Tona’s Christmas Spider
I shared how Tona sent me a beautiful bejeweled Christmas spider along with The Legend of the Christmas Spider. So many of You asked for a tutorial, and Tona was happy (and quick) to oblige. So here’s Tona’s gift to You.
Christmas Spider Tutorial
Project list:
28 gauge wire, (this comes in a variety of colors)
Seed beads
Bugle beads, (get the shorter length)
wire cutters
needle nose pliers
yard stick
Step 1
Cut wire 40″ long, (I give it about 3 more inches because I like to have more to work with)
Gently fold it in half
*From here on I will refer to the seed beads as small beads & the bugle beads as long beads.
Step 2
Put 8 small beads on. Drop 3 down, thread the other wire through the 5 remaining beads to make the back end of the spider.
Place 7 small beads on the next row, thread other wire through & pull each wire.
Place 9 small beads on the next row
Place 11 small beads on the next 2 rows
Place 9 small beads on the next row
Place 7 small beads on the next row
Step 3 Start the legs:
Place beads as follows, small, long, small, long, small, long, long, small, long, long, small. Hold 1 small bead back, (this will form his foot). Double wire over & thread through.
Do the same for the other side.
Back to the body…
Place 6 small beads onto the wire. Thread opposite wire through.
Next set of legs…
small, long, small, long, small, long, long, small. (Remember, each time you make a leg you will hold 1 small bead back)
body… 5 small beads
legs…
small, long, small, long, long, small, long, long, small
body… 4 small beads
legs…
small, long, long, small, long, long, small, long, long, small
body…3 small beads
body…2 small beads, (sometimes I make these 2 beads a different color to look kind of like eyes)
Step 4
Take pliers & hold onto wires, twist spider a few times, cut to make feelers. (I know spiders don’t have feelers but we need to end the wire somehow lol). Bend & adjust legs for personality.
You can make spiders with stripes, or dots simply by using different colored small beads. You can also use larger gauge wire & larger beads, but know that you will end up with a much larger spider.
*Tip. Look closely at the package of beads before you buy them. They aren’t all created equally & some have very small holes. The red ones seem to be the worst for some reason. There’s nothing more frustrating then to have to start over because the hole wasn’t big enough for 2 wires to fit through.
Thank You, Tona. I look forward to giving this a try. And in the spirit of all this giving, I have a giveaway, too! How about a Fiskars Wire Cutter and Fiskars Needle Nose Pliers to help You get started on Your own spider? Leave a comment here and I will draw a random winner Friday.
Laura C #5939 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pmTona’s spiders are awesome. Thanks for sharing the directions!
connie #2909 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:18 pmThanks Tona! I am going to TRY to make this.
Patty 2262 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:19 pmVery cool tutorial. Easy to follow…thanks so much. I have to give this a try.
Patty 2832 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:23 pmThank you Tona ! Wonderful tutorial..so much work ! I appreciate their beauty even more now !
Peg #3675 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:32 pmThanks Tona for the tutorial. I thought these were so cute and want to make some.
I’d love to win the wire cutters. They’d be helpful in my jewelry making adventure, too. I don’t own any and well the pliers I have…let’s just say they’re not Fiskars and don’t work that good.
Rosalee says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pmThat seems to be a lot of work but it sure is well worth it. That spider is just adorable. TFS Kelly Jo and Tona.
Michelle 3624 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:47 pmWell now you have been a busy lady thanks so much for sharing this with us and Kelly Jo for a chance to win some of the tools we need to make out own spiders.
Kelly #6558 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:57 pmSpiders just cause me to turn into a screaming running fool! This spider sure is pretty though. Ok if I would happen to win this gift I will commit to trying to make the Christmas spider using Tona’s tutorial!
Angela #3100 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pmThank you Tona for all the work you did to share the instructions with us. Your spider is awesome!
maryanneh5271 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 9:29 pmtona thanks for sharing the directions! your christmas spiders are beautiful!!!
Michele #5828 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 9:29 pmthis is neat thanks for the directions!
