Some of my favourite Hama bead Christmas crafts

If you've been following my blog for a while, then you'll know how much I love crafting with Hama beads. As the children have grown they haven't been used as they used to be, but I still have a Hama bead cupboard in the kitchen and I have some upcoming Hama crafting plans!  

Until then, I'm sharing some of my older Hama bead posts, all with a Christmas theme, in case you are planning some festive crafting for either children or adults.

I love using Hama beads for Christmas decor, and one of my favourite things to make is Hama bead snowflakes. A long time ago I made some Hama bead snowflake bunting, and I'm currently planning some more crafts using the patterns that I created for that post. I've also created some more intricate Hama bead snowflake designs which use transparent beads to keep the structure of the snowflake intact. I've used them as mini embellishments and also to decorate a glass jar lantern.

I really love this colourful Hama bead fairy light bunting. I used a variety of beads from my stash, including a mix of solid and transparent beads, which really makes the fairy lights seem to glow. The pattern is so simple but I think it's really effective, and the finished pieces could also be used as individual hanging decorations as well as bunting.

For a sweet, personalised Hama bead gift I love these little Hama bead Christmas wreath hanging ornaments, which can also be turned into magnets. You just need to make a simple circular frame using a random selection of beads in different shades of green, add a ribbon, and find an image for the centre. I used offcuts from old Christmas cards, or you can also insert a photograph of a loved one.

Another type of ornament are these simple Hama bead bauble tree decorations. I made them with a specially shaped piece at the top which can be used to showcase some festive Christmas ribbon in a large, decorative bow. In the post I have shared the designs for two different shaped baubles.

One of my free Christmas patterns is this collection of mini Christmas themed Hama bead designs which can also be used for other pixel art crafts like cross stitch or diamond painting. I used them to make some tiny embellishments using mini Hama beads which can be used to make pin badges or as decorations for homemade Christmas cards.

I've also shared another take on the Hama bead baubles by using a palette of red and white and some different motifs to create Scandi themed Hama bead baubles. You can find the patterns in the post, and I love how customisable they are. You can make them in any colour you choose to match your decor!

These baubles even went on to inspire a selection of different Scandi themed Hama bead crafts. 

Finally, something from deep in the archives of this blog - my Hama bead Gingerbread House! This project uses the Hama bead house pegboard which is one of my favourite larger boards. You can customise it in so many different ways! This Christmas I definitely need to work on an updated version.

If you would like some more Christmas themed Hama bead craft projects then you may like these older round up posts:

Hama bead Christmas crafts and projects - a selection of festive craft projects using Hama beads for both children and adults.

Hama bead Christmas crafts for adults - more Hama bead festive crafts, but these are particularly aimed at adults with more emphasis given to working with the fiddly mini Hama beads and creating functional and decorative items.

Finally, if you are new to crafting with Hama beads then you might find this post useful - Ironing tips for Hama beads.

Hama bead snowflakes using the midi beads

A couple of years ago I designed some free simple cross stitch snowflake designs and patterns which I used to make a snowflake embroidery hoop piece. I also adapted the pattern so that it could be used for Hama beads, and I used the mini Hama bead snowflake embellishments to decorate a pretty winter snowflake lantern.

This year I thought I'd have a go at making some Hama bead snowflakes using the larger midi beads. As a reminder here's my Hama bead snowflake pattern - it is made using white beads for the snowflake and then transparent beads in the gaps so that the snowflakes can be easily ironed.

The Hama bead snowflakes made with the midi beads measure about 5-6cm in diameter and are very sturdy. 

These snowflakes make great Christmas decorations. I can see them hanging from the ceiling or in a window, or simply stuck across a window with a glue dot.

Because of the hole in the bead they could also be hung with ribbon for a tree ornament, they could be glued to a name card for the Christmas dining table, they could be used as gift tags or to decorate a gift bag, they could be popped inside a Christmas card for a festive surprise. 

They are so simple to make that it would be a great craft to keep children occupied over the Christmas holidays and of course there's no need to stick to white, you could use beads of any colour, maybe glittery beads or in contrasting colours.

Have fun with your Christmas crafting!

Hama bead crafts for Diwali

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I love using my Hama beads to craft for seasonal occasions, and with Diwali approaching I thought I'd share a few Diwali crafts that I've shared on the blog using one of my favourite craft materials - Hama beads!

Hama bead rangoli

Rangoli are decorative floor patterns which are created during Hindu festivals such as Diwali. The designs can be shaped as flowers or petals, or geometric designs can also be used. Rangoli are traditionally created using sand, petals or coloured rice, and welcome the goddess Lakshmi into the home. I used Hama beads to create some geometric rangoli designs using both the smaller and the larger circular Hama bead pegboards. You can find the patterns for these designs by following the links to the original blog post.

