DIY Christmas Ornaments | Beaded Christmas Wreath

Okay, so this beaded Christmas wreath is one of my favorite DIY Christmas ornaments with beads, and I kind of can’t stop looking at it. It’s a mini wreath, but instead of pine and berries, it’s made entirely of faceted crystal beads, sparkly, colorful, and just the right amount of extra for the holidays.

Beaded Christmas wreath ornament hanging against wood with a red velvet bow and three dangling gold bells — The three tiny bells hang inside the finished bead wreath. (Image credit: Sueeye)

Funny enough, this project started as a “let me use up my leftover beads” situation. I had a bunch sitting around from past projects, the kind you keep telling yourself you’ll use “eventually.” I grabbed a few more beads and some little embellishments to round things out, figuring I’d just see what happened. What happened was this wreath ornament, and honestly, it turned out so much better than I expected.

Hand holding a handmade Christmas wreath ornament covered in green, red, gold and clear faceted crystal beads — The finished beaded wreath ornament is small enough to hold in one hand. (Image credit: Sueeye)

It’s got that classic wreath shape, a little red bow, tiny gold bells for good measure, and enough sparkle to make your tree jealous of your ornament collection. It’s simple to make, doesn’t require any fancy tools, and it’s a great way to give those leftover beads a second life instead of letting them rattle around in a drawer until next December.

If you’ve got beads lying around (or an excuse to buy new ones, no judgment), this one’s worth trying. Scroll down for the full step-by-step.

RELATED: More DIY Christmas ornaments

Craft Supplies Needed:

Metal rings, 4-inch diameter
Faceted crystal beads
Teardrop beads
Jewelry wire, 0.3mm or 0.6mm
Scissors or cutter
Ribbon
Mini bells
Thread
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Metallic elastic cord or ribbon, for hanging

Shop the Supplies

Here are the main supplies we used for this beaded Christmas wreath, so you can grab the same ones and get straight to crafting.

Metal Rings

Set of thin gold four-inch metal craft rings used as the round base for beaded Christmas wreath ornaments — A 4-inch metal craft ring forms the base of the ornament. (Image credit: Sueeye)

Shop These Metal Rings

Teardrop Crystal Beads

Shop These Teardrop Beads

Metallic Elastic Cord

Shop This Metallic Cord

DIY beaded Christmas wreath ornament with a silver hanging loop, velvet bow and three bells on a red background — A metallic loop makes the finished bead wreath ready to hang. (Image credit: Sueeye)

*Some of the supply links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

DIY Christmas Wreath Using Beads

Learn how to make a handmade Christmas wreath using faceted crystal beads!

Step 1: String the Beads on Jewelry Wire

Cut a long piece of jewelry wire. It’s better to cut it longer than you need, since you’d rather have too much than too little. Extra length means you can trim the excess later, and it’s hard to join two wire ends together if you run short.

For the wire gauge, you can use either 0.3mm or 0.6mm. The 0.3mm is easier to bend and wrap but snaps more easily. The 0.6mm is just as easy to wrap, but since it’s thicker, it can be harder to lock in place.

For the metal rings, you can use any size you want, but for this project I used 4-inch diameter metal rings. Wrap one end of the wire onto the ring; if it has a hanging hole like the one I’m using, lock the wire into that hole.

On the other end of the wire, start inserting the beads in whichever order and colors you like. Push the beads down until they reach the base of the wire.

Hands anchor jewelry wire to a metal ring, string faceted crystal beads and slide the first beads toward the base — Anchor the jewelry wire, string the beads and push them toward the ring. (Image credit: Sueeye)

Step 2: Wrap the Beaded Wire Around the Ring

Once you have a long enough wire filled with beads to work with, start carefully wrapping it around the metal ring. This is the tricky part, as the beads tend to shift around and may not go in the direction you want. Also, make sure you’re always pushing the beads firmly together.

Long strand of green and clear crystal beads being wrapped tightly around a round gold metal ornament ring — Keep the beads close together while wrapping the filled wire around the ring. (Image credit: Sueeye)

Step 3: Add the Bells, Bow and Hanger

When you reach the end (the base, or wherever you started), lock the wire in place and adjust the wrapped beads as needed. Once that’s done, make a small bow from a piece of ribbon, then tie 3 mini bells with a thread. Tie the bells onto the top of the wreath ornament, then add a metallic elastic cord or ribbon for hanging, and hot glue the bow over the top.

Hands secure the last beads, shape a red velvet bow and add three gold bells to finish the wreath ornament — Secure the wire, add the bells and hanger, then glue the velvet bow over the top. (Image credit: Sueeye)

Pro Tip

Cut the jewelry wire longer than you think you need, and keep the beads pushed firmly together while you wrap. Extra wire can be trimmed after both ends are locked in place.

Crystal bead Christmas wreath ornament with a red bow and three miniature gold bells arranged on red felt — Green and clear crystal beads give this handmade wreath ornament plenty of sparkle. (Image credit: Sueeye)

FAQs

What size ring should I use for a beaded wreath ornament?

I used a 4-inch metal ring for this ornament. You can use a different size, but the amount of wire and number of beads will change with the ring.

What jewelry wire works best for this bead wreath?

Use 0.3mm or 0.6mm jewelry wire. The 0.3mm wire bends and wraps more easily but can snap sooner. The 0.6mm wire is sturdier and takes a little more work to lock in place.

Can I make this ornament with leftover beads?

Yes. This project started with leftover beads, and you can mix faceted beads in any color order you like. Keep the bead sizes close enough that the wrapped wreath stays even.

How do I stop the beads from shifting while I wrap the ring?

Push the beads firmly together as you work and wrap the filled wire slowly around the metal ring. Adjust each section before moving to the next one.

How do I hang the finished beaded wreath ornament?

Tie metallic elastic cord or narrow ribbon into a loop at the top of the ring. Add the three bells first, then hot glue the velvet bow over the knots for a clean finish.

Do I have to use teardrop beads?

No. Teardrop beads add extra shape and sparkle, but faceted round beads work too. Use the bead colors and shapes you already have, as long as they fit your jewelry wire.