'Tis the season for crafting the perfect holiday home decorations. We moved to our home in Roswell two weeks before Christmas last year which didn't leave much time for decorating, so this year I am going all out to turn our country chic farmhouse into a winter wonderland. When it comes to decorating each year, I love to add new versatile handmade decor to my collection.
Wood beads are one of my essential decorations and it is always in my decorating arsenal for every holiday. Wood bead strands are one of my favorite crafts to make and everyone loves how they look in my seasonal decor! Whether you are a seasoned crafter or just getting started, this project is one you can easily tackle and be happy with the outcome. Designing the perfect strand is an easy way to add extra holiday spirit to your Christmas tree, tiered tray or mantel!
Materials:
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Raw Wood Beads in Various Sizes
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Twine
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Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain
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Non-Water Based Sealant
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Thin Wood Skewers
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Paint Brush
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Shoe Box or Shipping Box
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Scissors
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Scrap Cardboard
Directions
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Sort the wood beads by size and layout in a color pattern.
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Separate the beads by what color you will paint them.
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Start with one color of stain and slide beads on the skewer.
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Use the paintbrush to stain the beads.
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Once you are done keep the beads on the skewer and lay it across an open shoe box.
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Repeat steps 4-6 for each color. I recommend leaving at least one size of bead raw wood.
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Once the beads are dry, spray or paint them with a non-water-based sealant to protect them from wear and tear and the elements.
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While the beads are drying, cut a piece of scrap cardboard that is 4 inches tall x 3 inches wide. This is the base to make the two tassels.
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Wrap the twine around the 4-inch side 20-30 times. The more you wrap the fuller the tassel will be.
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Cut a 12" piece of twine. Pull this piece under the twine wrapped around the cardboard. Pull it to the top and tie a double knot.
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Cut along the end of the tassel loop to release it from the cardboard.
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Cut a 12" piece of twine. Wrap this around the neck multiple times of the tassel about 3/4-1" from the top knot.
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Make a second tassel.
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Cut a piece of twine to the desired length of your strand. Tie the end to one tassel.
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String the dry beads on in the desired color pattern.
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Once you have strung all the beads, tie off the end by adding the second tassel.
Style the wood bead strand on a Christmas tree, on a tiered tray, or on your fireplace mantel.
About Lynn Lilly (CreativeLivingwithLynnLilly.com | @craftboxgirls)
Lynn is the founder of Creative Living with Lynn Lilly, the parent company of her popular craft blog, Craft Box Girls and Lynn Lilly Designs, her colorful product line. Over the last 10 years, Lynn has been working to inspire families to add creativity to their homes and see the joy in celebrating every day through easy craft projects, creative celebrations, and colorful products! Lynn lives in Roswell, GA with her husband and two daughters. They love enjoying the small-town charm of historic Roswell by strolling Canton Street, walking to Roswell Area Park and sitting on the porch of Cherried Mary's and enjoying ice cream!
