I have a very different breed of snowflake to share today. I recently donated every last crocheted snowflake I have, plus every last crocheted ornament Autumn, our Sisters of the Snowflake founder, donated to me to donate to Operation Ornaments. One set (of 150 crocheted snowflakes and bells) went to Ruiodoso, New Mexico, just 40 miles from where I grew up and which has been enduring horrific fires and flash floods last year and again this year. The final set (of 92 ornaments) is going to Lahaina, Hawaii, which suffered a devastating fire in 2023.
In the boxes and boxes of stuff Autumn donated to me were a few beaded snowflakes in a kit. There were extra beads, but no pipe cleners. The sister missionaries who've been helping me prepare ornament donations offered to make more beaded ornaments. I just needed to get some pipe cleaners. I bought three more bags of clear plastic beads of various sizes and shapes, too, because, why not? Maybe even I could make a few beaded snowflakes.
We staged a mini ornament-creating party the day before I scheduled to deliver in person everything I have left to (local) Operation Ornaments board member Carol Burton and Operation Ornaments founder Carolyn Nicolaysen. I'd never made pipe cleaner and bead snowflakes before, and there were no instructions. So we winged it. I think we did a GREAT job! And it was fun, too.
I thought it would be fun to share this inspiration with you. (And now I have to get busy and start crocheting more snowflakes!!!)
You may do whatever you'd like with ornaments you make from these instructions, but you may not sell or republish this blog post. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: whatever you decide
Materials: For a snowflake, six pipe cleaners (I bought a whole bag of sparkly silver) and beads of assorted sizes and shapes in multiples of six (the kit we started with had blue and white, and I purchased clear irridescent), optional adhesive-backed snowflake shapes (what we used came in the wide assortment of supplies Autumn donated, but I'm sure they are available at department stores, craft stores or online) or buttons or whatever small decorations that could be attached to snowflake centers, scissors not meant to cut fabric or thread (DO NOT use your sewing or quilting scissors to cut pipe cleaners!!! They will NEVER cleanly cut fabric again if you do!)
NOTE: The sister missionaries also made wreaths, snowmen and other holiday shapes, too. I think the possibilities are endless.
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Instructions
Twist three pipe cleaners tightly in the center. (After my first ornament, I twisted the ornaments one or two inches from the center and used clippings to make ornament hangers for other ornaments and to make smaller snowflakes.)
Begin sliding beads onto pipe cleaners, using six identical beads each round so the spokes will be even. I alternated sizes and shapes, but colors could be alternated, too.
After desired spoke length has been achieved, twist pipe cleaner ends to secure beads in place and clip off five ends. Twist or bend the sixth end into an ornament hanger.
Clippings also may be used to create smaller snowflakes.
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