You're Gonna BUY That? Make it Yourself!: Beaded Holiday Decorations

Has anyone other than me, myself and I drooled over holiday decorations (while frantically writing down descriptions and taking pictures) as soon as they are placed on the shelves.  After all, why on earth would I spend $10 - $50 on something I'm sure I can make myself!  I see you all shaking your heads at me.  Yes, I realize it wouldn't be just that small amount because, of course, you need to have lots of each of them in order to make things look "right", not to mention all the accessories that you need to keep the themed look flowing throughout your entire tree, room, house, neighborhood........ (you get my drift here, right?)

How easy are beaded garlands..... I mean really!  I made mine by taking jewelery wire and stringing beads of various sizes on it, making sure to "loop" the ends and seal them with a crimp bead.  I used silver seed beads to make the smallest strings, some red shiny bugle beads I had left to make some accent garlands, and some Czech glass beads in various sizes of the same color to make a fancier garland.   I KNOW I saved myself a couple of hundred dollars - I just KNOW I did!

And don't talk to me about those beautiful beaded icicles that dangled from all the fancy display trees.  I took some more jewelry wire, found my stash of different sized AB and clear Swarovski crystals and strung them, smallest on the bottom to the largest on top.  I also had some unused head pins that allowed me to make some in different sizes and still allow them to hang nicely on the branches of my tree.

To top it all off - I went a little crazy (I know you all think I am already!) and made beaded snowflakes.... take that Martha!  I love the look of these.  I've placed the pattern in our ATA girls store, and have also placed some of the extras I made up for sale (have to support the beading habit after all!).

I've already found the cool decorations I'm planning on making this year.... wait until you see it! The craft table will be busy making these cool things - not to mention the egg ornaments, steampunk ornaments, holiday cards, paintings, and who knows what else will come to mind before the holidays.

Did I mention the 10 dozen cookies that will need to be made too.   I think I need a clone!

Dani