three inches from the other (the non-hooked) end.
Poke the end of the wire through the holes in the seed beads. Scoop the beads onto the wire. This is easier than holding onto a bead and fitting it over the wire.
When enough beads are on the wire to start forming the desired shape, make the first bend, twisting the wire completely around itself. This will anchor the beads as well as form the shape.
Continue adding beads and bending the wire into shape. If there isn’t enough wire, hook another piece of wire between two beads and wrap the short end of the wire so it spirals around a couple of beads.
Children can poke either a clip or carbineer through the open beaded shape or they can create a loop of wire to attach the shape onto the object of their choice. If creating a loop of wire, make certain to twist the ends around the wire a few times to anchor it in place.
Decorating with Beaded Charms
Ideas for using beaded charms and ornaments
- Use as a zipper pull
- Create a bookmark by tying or sewing two one- or two-inch charms at either end of a twelve-inch ribbon
- Personalize a water bottle, backpack, or suitcase
- Loop a piece of ribbon through the shape and tie the ribbon. Hang on a Christmas tree
- Use a four-inch piece of wire to wrap the charm onto a skewer and poke into a planter
Although working with wire and seed beads can be challenging, children can create small charms or ornaments that they can use to personalize a number of different items that they can keep or give as gifts.
 |
 |
