How-to-make-pearl-snowflake-ornaments

PEARL

SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENTS

These elegant, jeweled snowflake ornaments stand three inches tall. As rich looking as treasures in a jewelry store window, friends will think you bought them at the finest gift shop.

What You’ll Need

•20 clear beads 4mm
• 16 small pearls 6mm
• 4 large pearls 5/8"
• 16" - 20" jewelry wire
• wire cutters
• round and flat nose pliers
• E-6000 glue
• plastic mesh

Costs listed do not include everyday household items like glue, tools, or items costing less than $1.00 per project.

DIRECTIONS:

1.Cut a one inch square of plastic mesh which will roughly be 9 holes. Be sure there are as many squares vertically as there are horizontally. This piece will be the foundation for the snowflake center and will be trimmed later.
2.Cut two pieces of wire 4.5" long. Cut 2 more pieces of wire 3.5" long.
3) Using the round nose pliers, turn one end of each wire to create a small eye or loop on all 4 pieces.
4)Thread beads one of the 4.5" wire as follows: clear bead, small pearl, large pearl, small pearl, clear bead.
5)Thread the remainder of that wire horizontally through the mesh, going into the hole left of center, skipping the center, then coming out the hole right of center. Curve the mesh slightly to help thread the wire without bending it.
6)Thread beads onto the rest of the wire in the reverse order detailed in step #4. Follow the last clear bead with a loop or eye.
7)With another 4.5" piece of wire, follow steps #4 - #6. You will now have the horizontal and vertical stems of your snowflake. Don't worry if they seem slightly crooked, you will have the opportunity to fix them later.
8)Create the remaining two diagonal stems as you did the horizontal and vertical ones, this time threading the beads in this order: clear bead, small pearl, clear bead, small pearl, clear bead. Thread wire through the mesh on the diagonal and slip on the rest of the beads in the same order.
9)Cut away excess mesh with small sharp scissors once all the stems are in place. Be sure you don't cut away any mush supporting the wire.
10)Place a glob of E6000 or other jewelry glue in the center mesh area to secure the mesh and wires. Center 4 small pearls or a large rhinestone over the center glue. When the glue has dried, add pearls or a rhinestone to the center back side of the snowflake.
11)With the glue and mesh dry and firmly in place, gently bend the stems of the snowflake to straighten them if necessary.