Snowflake Ornament

Create this beautiful snowflake ornament from The Bead Studio, just in time for the holiday season!

Materials:

• Snowflake form
• A tube of 6/0 size seed beads (also known as E beads) to be used on Snowflake form
• Assorted beads in desired color. Crystals look great, generally no larger than 10mm
• Chain-nose plier (NOTE: we prefer the chain-nose over the round-nose plier because the wire form is very stiff and the chain-nose gives you more leverage)
• 24-gauge craft wire (3 feet per form)
• 1 hank of seed beads size 8 or smaller (to be used on 24-gauge wire) WE RECOMMEND that you use size 11/0, or 9/0 3-cut which have a bit of sparkle.

Steps:

1. Start with one spoke of your wire form and begin adding beads (6/0 size and assorted), creating a design you like.
   
   
    
2. With your chain-nose plier, grab the very end of your wire and turn until the tip meets the wire, thus forming a closed loop. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the wire or the solder that holds the form together could break.
   
   
    
3. Continue step one and two on the other five spokes. These look great now, but to add more interest continue to embellish.
   
   
    
4. Creating the Beaded Web Effect - Inner Wire - Cut your 24-gauge wire into 12 & 24 inch pieces, which you will use to create the string of beads that circle through the spokes creating a spider web effect.
    
5. Starting with the 12 inch wire, attach the wire approximately 1/2 inch from the center of the beaded snowflake form by winding one end of the wire in between two beads going around once.
   
   
    
6. Add seed beads to the wire, enough to move from the first spoke to the second spoke. Secure wire again between two beads by wrapping one full time around the spoke between two beads - same distance from the center as you did on the first spoke.
   
   
    
7. Continue step 6 until you're back to where the wire started and wrap around once over first wrap. Trim and tuck down wire ends.
   
   
    
8. Creating the Beaded Web Effect - Outer Wire - Now take the 24-gauge wire, attach the wire approximately 1/2 inch from the end of the beaded snowflake form by winding one end of the wire in between two beads going around once.
   
   
    
9. Add seed beads to wire creating 2-1/2 inch length. This will give you additional beaded wire between spokes which you will later twist to make a design. Secure wire to the second spoke, again between two beads by wrapping one full time around the spoke between two beads - same distance from the end as you did on the first spoke.
   
   
    
10. Continue step 9 until you're back to where the wire started and wrap around once over first wrap. Trim and tuck down wire ends.
    
    
     
11. Go back to the outer beaded wire, between the first and second spoke that you just completed and gently twist to create a loop - 1/2 turn. This creates a decorative lace effect. You did it!!