Bead Arts and Crafts

Easy Homemade Gifts and Decor

Have some little hands you need to keep busy these days? Want to spread some holiday cheer or get your kids involved in decorating for the holidays? No matter which holiday your family celebrates, this easy bead kids’ craft will keep them occupied and productive.

Giant Crayon Bead Box on Amazon

All you need to get started is a collection of pony beads and pipe cleaners (also called chenille stems) in the colors you prefer. I get a rainbow of colors and let my kids loose, but you can easily choose red and green, blue and white, or any other combination. If you want to get fancy, you can also get plastic beads in various shapes, from animals, balls, and vehicles, just to name a few.

Pipe Cleaners Pack on Amazon

Once you have your materials on hand, kids can slide the beads onto the bendable pipe cleaners. After they fill a stem, shape them any way they’d like. From bells and stars to trees, hearts, and more, kids can make a variety of shapes. Even simple designs, like a circle, turn out lovely. Kids can also make bracelets and other adornments for people as well as walls, wreaths, and other surfaces. Best of all, if you don’t want to use all the decorations your child manufactures, these ornaments make great gifts for friends and family.

This project works well for almost any age, from toddlers to teens. You can use a cookie sheet to keep craft supplies from escaping, return to this project multiple times, and make cleanup a breeze. Get your child started on a lifetime of art and giving with this simple project.