Design Tip Achives:
 Wedding Cake Beads, Rainbow of Colors, Focal Beads, Leaf Beads Part 1, Leaf Beads Part 2, Earth Tones, Beaded Tree Ornaments, Heart Designs, The Meaning of Colors, Mix and Match Beads, Oval Beads, Flower Designs Part 1, Flower Designs Part 2, Cane Glass, Mobiles and Home Decor, Fish Beads Provide Fall Color, Bright Halloween Colored Beads, Colorful Fall Beads

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Decorate Yourself
With Holiday Beads

  By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

 

  "At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year." -- Thomas Tusser


‘Tis the season to be festive -- so while you are decking the halls, don't forget to do a little ‘decking' for yourself and for your friends with lovely holiday beads.

 
A good supply of firepolished beads in holiday shades is essential for creating festive designs.

Dark ruby, cranberry, bright red, grass green and emerald shades are the most common choices, but crystal clear and blue are other options for unique designs. Beads with an Aurora Borealis finish are great for holiday pieces -- they add extra color and sparkle.

 

Don't forget a supply of pressed glass stars to use. Whether they are topping Christmas trees or shining bright in the East, stars have a special meaning this time of year. Beads don't have to be star-shaped to be special, especially when they are hand-painted with starry sparkles and a sweet smile against a midnight-blue background. Yellow opaque beads, midnight blue beads, and golden accents are good matches for these beads to provide a bright and unique holiday design.

Hand-painted beads can evoke the same sentiments as vintage hand-painted Christmas ornaments. It is the thought that an artist took the time and care to make each bead individually, and the feeling that each one is special, since no two ever seem to be exactly alike.

Combine these beautiful beads with rich gold or shining silver accent beads, and add facetted firepolished beads or druks in shades of ruby or emerald. Black beads can really make the detail of the hand-painted design stand out and get noticed.

Rich red hearts take on an even more elegant holiday mood when combined with hand-painted golden diagonals. These hearts would find their perfect match in elegant gold accent beads or bails. A romantic Christmas holiday heart will also be a perfect accessory for a New Year's Eve party, and a Valentine's evening out.

A peaceful white blossom blooms in perfect harmony with its eye-catching red background. Golden sparkles outline the blossom's petals and leafy details. This bead is so pretty for the holidays, and so perfect for anyone who loves flowers.

Shiny green and vibrant blue flowers on a red background are perfect for brightening a drippy, dreary winter's day. Combine these with beads in matching colors for a bold look, or make one of these bright creations the focal bead in a piece made of opaque black beads.

 

Red and green, the holiday classics, get extra sparkle and elegance with hand-painted gold details.

Of course, having plenty of gold accent beads on hand is a must for creating rich, shining designs with these uniquely-shaped beauties.

Pressed glass Christmas trees with gold accents are great for seasonal styles. I have seen them in opaque shades of grass green and luster white. Other translucent styles are dark emerald, ruby red, light topaz, and crystal clear luster.

Whether they are combined with a simple druk or a lampworked swirl bead, these little trees are as cute as can be.

 

 

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