Make your Christmas tree truly special this year. Learn how to make these four easy  Craft Wire ornaments. If you have a jig board, this will be a breeze - if you don’t you can always work free-hand. Craft Wire is perfect for creating Christmas décor. From ornaments to pendants, you can make a little Christmas magic.

These ornaments also make lovely gifts. Share the love with your friends and family. The holiday season is a great time for beading and being creative. Make sure you stock up on your  jewelry making supplies before the holidays really kick in. 

Christmas Tree Ornament 

Designer Sara Oehler

Materials
18ga Soft Flex Craft Wire
24ga Soft Flex Craft Wire
8/0 Seed Bead - approx. 22 beads

Tools
Olympus-Lite WigJig
Olympus Super Pegs
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Nylon Tipped Hammer
Cutters

Instructions

Step 1: When using a WigJig, you will make your first loop with your round nose pliers. Place the loop on the small metal peg. Guide the wire around the larger pegs in an "S" shape as you spin the WigJig. When you turn the jig and guide the wire, the jig will make lovely and fluid lines that can be repeated time and time again.

Step 2: Don't forget the importance of work hardening a design after you pop it off of the WigJig. Work hardening your wire actually changes the molecular structure inside the wire. It is the process of manipulating the wire to lock in the design and stiffen the wire so that your design will stay in place. This is a little trickier when there are beads to avoid. Thankfully in this design, I was able to let the beads fall to one side and pound on the other. Also, I straightened the wire with the nylon jaw pliers each time I made a turn on the WigJig. This offered straighter lines and extra work hardening.

Step 3: As another option, you can wire wrap the beads onto the branches so that they look like little twinkling lights. You can use crystals or seed beads. You can use one color or multiple colors. Beads can really make these little trees sparkle! Using Soft Flex Craft Wire in 24 gauge, string several beads of your choice (curl the end to the keep the beads on the wire). Then, simply wire wrap along the branches. So simple and so cute!

Holiday Wire Snowman Ornament 

Designer Sara Oehler

Materials
18ga Soft Flex Craft Wire -15"
28ga Soft Flex Craft Wire - 8"
Ribbon - 6"

Tools
WigJig Olympus-Lite
WigJig Olympus Deluxe Super Pegs
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Cutters
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: First, I like to run my nylon jaw pliers over the Craft Wire to start working the wire to make it more stiff but also to get rid of any bends or kinks as it comes off of the spool. Place the pegs in your WigJig as shown above. Using 15 inches of 18ga Soft Flex Craft Wire, make a loop with round nose pliers. Place the loop on a small metal peg. Guide the wire around the super peg as you spin the WigJig. When you turn the jig and guide the wire, the jig will make lovely and fluid lines that can be repeated time and time again. Continue winding the wire around the pegs until you complete the snowman shape.

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Step 2: Pop the design off of the pegs. It will look a little wonky.

Step 3: Using 8 inches of 28ga Soft Flex Craft Wire, wrap the bottom and middle circles together to create the bottom of the snowman.

Step 4: Using 8 inches of 28ga Soft Flex Craft Wire, wrap the top and middle circles together to create the top of the snowman.

Step 5: Using chain nose pliers, tuck the excess 18ga Craft Wire behind the wire wrapping.

Step 6: Trim the 18ga wire and wrap using the 28ga wire a few more times. Twist the two ends of the 28ga wire on top and bottom, trim excess wire.

Step 7: Using 6 inches of ribbon, tie a single knot between the top and middle circles to create a scarf. Trim for the best look.

Beaded Wire Wreath Ornament 

Designer Sara Oehler

Materials
18ga Non-Tarnish Silver Plated Soft Flex Craft Wire
24ga Non-Tarnish Silver Plated Soft Flex Craft Wire
6-8mm Green Crystal Beads (round or bicone) - 19 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Using 18ga Soft Flex Craft Wire, create a wire wrap loop on one end.

Step 2: Shape the wire into a ring by using a round item. I used a Soft Flex beading wire spool. Wrap the wire around the base of the wire wrapped loop and then shape a second ring around the round object.

Step 3: Wrap the wire around the base of the wire wrapped loop and then shape a third ring around the round object.

Step 4: Wrap the wire around the base of the wire wrapped loop. In this case, I took the wire off of the spool and reconnected.

Step 5: Finish the ring by wrapping the wire around the double wrap loop several times.

Step 6: Using a long length of 24ga Soft Flex Craft Wire, wrap around the wire wrap loop at the base.

Step 7: Wrap the wire around all three 18ga wires. Add a crystal and wrap the wire again. Repeat this 18 times to decorate your wreath with 19 crystals in varying sizes and colors.

Soft Flex Craft Wire Angel Ornament 

Designer Sara Oehler

I really love this little lady. She is made using two gauges of Soft Flex Craft Wire, 18 and 26 gauge.

I made the wire form using 18ga Soft Flex Craft Wire on a WigJig Olympus-Lite.

The shape is a little wonky when it comes off of the jig. But the 26ga wire pulls it all together. You just simply wrap it around the middle several times.

See! She looks great. You can add a hook, stop here and call it good. Or, you can make it extra special and add beads! I used size 11/0 Miyuki seed beads in Gold Bronze Matte.

Again, not too much to explain here. You wrap the wire around the wire form, add beads and wrap the wire again. Rinse and repeat!

Last, but not least, I added a Mocha colored Swarovksi crystal bead as the angel head. She turned out great!

I can't wait to give some of these little babies out as Christmas gifts. This type of project is a great fit for co-workers, friends at church or extended family. Remember, you can make all sorts of helpful shapes on a WigJig, not just angels!

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Sara Oehler (pronounced Ay-ler) is a well-known jewelry designer living in the Bay Area. Sara is the author of several beading books, including her latest title, written with Kristen Fagan, Seed Bead Revolution. She has designed and written for numerous publications including: BeadStyle, Bead&Button, Bead Trends, Stringing, Jewelry in Fashion Trends, Simply Beads, The Flow and Today's Creative Home Arts. Currently, Sara is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Soft Flex Company.Ask Sara Bead Expert
Blog: softflexcompany.com/beading-blog
Email: Sara@SoftFlexCompany.com