How to Use Beads to Make Outdoor Hanging Decor

Bead Spinners

• 1

  Gather together an assorted collection of large beads for this project. Round, square or diamond-shaped beads ¼ inch to 1 inch in diameter work well. You may mix and match shapes and colors as long as the colors coordinate.

• 2

  Nip a piece of craft wire about twice as long as you want your finished spinner to be. For example, for a 10-inch spinner, nip a piece of wire about 20 inches long.

• 3

  Fold down the last inch of the wire and twist it into a loop.

• 4

  Slip your beads onto the wire in the pattern of your choice. As you string the beads, leave about some slack between the top loop and the first bead by bending the wire into a very small Z-shape 1 inch from the loop. Do the same between the bottom bead and the end of the wire.

• 5

  Twist the end of the wire into a tight coil to prevent the beads from falling off. You may press the coil against the bottom bead to hide it or let it dangle as a decoration.

• 6

  Wrap the entire beaded wire around a soup can.

• 7

  Push the beaded coils together and gently slip them off of the soup can.

• 8

  Gently twist the first few and last few coils to make them smaller. The center coils should be the largest.

• 9

  Hang the spinner where the wind can turn it.

Beaded Danglers

• 10

  Gather together enough beads to form a line at least 2 feet long. You may choose beads based on color, like autumn colors, or shape, such as alternating circles and squares. A third option involves arranging the beads by size.

• 11

  Line up your beads on your work surface, arranging and rearranging them until you create a pattern pleasing to you. Select a charm or large glass bead to serve as the bottom of the dangler and weigh it down.

• 12

  Snip a length of fishing line about 26 inches long.

• 13

  Tie one end of the line around your bottom bead or charm and slip the rest of the beads onto the line in your predetermined pattern.

• 14

  Tie the other end of your line onto a 1-inch jump ring to finish the dangler.

• 15

  Hang it wherever you can see it sparkle the most. As a decorative touch, make danglers in different lengths and hang them in rows along your porch roof. You may also place them in ornamental trees for added sparkle.