{"id":14510,"date":"2011-10-27T03:13:44","date_gmt":"2011-10-27T10:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=14510"},"modified":"2013-08-15T16:16:17","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T23:16:17","slug":"beaded-spider-ornament-tradition-polymer-clay-tutorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/beaded-spider-ornament-tradition-polymer-clay-tutorial\/14510\/","title":{"rendered":"Beaded Spider Ornament Tradition | Polymer Clay Tute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Beaded<\/a>Video #227:<\/span> “Cute, I have about a million bugle beads so I’ll have to try this.” ~Silverleaf<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the perfect time of year for a beaded spider project, since it can be worked into a Halloween theme as well as Christmas. Plus, you’ll be able to use up some of your one-of-a-kind ‘orphan’ polymer clay beads, which is always a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, most people understand how spiders and Halloween go together, but did you know that spider ornaments are also part of a part of a Christmas tradition for many people? There is an old German folk story about the Legend of the Christmas Spider, that I’d love to share with you…<\/span><\/p>\n

The Christmas Spider Legend<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A long time ago in Germany, while a mother was busily cleaning house in preparation for Christmas, the spiders that usually stayed on the living room corner, fled upstairs to the attic to escape her sweeping broom.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the attic they could hear all the excitement down in the living room, as decorations were being made for when Santa was to come on Christmas Eve and bring gifts for the children. Frantic to see the decorated tree, the spiders slowly crept downstairs for a view. Oh, what a beautiful tree!<\/span><\/p>\n

In their excitement, they scurried up the trunk and out along each branch. They were filled with happiness as they climbed all through the tree to see the glittering beauty. But alas! By the time they were through climbing all over the tree, it was completely shrouded in strands of their dusty-gray spider webs.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Santa came, he smiled as he saw how happy the spiders were. However, He knew how heart-broken the mother would be if she saw the tree covered with the dusty webs. So He reached out and touched the webs, blessing them and turning them to silver and gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, the custom to have a spider ornament amongst all other decorations with tinsel of gold and silver on the Christmas tree, was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is darling! My brother absolutely loves spiders, I see a project coming on! *grin* – and I always have a little spider placed on my Christmas tree, no matter how small or large the tree is. Been doing it since I was a child. I have even carried around the same little homemade spider for many years now, though the poor little dear has become quite fragile. Maybe this year I will retire him with one of these little beauties *smile*.<\/span> ~SusanAnn-A<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Your spider pendant made out of Polymer Clay is unique and awesome looking. I love it! I will send my friends and family to your site.<\/span> ~Cara-B<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ok so fabulous!!!! Love the spider…. 3 years ago my kids and I made all the decorations for the tree out of salt and flour dough and paint…. it was fabulous and I love them dearly. It was a time in our lives that the money was very tight but the joy was abundant. It will always be a wonderful memory.<\/span> ~Melinda-H<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So…<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>coming up tomorrow (Friday October 28th 2011) in the Vol-041-4 members video at the Polymer Clay Tutor Library<\/a>, we will be having some fun with spiders.<\/span>
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Please Note:<\/strong><\/span> A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course<\/a> will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Supplies & Tools: Video-041-4 Beaded Spider Ornament:
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  • 3 Beads to be used for the Spider’s Body. Abdomen, Middle and Head. For my examples, I used large (10-24mm) round polymer clay beads for the Abdomens, and smaller (4-12mm) beads (sometimes crystals, pearls or other polymer beads) for the Heads and Middles. Once you see the video, you will know the types of beads and sizes you will need for the project.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Seed Beads and Bugle beads in a variety of sizes. The options for the seed beads will also be clearer when you see the tutorial. For the demo I used 50 size 11\/0 black seed beads, 21 size 6\/0 purple metallic seed beads, and 20 9mm black iridescent twisted bugle beads, for the spider and the hanger.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • 18″ (40 cm) 24 gauge Wire for the spider. Any type of wire will work. I used Silver Filled in the demo, as well as Bronze and Colored Enameled Copper in the samples.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • 4-5″ (10-12cm) 20 gauge Wire for Hanger.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Round Nose Pliers (jewelry grade).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Flush Cutters (jewelry grade).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Flat or Chain Nose Pliers (jewelry Grade).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ruler.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ring Mandrel or Tomato Paste Can (optional).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The full version of the Vol-041-4 Beaded Spider Ornament <\/em>video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday Oct 28, 2011. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip<\/a> right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Click<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n