DeeW says:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:04 pmInteresting…I don’t like spiders,but this one looks harmless enough. It’s cute.
Susie #6652 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:22 pmThanks for a great tutorial….it is very helpful with the extra words of experience that you have added….thanks for sharing !
Christine C #2264 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:30 pmThanks Tona - I am definitely going to make one of these for the tree.
Thanks for the great tutorial.
Groovy Deborah says:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:46 pmHey Tona you make spiders look not so scary
Merry Fiskmas to you!
Deb♥
viji5858 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:52 pmPrettiest Spider I have ever seen!
Katie Wilson says:
December 17th, 2009 at 11:14 pmI love the beaded spider! My friend made me several crocheted snowflakes, and one looks just like a spider web, so I may need a Christmas spider for it! Weird thing is, I had never heard of the christmas spider before, but this year I heard about the spider from two different sources!
#5907
NancyR says:
December 17th, 2009 at 11:15 pmThank you for the tutorial Tona. I love these little colorful spiders!
Carol 6158 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 11:22 pmTona, you make the most beautiful spiders. Not sure I could make my hands do such fine work, but I just might try.
KJ, thanks for the chance to win!
Charna H. #6623 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 11:27 pmsuper cute! that’s one spider i don’t feel the need to kill.
Debbie #4668 says:
December 17th, 2009 at 11:29 pmI enjoyed reading the Legend of the spider. There was always tinsel to be hung on the tree but I never knew the meaning behind it. My tinsel definitely needs spiders now. Thanks so much for sharing the story and the instructions for the spider.
doverdi says:
December 18th, 2009 at 6:05 amThanks Tona for the Christmas Spider tutorial. I also enjoyed reading the Legend of the Spider. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Merry Christmas.
Christina 4635 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 7:34 amThanks Tona! Awesome tutorial!!
)
louise #3903 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 7:37 amnot sure if I ever liked spiders but anything made by Tona turns out beautiful! Might have to try this!
Karin #6470 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 8:49 amTona .. thanks for this great project. Will have to try and make it this weekend.
Colleen F. 2970 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:13 amVery cute. I think that this will make a cute project for my girls and I.
Donna VW says:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:20 amIf I had those supplies I could make my own - thanks for a giveaway chance!
Betsy #2572 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:24 amThanks Tona for sharing the directions!!! Great job on the tutorial!
Donna says:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:30 amThe legend is so sweet and I wish Tona would RAK some spiders - I am not good with beads…
Glenda Hart says:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:50 amThat spider is so cute. I have several friends who would love that. Thanks for sharing.
Pinky #3405 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:03 amTona, YOU ARE AWESOME!
Marle #6602 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:39 amWow…the spider is so cute…I will have to try making one. Thanks for giving us a chance and Merry Christmas.
Melody Campbell, Healing Your Passion says:
December 18th, 2009 at 1:07 pmTona, your spider is beautiful (and I have never said that about a SPIDER before!). I will have to give this a try!
Eileen Powell says:
December 18th, 2009 at 2:43 pmgreat prizes for a neat project!
Samantha T. # 6363 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:12 pmThanks for sharing this great project. What a fun give away too!
gscrapbooks says:
December 18th, 2009 at 5:56 pmSuch a fun idea!
Ashani 4682 says:
December 18th, 2009 at 7:13 pmgreat project. I am going to have to try to make it. I can make bugs using a different method but I will have to see how this one works.
Donna says:
December 19th, 2009 at 1:20 amGreat tutorial Tona!!
Marianne #6701 says:
December 19th, 2009 at 1:33 amLooks like fun! I know it is late Friday and if I am not included in the drawing I completely understand! …it still looks like fun and when my head stops spinning from everything I have left to do I think I will give it a try!
Rhonda #5614 says:
December 19th, 2009 at 8:51 amThanks for the tutorial, I have been wanting to make one of these though I have one given to me. It’s better to have the tutorial so I don’t have to ‘dissect’ the little guy!