How to Make a Bead and Wire Flower

A wire flower with beaded center can be used for adorning greeting cards and envelopes, and for embellishing gifts. It's also a neat way to use beads left over from other projects.

Things You'll Need

• Minimum 12-inch-long florist's wire (or other wire that retains its shape when bent
• 15 beads
• Pliers
• Pen
• Project glue

Instructions

1. Thread the beads onto one end of the wire.

2. Form a circle with the beads. Where the wire end meets the rest of the wire at the top of the bead circle, twist to hold the beads in place. Use the pliers if needed. Take care not to force the beads together too tightly, as you still need space to insert the wire petals.

3. Form semi-circular shapes with the rest of the wire for petals. Start off by taking the long piece of the wire and make a semi-circular-shaped petal that spans the first three beads. Secure the petal in place by looping the petal's wire underneath the wire that holds the beads and in through the center of the circle of beads. To make the flower even more secure, complete another loop of the wire like you have just done. Pull the wire firmly into place with the pliers.

4. Continue around the circle to form the rest of the petals. It is easiest to form the petals around a circular template such as a pen. This will help to form the petal shape and ensure all the petals are the same size.

5. Use the pliers to curl the end of the wire into a fashionable stalk or leaf. Cut off any excess wire.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure that you keep the number of beads corresponding to each petal the same. For example, if you have 20 beads and you want five petals, each petal should cover the distance of four beads.

• Give the flower more of a 3D effect by gently lifting or twisting the petals; the wire will retain the petal shape.

• Use acid-free glue that dries clear to glue the flower to cards, envelopes or gifts.

• Make the flowers as large or as small as you wish by increasing or decreasing the number of beads and length of wire.

References

• The Beading Gem's Journal: Bead and Wire Flower Tutorials