Snowflake Ornament

Designed by Janet Wallace

supplies

• 21-gauge square ½ hard wire (metal)
• 24-gauge craft wire tarnish resistant
• (24) 4mm AB Swarovski bicone crystals
• (56) Large holed round freshwater pearls
• (12) Large holed potato freshwater pearls

tools

• Round Nose Pliers
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Wire Cutters

instructions

1. To make the snowflake pedals, cut two 18-20 in. lengths of 21-guare wire. Curl one end of each length into a small loop with the tips of your round-nosed pliers.


2. Using the round-nosed pliers, bend both lengths into a zig-zag pattern. The height of each zig-zag should be approximately 1 to 1-1/2 in.


3. When all the wire has been used, bring both ends together, forming a circular shape, and thread one end of your wire through the first loop to secure. You should now have two snowflake pedals that are approximately the same size.


4. To form your snowflake pedals into a more pleasing shape, squeeze the very ends of each petal with the flat-nosed pliers.


5. Open the centers by placing the pliers inside each petal shape and spread the middle of the snowflake pedals outwards.


6. Take both wire snowflakes and place one on top of the other.


7. Bind and secure these together, by weaving the 28-gauge craft wire around the centers.


8. Cut 6 pcs (2 1/2”) long of your 21-gauge square wire. Curl one end of the wire into a small loop, string on your large holed freshwater pearls (1 potato pearl, and 8 round pearls). Attach to the center circle of your snowflake – distribute your six pcs around the center.


9. Next – you will need to string on your (6) crystals and (1) potato pearl onto your craft wire. With you round nose pliers – wrap your craft wire around the small end of the round nose pliers into a coil like shape, next string on your potato pearl, followed by (6) crystals. Distribute these between your pearl strings that you attached in Step 6.


10. The last thing I did was to bend the crystal wires toward the center of the snowflake. This gives the snowflake a 3-D look.


11. Attach a small ribbon to one of the pedals and hang. Place it in the sunlight – the crystals catch the light and are quite beautiful.