Description
This beaded Nutcracker ornament measures about 4″ (10cm) high. So, keep reading to find out about the materials and techniques you will need…
Materials
For my beaded Nutcracker ornament, I used all size 11 Delicas. You need five colours:
- red
- black
- white
- gold
- skin colour
Then, I used size 15 seed beads to add the facial details. You only need a few grams of beads in each colour. So, you may well have these in your stash already. If not, you can check out my beading supplies department here>>
The pattern includes the actual colour numbers that I used.
This project will also work in other sizes of seed bead. So, if you’re not a fan of Delicas, don’t worry. You just need to make sure that you use beads that are all the same brand, so they sit together properly. Naturally, using different seed beads or brands will change the size a little. So, if you want to find out more about that, check out this blog>>
Experience and Techniques
This is an intermediate to advanced project. You are going to be working in Peyote stitch. I have assumed you are already familiar with the techniques. So, you will be using:
- tubular and circular peyote
- peyote increases
- peyote decreases
- a tiny bit of odd count peyote
If you need to refresh your mind, or learn, any of these techniques, I have free tutorials that you can download.
About the Beaded Nutcracker Ornament
This year, I have been taking part in a little challenge to bead a Christmas ornament for each month of the year. Ideally, I should have beaded one a month. But happily, the challenge didn’t require that! So, in some months I have made several ornaments and in others, none.
I found myself at December and with just 11 ornaments made, what could I do for the final month? Well, if you know my beaded Christmas collection, you’ll know I’ve covered an awful lot of ideas already.
But, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without the Nutcracker. Weirdly, this is something I’ve never made before. So, I decided it was time to bring you a beaded Nutcracker ornament.
This one doesn’t actually work (although I will try to make one that does for next year!). But he will be really cute hanging on your Christmas tree. Or, you can also use him just as a little festive soldier.
