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Hey there, fellow craft enthusiasts! I hope you’re all feeling merry and bright because today, I’m about to share a delightful DIY project that will add some ice-skating flair to your Christmas tree. Get ready to craft your very own dazzling ice skater bead ornament with just a few simple supplies!
So in cooking blog style I have to give a little bit of background for this craft. When I was 7 or 8 my grandma taught me how to make these ornaments, and one winter she, me, and my similarly aged cousins sat together around her table and crafted pipe cleaner Christmas ice skaters, that my grandma would hang on her tree for decades ever after. When she passed away, I was gifted one of her cherished ice skaters (pink because that was her favorite color). And it just seems right to share the gift of this sweet and simple craft.
To get started, you’ll need a few key supplies, you can easily find all the pieces you need on Amazon (linked below), or if you’re looking for a convenient all-in-one package, I’ve put together a few Ice Skater Craft Kits in my Etsy shop.
Supplies Needed:
• Sparkly Pipe Cleaners (10″ strand and 8″ strand – You’ll have to cut them down)
• Yarn (for hair)
• Face/Head Bead (I used ones sized at 0.787″ (2 cm) diameter)
• Spaghetti Beads (6 Needed)
• 6MM beads (3 Needed)
• 1 Fuzzy Pipe Cleaner (your choice of color) cut so you have to thick fuzzy bits a little over 2″ long
• Starburst Beads (5 Needed)
• Tri-shaped Beads – 2 colors (4 of each)
• String (if you want to make it into an ornament)
Kits with all this ready to go can be found in my PrintUnicorn Etsy Shop here.
Instructions for making an Ice Skater Bead Ornament
Step 1) Pick your hair color from the yarn (or mix together a few). Take your chosen yarn color and wrap it around a card or your fingers until you have about 6″ long strands (3″ when it’s folded in half)
Wrap it about 13 times (if you do more or its too thick it won’t fit into the bead head well). Then take the 8″ pipe cleaner and fold it in half so you can find the middle of it. (If you want to make this an ornament, add the ornament hanging string to your pipe cleaner before you wrap it around the hair threads)
Wrap the pipe cleaner securely around one end of the yarn as close to the middle of your pipe cleaner as you can. Once the yarn is securely tied at one end with the pipe cleaner, take a pair of scissor and cut the yarn on the opposite side. This will make the dolls hair. 
Step 2) Take your yarn pipe cleaner and the bead with the face. Thread both ends of your pipe cleaners through the top of the dolls head and pull the ends as tightly as you can out the bottom.
Step 3) Get a wooded 6mm bead and put both end of the pipe cleaner through it to make the dolls neck.
Step 4) Take the 10″ pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Then separate the two ends of the pipe cleaner under the dolls neck and put the middle of the new pipe cleaner between then, then wrap the neck pipe clean to hold it gently in place.
Step 5) Take a colored sunburst beads and put both ends of the new/longer pipe cleaner though them and push them up until they are right under the neck.
Step 6) Take one of the colored tri-pointed beads and repeat step five. Add tri-pointed beads in alternating colors until you’ve added 8 of them total.
Step 7) Take one of the long white spaghetti beads and put it on one of the arm pipe cleaners, followed by a colored sunburst bead, then add another small wooden bead for the hand. Bend any remaining pipe cleaner around the hand bead. Repeat for the other side.
Step 8) Take one of the leg pipe cleaners and add two of the spaghetti beads to it, followed by a sunburst bead, then use the remaining pipe cleaner to form an ice skate shape. Repeat on the other side.
Step 9) Take 1 of the fuzzy colored pipe cleaners and wrap it around your ice skaters waist to form the skirt
Step 10) Take the 2nd fuzzy colored pipe cleaner and wrap it around your ice skaters head to form the headband.
Step 11) Enjoy your Ice Skater!
Once you’ve completed your ice skater bead masterpiece, it’s time to find the perfect spot for it on your Christmas tree, or wrap it up as a sweet handmade gift for your child to give a loved one.
Remember, you have the power to create something extraordinary. So, grab those beads, embrace your creativity, and make your tree a true winter wonderland with this ice skater bead Christmas ornament craft.
Happy crafting, my friends!
P.S. Don’t forget to tag us on social media with #IceSkaterOrnamentMagic. I can’t wait to see what you create!
Grab a Ready To Go Ice Skater Craft Kit Here
