Holly Bloggy Christmas Crafts: Beaded Mouse Ornaments

For day 3 of the Holly Bloggy we are sharing crafts! If you have a Christmas craft to share, be sure to link up over at Heidi's blog: Blue Eyed Blessings. And don't forget to come back here tomorrow to share your Christmas recipes!

I've had a lot going on at our house in the last few weeks, and I didn't have the time to make anything new, but I really wanted to post something for the event, so I decided to share these beaded mouse ornaments that I made a while back.

As you know I have a big collection of mouse ornaments. Well, when I found a mouse ornament kit at Wal-Mart I just had to have it! Today I'll be posting a tutorial on how to make your own mice ornaments. Please keep in mind that craft instruction is not my forte, and on top of that I have no photos of the mouse making process.....however I will try my best to make my instructions as clear and easy to follow as possible.

Here's what you need to make one mouse:

23 clear, round beads (4 mm)

3 clear "star" beads (20 mm)

1 clear "star" bead (10 mm)

2 red "star" beads (10 mm)

1 round bead (10 or 12 mm)

1 pipe cleaner

1 piece of string

String one 4mm bead on the pipe cleaner. Loop the end of the pipe cleaner around the bead so that the beads don't fall off. Add one of the red star beads. Add 10 more round beads. Bend the pipe cleaner, making a 90 degree angle. Add the three clear star beads (20mm), followed by the 10mm clear star bead, and then the red star bead. Add the 10mm round bead.

At this point you've made the mouse tail, body, and head. Next add 6 more 4mm beads, and loop the pipe clear around so that it looks like an ear. Twist the pipe cleaner around itself. Then add 6 more beads. Loop the pipe cleaner around again to make the second ear. Then twist the pipe cleaner around itself again, so that it's tight and the beads won't fall off. If you have excess pipe cleaner, use wire cutters to remove it. Then take your string; loop it through the mouse ears and tie it in a knot. Finally bend the tail into your desired shape/position.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you tomorrow for the Christmas Recipe Party!

-Jerri