How to Make Beaded Wire Flower Hair Pins

Transform tiny beads into colorful flowers for your hair.

Decorate a simple bobby pin with a handmade beaded wire flower to create your own custom hair pins. Make several of the pins to add "oomph" to your summer wardrobe, or wrap a matching pair of the pins in a small box to give as a gift. You'll find all of the necessary supplies at any craft store and once you master the technique, experiment with different types of beads to invent your own designs.

Things You'll Need

• Craft wire
• Scissors
• Beads
• Needle-nose pliers
• Bobby pin

Instructions

1. Cut a 12-inch length of craft wire with scissors or wire snips. Use a gauge 24, 26 or 28 wire to ensure it is strong enough to hold the shape of your beaded flowers.

2. Thread seed beads onto the wire until the beads cover a 1 1/2-inch section near the middle of the wire.

3. Bend the bead-covered area of the wire to form a petal and twist the wire together with needle-nose pliers where the seed beads end. This forms the first petal of your beaded flower.

4. Add 1 1/2-inches of beads to either side of the first petal. Shape and twist the wire to another petal. Continue adding beads and form additional petals until you have a flower with five petals.

5. Thread a larger bead onto one of the ends of the wire and push it down so it rests at the center of the flower petals. Arrange the petals and the center bead until you are happy with the appearance of your beaded flower.

6. Twist the ends of the wire together tightly at the bottom of the flower with pliers.

7. Thread one end of the wire through the curved end of a bobby pin. Twist both ends of the wire together again to secure the beaded wire flower to the bobby pin.

8. Trim the ends of the wire with wire snips or scissors to finish your beaded wire flower hair pin.

References

• Martha Stewart: Beaded Hair Ornaments