Rainy day or looking for something to do? Here you’ll find some inspiration (not a tutorial) for a few simple wooden bead crafts to make with your kids or for them to do all on their own. We had a lot of fun sitting on a blanket outside making three different projects. Our kids came up with a planet mobile, a bracelet, and a little jellyfish. The sky’s the limit with creativity and a few wooden beads!
This is the space mobile. We have been studying space in third grade science so this child wanted to do a space-related craft. She put the planets in order around a yellow bead for the sun.
It’s so fun with crafts like this that you can give your kids creative freedom and they can come up with some pretty amazing stuff! I love watching what they envision and all of the cool ideas they have.
For the particular wooden bead crafts in the photos we used painted beads that we’d done for our craft the day before. This made the craft a multi-day process but you can most definitely use plain beads!
supplies you’ll need for your wooden bead craft
- wooden beads (either painted or unpainted)
- any string or yarn you have
- scissors
- ideas for additional materials: paint, sticks, empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, pipe cleaners
- plastic needle
putting together your idea
First, I would encourage you to ask them what they can imagine with the craft supplies sitting in front of them. It’s fun brainstorming together with your kids! Some thoughts for you and your child to spark ideas may be…
- what does this look like it could become?
- what kinds of things have you been learning about that might inspire your craft?
- what are you interested in?
- is there a gift you’d like to make for someone?
- Space-planet mobile
- oceans-jellyfish (as seen in example), decorative ocean zone bracelet, bubble necklace
- nature- paint flowers, ferns, mushrooms, trees on beads and make something from the additional wooden bead craft ideas
- decor- paint beads a solid color or leave plain and create a wall hanging
- use beads to make a sunflower
- Rosary
- Christmas keychain with red and green painted beads
- sunshine yellow baby mobile*
- paint beads a seasonal color and make a hanging for someone
- farm theme- paint a stick red and paint beads to look like a holstein cow (black and white)
Second, be patient with your child and let them feel proud of their work and what they have made. It most certainly doesn’t have to be perfect. The expectation here is not looks, it’s a beautiful experience.
This is the toilet paper roll jellyfish. We have been studying oceans in second grade science so that was her inspiration. The idea to use a toilet paper roll and tie the beads on was all her own idea.
Our son wanted to make a cool bracelet out of his painted beads.
encouragement
Lastly, let’s mention that you don’t have to be a “crafty” mom (or parent) to do this activity. The point really is just to give your children the supplies they need to use their imagination and make something awesome! This is also a great project an older sibling can make as a gift for a younger or for someone else.
I hope that this can be an inspiration to you to do something fun with your kids, or just give them the tools they need for a quiet activity so you can do something you need.
If you’re looking for supplies:
additional wooden bead craft ideas
- baby mobile*
- wind chime
- necklace
- wall decoration
- ornaments
- keychain
- garland
*Of course if you’re making a baby mobile please keep it AWAY from the baby’s reach! The beads are a choking hazard
~Emily
Leave a Reply