Sequins Ornaments
We had a sequins ornament on our Christmas tree when I was little and I was just thinking about it recently. I decided to see if I could make one myself! The design will vary, but here are the basics for making your very own sequins and bead ornament! It really looks wonderful with the Christmas tree lights :)
What You'll Need
What you end up using will vary, but here are the basics to get you started.
Supplies:
- Sequins
- use size and color of choice. I got the variety pack shown which had 5 colors in 4 different sizes. I organized them all (because I'm crazy) and used the ones I designated as the "large" which were about 5mm or 7mm.
- Sequin Pins
(3/4 inch pins)
- Seed Beads
- I use what came in this kit
- Styrofoam Balls
(I used 2 1/2 inch, but use what you want/can find)]
- Ribbon
(I'm really sad this didn't start with "S")
- Glue (optional)
- Marker
Getting Started With the Basics
Okay, let's familiarize ourselves with the basics of how to do this.
This can vary, of course. I debated layering beads and sequins of different sizes and you can do that. I want to try that, but for now I stuck with 1 bead and 1 sequins per.
This can vary, of course. I debated layering beads and sequins of different sizes and you can do that. I want to try that, but for now I stuck with 1 bead and 1 sequins per.
- Take a bead and put it on a pin. Make sure it fits and will go all the way to the flat end. If it doesn't, it will stick off the ball to much and might break, that happened to me.
- Place the sequins where you want it on the ball. This can sometimes be a pain and sometimes it makes it easier (especially if you want it tucked under other sequins.
- Hold the head of the pin and the bead in one hand. Stick it through the center of the sequins.
- Push it all the way down as straight as you can and try not to move it around. It can sometimes slip and tear the ball a bit, but you should be fine as long as you don't do this over and over again and tear the Styrofoam ball apart.
- Do this over and over again in your pattern of choice.
- Okay, now that you know how, lets go ahead and plan the design first!
- Tip: I think the traditional is to put the sequins on is bowl down so it hugs the ball. But one idea is to do the background like that and then do the design with the bowl up to give it even more definition. I did mine with all the bowls facing the ball.
Planning and Filling in the Background
I found that planning the design ahead of time produces the best results (see next step for my first try).
One option is to just go for it. Stick beads and sequins in everywhere, however you want. This is good for younger people. Much easier. I decided to try to do something a little planned out.
Tip: Don't try to put pins through other sequins (not the sequins holes, but the sequins itself). It won't work and you'll wreck everything!
One option is to just go for it. Stick beads and sequins in everywhere, however you want. This is good for younger people. Much easier. I decided to try to do something a little planned out.
- Do your best to find the opposite ends, this is just nice for planning. I found the 4 quadrants of the sphere just in case, but I only really need to find the two ends to center my design.
- Using a marker, draw on your design (use a marker, a pen or pencil will indent the ball). This isn't going to show once the sequins are on.
- Start by filling in the background of your design. If you do the background first, your design will stick out better because you will see the full sequins pieces of the design. If you do the design first (as you can sort of see in my first one in the next step) it will get partially covered when you are doing the background because you want to cover as much of the ball as you can, and that involves overlapping sequins.
- When you get to your design lines, just skip over them. Fill in as much as the background as you can, but make sure you have left enough room so a sequins can fit in. You can just set one on to make sure. It will need to fit between all the pins/beads.
- Once you have your background filled in, you can move on to fill in the design.
Tip: Don't try to put pins through other sequins (not the sequins holes, but the sequins itself). It won't work and you'll wreck everything!
First Try
So for my first go, I was like, Oh do the design, then fill in the background. No, don't do that. If you do you will cover the design. Also, if you use gold and silver only, you tend to lose the design. When I finished this one, you can see it in the background of the main picture (I didn't get a good finished picture of it, shame on me), you can see it is hard to see the pattern. But you can see it now above.
I actually think the coloring and design wouldn't have been so bad if I had filled in the background first and then did the design.
I actually think the coloring and design wouldn't have been so bad if I had filled in the background first and then did the design.
Design Time!
Time to fill in the design!
This should be pretty easy depending on the design, but now you just want to fill in. I did my designs all in one color, but this could be different for you.
When it came time to fill in the border, I started right next to what would be the center of the top. Then I went down and around and stopped with space to put one more sequins open.
Now you can attach your ribbon to hang it.
This should be pretty easy depending on the design, but now you just want to fill in. I did my designs all in one color, but this could be different for you.
When it came time to fill in the border, I started right next to what would be the center of the top. Then I went down and around and stopped with space to put one more sequins open.
Now you can attach your ribbon to hang it.
- Cut off a piece of ribbon and fray check the ends if you would like.
- Take two of your pins and pin down both ends of the ribbon leaving the very center open.
- Take one pin, put on a bead and get one last sequins.
- Put the sequins on and put the pin through the middle making sure you don't hit the other wins. Now, you can glue this last sequins down if you like, but the two extra pins should hold down the ribbon and prevent the top sequins from coming off. But, don't grab and pull it or anything.
Hang It!
and enjoy!
More Sequins Ornaments!
Check out these other fun sequins ornaments!