The Large Hama bead rangoli designs are very detailed, and use lots of beads. As well as making pretty Diwali decorations they could also be used as coasters for small bowls or plates.

The Small Hama bead rangoli designs use the smallest circular Hama bead pegboard and are the perfect size to use as coasters for small glasses. They would also make great bunting, or could be stuck to walls or windows as Diwali decor.

Hama bead diwa lamps

During Diwali, small lamps called diwa lamps are lit to symbolise the triumph of light over dark or good over evil. My Hama bead diwa lamps use a very simple pattern on the basic square Hama bead pegboard, and can be customised in all sorts of different colours and patterns depending on which beads you have available in your stash. You can find the pattern by following the link to the original blog post above.

I made some simple stands for my lamps so that they can be stood upright. 

If you are looking for more Diwali crafts then you might like this post - Simple Diwali crafts for children.

If you are teaching your young children about Diwali, here are some books that they might enjoy:

The Best Diwali Ever (affiliate link) - A heart warming picture book about Diwali, siblings and how very special this celebration can be.

Diwali colouring book for kids (affiliate link) - A simple coloring book for young children, suitable for ages 2-5. Contains all sorts of things to colour including lamps, fireworks, candles, lanterns, food & rangoli patterns.

First Festivals: Diwali (affiliate link) - Featuring simple text, gorgeous illustrations and satisfying lift-the-flaps, this book explores common Diwali traditions and helps young children understand the importance of this special holiday.

Mr Men and Little Miss Happy Diwali (affiliate link) - The five-day festival of lights is celebrated by millions of people across the world and the Mr Men and Little Miss can't wait to join in. They're busy cleaning their homes, creating Rangolis, lighting lamps and enjoying all the festivities, including large feasts that Mr Greedy is particularly looking forward to. It’s going to be a busy five days of light and laughter!

Hama bead diwas for Diwali, with stands

Today I'm sharing a simple Diwali craft using one of my craft materials - Hama beads! Diwa are small oil lamps which are traditionally lit during the festival of Diwali. They symbolise the triumph of light over dark and good over evil. My Hama bead lamps are all made using the same simple template but can be customised using different colours and patterns.

Here is the pattern that I used for my lamps:

And here are the finished Hama bead pieces. They are made on the square Hama bead pegboard, and can be displayed facing in either direction. If you are new to crafting with Hama beads then you might find this post helpful - Ironing tips for Hama beads. 

I decided that my Hama bead diwas would look best if they were standing up for display. You can buy simple Hama bead stands, and I've put a link to some at the bottom of the post. I have a few around that I've collected as part of various sets, but they are quite expensive, and it's very easy to make your own simple stands using Hama beads. 

The pattern for a Hama bead stand is below. You can use beads in colours which co-ordinate with your projects. Smaller designs may stand up with just the one stand if you are careful, but generally you'll want two stands per item.

This photograph shows my two homemade stands at the top, compared with one of the Hama branded stands underneath. My stands work just as well as the official ones, but the items will stand slightly higher off the ground. I don't think it's noticeable though, and the homemade stands are also easier to use when it comes to sliding in the beaded projects.

Here are my finished Hama bead diwa lamps! They will look lovely on the mantelpiece this Diwali alongside our simple salt dough diwa lamps.

If you are looking for more Diwali craft ideas then you might enjoy this post - Simple Diwali crafts for young children.

Simple Hama bead heart coaster

The children might be growing up, but I still have plenty of Hama beads in the house! I was looking through the stash the other day and noticed that I had an abundance of red, white and pink beads and so I decided to make a simple Valentine's Day craft. 

The design for this Valentine's Day Hama bead coaster is based on my colourful mini Hama bead heart picture which lives above my desk. I used four of the heart squares to make the coaster, along with a single line of beads for the border.

The coaster is just the right size to sit under a mug for my morning cup of tea. It also makes a nice Valentine's Day decoration by itself, I think this heart design is simple but really effective.

I have plenty of Hama bead project ideas on my blog. If you are looking for more Valentine's Day Hama bead crafts then you might like this post:

Hama bead crafts for Valentine's Day

Making frames for pictures using Hama beads

 

Over the years on my blog I've shared many Hama bead crafts and projects, and some of my favourites are the Hama bead frames. I really like Hama bead projects with a practical purpose and I have lots of frames on display with my favourite photographs and postcards. Here are some of my favourites, click on the link for a full tutorial:

Hama bead heart frames

These heart frames are made using the large Hama bead heart pegboard which is a really versatile pegboard.

