You need a little fun from The Beadery in your holiday plans. These prepackaged beaded ornament kits are the answer to what to do for holiday get-togethers, girls’ night in, fancy dinner parties and even (if you can find one) a quiet evening at home, alone. (Macaulay Culkin is optional.)
See why these cozy crafting kits are a must for your holiday gatherings.
I have accidentally stumbled across a brilliant Christmas hack, and it’s so much fun that it needs to be shared.
It all started with watching The Family Stone. (#10 on our list of Underrated Christmas Movies.) No spoilers, but the movie begins and ends with the same Christmas ornament. It’s a white beaded snowflake-wreath shape, and it reminded me of all the kitschy beaded ornaments that used to be really popular in the ‘70s and early ‘80s.
They were at every Christmas bazaar my grandmother’s church held when I was a kid.
As so often happens around this time of year, with these kinds of movies, it was a nostalgic gut punch. The next thing I knew, I was looking on eBay for vintage beaded ornaments. Then I decided it would be more meaningful to make them, so it was over to Etsy for downloadable patterns. Then it was back to Google to figure out where on earth I could buy all the beads and wire and pipe cleaners to make them.
And that’s where I found them – The Beadery Beaded Christmas Ornament Kits.
Everything you need (except tools) to make beaded Christmas ornaments of all shapes and sizes. I think I blacked out at this point, overcome with sheer joy and wistfulness. I just remember waking later to find my debit card on the coffee table and an order confirmation in my inbox. (Okay, fine, I fell asleep on my couch due to a cookie and eggnog-induced nap.)
Several days later, my package arrived.
I made it a point to order enough kits so that everyone could make at least one of each ornament. And I chose ornaments of all skill levels. They were a huge hit with the entire family. (Not just the kids and us crafty types.)
Even the teenage boys got into it, putting down their electronic devices to join in.
My youngest son made enough tiny Christmas tree ornaments to give one to each of his grandmothers, and probably every grandmother within a ten-mile radius.
These are now a holiday mainstay in my house for parties and gatherings, and you can find many of these beaded ornaments hanging on my tree each December.
Let’s take a closer look at why these little packages of joy are the perfect addition to your holiday plans.
A Bargain
First of all, they are priced perfectly. In my quest to make vintage-style beaded ornaments, the materials list hit me with some serious sticker shock. I may not need 500 red translucent tri-beads to make a handful of candy cane ornaments, but as that’s the only quantity I could buy them in, that’s what I had to buy. Add in a few more colors and styles of beads, this gauge of wire for this style ornament and a different gauge of craft wire for another and the sticker shock hit hard.
With The Beadery’s kits, you get enough of each material to make the number of ornaments in each kit, plus a little extra to account for mistakes or dropped beads. They are an affordable craft for the holidays.
It’s All in the Bag
Except for a few tools, such as a ruler, a pencil, needle-nose pliers and wire snips, everything you need is in the bag. There’s no driving around from one craft retailer to the next or waiting for three different Amazon orders to show up. Each bag is ready to be popped open and assembled for some Christmas fun.
All Skill Levels
One thing that appealed to me was that they had different kits for nearly any skill level. If you want something super easy that the little kids can do (age-appropriate, of course, these are filled with small beads after all), they can put together Christmas trees or candy canes.
Or, if your crowd wants something a little more challenging, how about the old-fashioned lanterns or these beautiful snowflake ornaments?
Easier Than They Look
Another thing I really loved about some of the more challenging-looking ornaments was how clear the instructions were. They have really detailed instructions, which makes them super easy to assemble. The snowflakes look so complicated when they are finished, but they’re deceptively easy (and satisfying) to put together.
If you can follow a LEGO assembly manual, you can make these ornaments.
Vintage-Inspired with Modern Finesse
Finally, I was really pleased with the quality of the beads and the overall designs. While they have that vintage-inspired vibe, they’ve been updated for a more modern look.
The easier kits really appeal to little kids with their great colors and fun shapes. But overall, the more intricate ornaments are quite lovely and would look beautiful on even the most modern Christmas tree.
Don’t take my word for it, order a kit or two and see for yourself:
- We really loved the vintage look of these candlestick wreaths.
- These Santa hats are simple, but charming.
- I hate to say it, but “Do you wanna build a snowman?”
- Or elegant icicles
- Or Victorian drops
- I’ve barely scratched the surface. The list of kits goes on and on.
Some Tips to Make Your Beaded Ornament Kits Even More Fun
Okay, I’ve got you convinced to give these a try. Here is everything I’ve learned using these kits for the past couple of years.
- Store your opened kits in pint or quart mason jars. Lost beads stink, especially if you find them with your feet. (Those starburst beads are on par with stepping on a LEGO.) Use a single jar to store the entire contents of the bag. Don’t forget the instructions! (I put them with the photo of the ornament facing out so you can easily tell which jar contains which kit.
- If you plan on making ornaments together as a group, pick up a few of these inexpensive jeweler’s tool kits. These beaded ornament kits are decidedly less fun if you have to keep waiting for the wire snips or the pliers to become available. I bought enough of these little three-piece tool sets so that there was one set of tools for every two people. And you can’t beat the price.
- Add the beaded ornament kits to your next holiday gathering, big or small. It’s a great way to get everyone gathered around the table, talking and visiting. Best of all, everyone gets to go home with something pretty for their Christmas tree. Be ready to send family and friends links to this post. I always get asked where I got these kits and what others are available.
- When you’re making them, get out your tea trays, baking trays, etc. Anything with a shallow lip is perfect to keep beads corralled and in place. (I have a puzzle board I use.)
If you’re looking for a fun and inexpensive activity this holiday season, you can’t beat these beaded ornament kits.
