Handmade Ornament Hooks

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Making Loops, Beading
Skill Level: Beginner

Do you gift special ornaments to loved ones? Every year I try to make something unique for each of our grandchildren.

Most are dated, but sometimes it is not possible to put names and dates on the back of the ornaments, especially if they are on the smaller side.

A longer ornament hanger is the perfect place to add the date or name to personalize the ornament.

Imagine the stories that will be told over the years about the ornament and how it came to be.

Materials

18 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Nickel Silver Wire

H7-18HRH

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.69
Gold Club Price: $0.52

Out of Stock

letter or number beads

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Sterling Silver Number Bead - #5 - 5mm - Pack of 1

K9-05

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.34
Gold Club Price: $2.51

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Sterling Silver Letter Bead - W - 5mm - Pack of 1

K9-0W

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.32
Gold Club Price: $2.49

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6mm Crystal 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10

A13-53B

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $1.97
Gold Club Price: $1.48

Out of Stock

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Tools

6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Multi-Size Wrap 'N' Tap Pliers, Large Barrels

PLR-746.03

PLR-746.03
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project.

Follow all safety precautions for the space you are working in as well as all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies you will be using to complete the project.

Because the number of letter or number beads used will vary, work from the 18-gauge half-hard round wire coil. Flush cut the end of the wire.

Lay the beads out to read from top to bottom on the ornament hanger. These number beads have very large holes. A 4mm bead covers the hole on the first and last bead. Slide the beads in order onto the wire.

Pro Tip: 6mm crystal bicone beads work well to cover the bead holes, too, as seen in the Mitten Ornaments.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, measure and cut the wire

Step 2

In this tutorial the barrels of the 6-step barrel pliers are numerically labeled from smallest to largest.

A barrel size will be referred to by number in the tutorial. Use the smallest barrel, Step 1, to make a loop at the end of the wire.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, step pliers

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a small loop

Step 3

Grasp the wire ½" up from the loop end between Step 3 and Step 4 of 6-step barrel pliers.

Bend the wire around Step 4 on the pliers, creating a loop as shown.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, bend the wire over the pliers

Step 4

Use flat-nose pliers to create a 90-degree bend in the wire just above the point where the wire crosses over the small loop created in Step 2.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a bend in the wire

Step 5

Make a small loop using Step 1 on the 6-step barrel pliers.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a small loop in the wire

Step 6

Bend the wire up at a 90-degree angle. Notice that the wire, when bent up, continues in a straight line from the large lower loop.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, bend the wire up

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, bend the wire up straight

Step 7

Push the beads down tightly against the small loop. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle above the top bead.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, string on the beads

Step 8

Make a small loop in the same manner as Step 5 using Step 1 on the 6-step barrel pliers.

Step 9

Bend the wire up at a 90-degree angle as in Step 6.

Notice that the wire, when bent up, continues in a straight line from the beads.

Step 10

Cut wire 3" long from the bend made in the previous step, making sure the wire end is flush cut.

Step 11

Slide a 6mm faceted bead on the wire. Push the bead down tightly against the small loop. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle above the top bead.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, string on a bead

Step 12

Use the middle barrel on a Large Wrap 'N' Tap pliers to make a hook with the remaining wire.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, make a large hook

Step 13

Use Step 1 on the 6-step barrel pliers to make a loop on the end of the wire.

Step 14

Make any adjustments needed.

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, wire ornament hook

Judy Larson's Handmade Ornament Hooks - , Holiday Designs, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Beads, ornament hook

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!