Hama bead photo frames

These simple frames are made using a square pegboard. For a larger frame can link official Hama bead pegboards together using slots at sides so you can make them as large as you like, or until your bead stash runs out! My favourite is the car themed frame with tiny cars which stick to the front of the frame.

Hama bead summer themed frame designs

These frames have a summer theme, with bright colours and one with an extra flower embellishment.

Hama bead Roman mosaic border ideas

We made these Roman frames when we were having a Roman themed day. This one uses the large circular pegboard and you can also see some designs using the square pegboard.

Hama bead Easter egg frames

Finally I used the large Easter egg pegboard to make these Easter themed frames. We stuck coloured tissue paper to the back to use them as seasonal suncatchers in the window.

Happy Hama bead crafting!

Simple Easter crafts for toddlers

With Easter and the Easter holidays fast approaching, today I'm sharing some of my favourite Easter crafts for toddlers and young children. Some of the very earliest crafts that I shared on this blog were Easter crafts, and so it's quite nostalgic for me looking back at them! Even though my children are a little bit older now I think that they would still enjoy some of these crafts and activities, especially the papier mache bowls and the Mini Egg cookies!

Click on the links to find a full tutorial.

Papier mache gift bowls

For these papier mache bowls I used some small plastic bowls from Ikea as a template. This is a fun craft that can provide some craft time each day over several days, as there are several different steps to the process. When finished they make a lovely Easter gift filled with Easter chocolates, or they can be used to store small items in the bathroom or bedroom.

Simple paper plate baskets

All you need to make these little baskets is a paper plate, a stapler and a strip of cardboard for the handle. We painted ours and decorated them with fake flower petals, then the children had fun collecting flowers and grass in the garden. You could also use them as personalised gift baskets for Easter.

Easter bunny egg holders and Easter chick egg holders

These simple bunnies and chicks are made from old cardboard tubes and they are the perfect size to hold a small egg like a Cadbury Creme Egg or similar. I remember making these for family members as Easter gifts when I was little!

Easter sensory tub

I loved putting together sensory tubs for my children when they were toddlers, I made them on all sorts of different themes. This Easter sensory tub has plenty of rice dyed in bright colours then coloured pom poms, shredded paper, tiny Easter chick toys and some spoons. In a plastic tub along with an old egg box and some plastic eggs there is plenty to keep young children busy!

Hama bead Easter egg suncatchers

If you read this blog regularly you'll know how much I love crafting with Hama beads! These Easter egg suncatchers use the large Hama bead Easter Egg pegboard to make frames which are then filled with coloured scraps of tissue paper. You could also use the frame for an Easter drawing or photograph.

If you like crafting with Hama beads then you might also enjoy this post - Easter crafts using Hama beads.

Mini Egg cookies

Finally a delicious Easter recipe! These Easter Mini Egg cookies are very easy to make and don't need an egg. I make them all the time with different chocolate but the Mini Eggs are definitely my favourite.

Happy Easter crafting!

Hama bead Minecraft Easter egg designs

With the Easter holidays coming up, Hama beads are a great craft and activity to keep the children occupied for a little while. If you are trying to get your children to take a break from playing Minecraft on their screen, then these Minecraft themed Easter egg designs are a great way to keep them busy along with improving fine motor and concentration skills.

My Minecraft themed Hama bead designs are created using a square pegboard and the midi Hama beads, which are the size of bead that are most commonly available. You can find links to the products required at the bottom of this post. 

Most of the bead colours that you will need should be found in a mix of solid beads (different packs vary with regard to the colours available) but you will probably need to purchase the flesh coloured beads separately. Hobbycraft also sell their own range of fuse beads called Picture Beads which are good quality and also work well - and here you can buy a pack of more varied flesh toned beads.

Below are the patterns that I used for my Minecraft Easter eggs. Made on the square pegboard they are quite simple and older children should be able to follow them without too much trouble. 

There are designs for a pig, skeleton, player, creeper, enderman and sheep. 

When it comes to ironing, children will need the help of an adult. If you are new to Hama beads I have written a post with some ironing tips for Hama beads which I would recommend giving a read. I like to iron my designs on both sides so that the beads are firmly fused together, and I like to iron the designs quite lightly so that you can still see the holes in the beads. 

When complete, these Minecraft themed Easter egg decorations could have ribbon or string added to be hung from an Easter tree or turned into simple magnets. 

