Keeping Little Hands Busy - Fun Beading Projects For Kids of All Ages

No matter what season it is, there's always bound to be a day when your kids can't go outside and play. Curb their pent up energy with a fun and engaging beading project that will encourage their creativity. Your child's beading project can create an opportunity for them to make friends while making a lasting keepsake. Set up a table at your child's next school or birthday party and stock it with plenty of beading supplies, patterns and tools, and let the creative floodgates open. Utilize these great tips for creating fun, affordable beading projects they're sure to love:

Bond with friendship bracelets - Friendship bracelets are easy-to-make and even more fun for kids to trade. Use any shape, size or color of beads to create these simple bracelets. A great group activity, kids can make them with their friends for any occasion-Halloween, Easter, Fourth of July and more. They can also model them after their favorite sports team colors. You'll need beads, scissors, string, and clasps (optional) to get started. Assist children in measuring the string to the width of their wrist, leaving a little extra room for a clasp or closing knot. Simply tie a knot at one end and let them begin beading! When finished, attach clasp at closing end or tie in a knot to secure. Demonstrate by doing one yourself, and let kids take over from there.

Create a beadie buddy - These great little beaded friends can be used as keychains, backpack zipper pulls, necklaces, ornaments at Christmas time and more. Your kids can create holiday themed buddies or their favorite animals, shapes or cartoon characters. You can get plenty of patterns at sites such as www.crafts.kaboose.com. For this type of project, opaque beads will work best. Begin with a beadie pattern, some clear plastic jewelry cord, pony beads in a wide range of colors, key rings, and a pair of scissors. Follow these steps to making your beadie buddy:

- Count out the number of beads you will need according to your pattern.

- Measure out the designated length of cord.

- Find the middle of the cord and it tie to your key ring.

- Thread beads onto cord following your pattern. Tie off according to where your pattern indicates.

Hone beading skills - There are plenty of opportunities for more advanced beaders to sharpen their beading skills. Experiment with creating beaded netting or combining beading with knitted scarves or hats. An advanced beading technique to explore is a herringbone weave, which can be a stunning way to display a pendant necklace. Also search Web sites such as about.com for free beaded amulet bag patterns- a beautiful way to display expert beading skills.