Things You'll Need:
- 1 hank Gauge 10 or 11 seed beads, flower color
- 1 spool 24 gauge wire to match the flower beads
- 1 hank same size seed beads, green
- 1 spool green 24 gauge wire
- 1 roll green florist tape
- wire cutters
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Step 1
Stringing the beads. Transfer three strings of beads onto its corresponding wire. You can do this by pinching the beads off the strings and then feeding them onto the wire, or pouring the beads into a shallow bowl and picking them up with the end of the wire. Remember to "crimp" or knot the end of the wire to prevent the beads from falling off.
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Step 2
Forming the petals and leaves. Do this with both the flower color and the green beads. Make five or six of the flower color, and one leaf. Move ten beads to within about 3 inches of the end of the wire. Make a deep loop under these beads and twist a few times. Move more beads in and snug them up against the wire just above the loop. Bend this beaded wire up along the first set of beads. Wrap this wire once around the top wire just above the first set of beads. Turn the piece over and come back towards the loop with more beaded wire. Wrap again. The piece now has 3 rows. Continue in this fashion until you have 7 rows. Then flatten the loop, wrap the bare spool wire down to the bottom of the flattened loop, and cut all the wires. Crimp the spool wire. Cut all but 1/4" off the top wire and bend the nib down behind the beads.
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Step 3
Make the center with the green beads and wire. Leave about 2 inches of bare wire; then take about 20 beads and make a tight self-loop. Make ten self-loops on the same piece of wire. Bunch the loops, twist the wires together and cut off at the bottom. Crimp the spool wire.
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Step 4
Taping the wires. Slightly stretch the floral tape until it becomes light green. Wrap tightly around the stemwires of each piece, using as little tape as possible to make a narrow stem.
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Step 5
Assembling the flower. Start the tape just under the beads of the center. Wrap 1 1/2 times. Now add in the first flower petal and wrap 1 1/2 times again. Continue in this fashion until all petals are added. Now turn the tape diagonally down the stem and continue srapping. When you are about 1 inch down the stem, add the leaf. Wrap all the way to the bottom and tear the tape off. You've made a bead flower!
Comments
krazykatlady614 said
on 2/14/2009 Just a quick note; seed beads are not categorized by "gauge". They are categorized by "size". Size 10 or 11 seed beads. If you have the type of font that you can use the degree sign, that means "ought" which goes right after the number. Gauge is mainly used for wire. Just so as not to confuse the beginner beaders out there.
goodselfme said
on 2/4/2009 Sounds like a pretty finished flower.5*