Hama bead and cross stitch Easter egg designs

Today I am sharing some Easter egg designs which are perfect to use with Hama beads, or else they would also work really well for any cross stitch or other pixel art crafts.

These designs can be made using a square Hama bead pegboard, which most Hama bead crafters will have in their collection as it is easily available and comes with many Hama bead sets. They are a good way to make Easter egg designs if you don't have the specially shaped Easter egg pegboard (affiliate link).

To make my designs I used beads from a pastel mix of beads. I have used a slightly darker shade for the pattern so that the colours will show up well when printed. You need beads in pastel pink, blue, green, yellow and purple. But of course you can always mix and match with whatever coloured beads you have available.

The designs would also look good made up with the tiny mini Hama beads. You can see some of my mini Hama bead Easter eggs here where I have used a darker colour palette and used them to decorate some Easter nest cakes.

To make the designs you just need to lay the beads out on the pegboard before covering with ironing paper and ironing so that the beads fuse together. If you are new to Hama beads then you might find this post helpful - Ironing tips for Hama beads.

These Hama bead Easter eggs can be used for a range of crafts and I have a few ideas in mind which I will be sharing here shortly!

If you have enjoyed this post then you might also like to see some other Easter crafts using Hama beads. Some of these Hama bead Easter crafts are made using the Easter egg shaped pegboard.

Last minute Christmas crafts for children

It's not long now until the big day! But these last few days of Christmas school holiday before actual Christmas can be tricky to fill when you are trying to keep over excited young children happy as well as getting on with everything that needs to be done. So today I'm sharing some of my favourite last minute Christmas craft ideas. 

Most of them are simple enough for children to work on by themselves using bits and pieces from the craft box, and they will produce some gorgeous decorations that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Click on the links to find the full tutorial, and happy festive crafting!

Pipe cleaner snowflake ornaments

All you need are some pipe cleaners and beads, this one is great for fine motor skills with little ones, just make sure that they are fully supervised.

Salt dough Christmas hanging decorations

Salt dough does admittedly require a little more effort, but the finished results are definitely worth it and salt dough ornaments will last for years.

Glitter and button Christmas tree decorations

These simple Christmas tree ornaments made using glitter card are super simple to make and look very festive when lit up with sparkly fairy lights. You can also pop a battery powered tea light inside so that light shines out through holes punched in the card.

Lollipop stick and button snowflakes

Another way to repurpose some of those old buttons in the button tin with a simple snowflake made from lollipop sticks.

Hama bead mini Christmas wreath ornaments

I couldn't put together a list of Christmas crafts without including Hama beads! These little Hama bead wreaths use the small circle pegboard and can be left empty or backed with a Christmas picture or a small picture of a child or pet. And if your children love crafting with Hama beads then take a look at some more of my Hama bead Christmas crafts for children.

Mini Hama bead Christmas pin badges

I recently shared some free mini Christmas pixel art designs that I created, and I promised to share how I had used them for festive crafts. You can see the free patterns below, or you can download them here - mini Christmas pixel art designs to download. They are perfect for cross stitch, or any other pixel based craft like Hama beads. 

I have already shared the mini Hama bead Christmas embellishments that I made using these designs, and I decided to use some of these embellishments to make some simple pin badges. Note that not all of these designs will work well as badges, you need to choose a design that has plenty of opportunity for several beads to stick together - the snowflake and star designs for example won't work for this craft.

To make the pin badges first you need to create the design on the pegboard using mini Hama beads. If you haven't used mini Hama beads before then you might find this post useful - A full guide to working with mini Hama beads. The procedure is the same as for the larger beads but these beads are tiny and quite fiddly to work with. The best way to place them on the board is with tweezers. 

When you are happy with your bead placement then it's time to iron them. If you don't have much experience with Hama beads then you might find this post useful - Ironing tips for Hama beads. In particular you need to take special care with the mini Hama beads as they don't require very much ironing at all. Make sure that the iron is on a medium or low setting and press lightly on the beads for no longer than a second at a time. I like to iron the beads on both sides to make sure that they are secure.

Then all you need to do is to attach a clutch back and blank pin set, these are also known as butterfly pins. They are easily available to buy and are not too expensive for a big bag. I used superglue to stick the pin part to the back of the Hama bead design.

Just note that these pin badges are not super sturdy, and they are best used in places where they won't encounter too much wear and tear. They are better used for display, or to embellish a Christmas decoration, like this Santa hat. 

I'm really pleased with my sweet little Hama bead pin badges!

If you enjoy festive crafting with Hama beads then you might also like this post - Hama bead Christmas crafts