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Glass-Bead Pink Snowflake with Interior Detail

See a larger version of the finished snowflake.

We used an alcohol-based art marker to tint some of the glass beads for this snowflake.

1. To create your snowflake form, follow the soldering instructions (how-to follows).

2. Slide glass beads onto wire form in the desired sequence (refer to photo). As you add the last bead to each spoke, clip the wire so that bead is flush with end. (You may need to remove the bead, cut the wire, and then return the bead to its spot.) Add a dab of glue to secure. When you reach the last spoke of the armature, do not clip the wire. Instead, use chain-nose pliers to gently form a loop for hanging the snowflake.

3. Cover the center of the snowflake with lametta tinsel, weaving it over and under spokes.

4. Cut one 30-inch length of 24-gauge wire. Using photo and illustration as a guide, attach wire to 1 spoke of the snowflake, wrapping it between two beads on the spoke. Slide beads onto the wire in desired sequence. Using round-nose pliers, loop the wire to secure, then feed it back through the last bead, twisting wire at angle so it points to the adjacent spoke. Slide on more beads in reverse order, then attach the wire to the adjacent spoke. Repeat process, making your way around the center of snowflake. Trim excess.

Soldering
When soldering, use a wooden plank as a work surface. It will burn during the process.

1. Cut four 14-inch lengths of music wire. When creating the snowflake form, you may want to first draw a guide on plank. Place the first wire vertically in the center followed by the remaining wires at 45-degree increments. Tape each wire end to plank at least 3 inches from center of form.

2. After wires are secured, apply a small amount of rosin flux to the center (this will help the solder adhere to the wires). Place solder wire at the joining point, and apply soldering iron to wire (see illustration). Solder will melt. After it has cooled (a few seconds), check to see if joint is secure. It may be necessary to apply solder wire and iron between music wires as well. Let cool about 1 minute, and remove.

Sources
For Soldering
K&S music wire, .039-inch-by-36-inch (LXWU93), $8.99 for 20; perfect lead-free solder (LXWW15), $1.49; Hobbico 60-watt soldering iron (LXPR36), $5.99; and Trinity rosin flux (LXKD40), $4.79; from Tower Hobbies, 800-637-6050 or towerhobbies.com.

For Snowflake
Prismacolor marker (No. 070735034588) in Blush Pink (PM-10), $1.84, from Carpe Diem, carpediemstore.com. 24-gauge tinned copper wire (TC), $2.99 for 10 yards, from Artistic Wire, 630-530-7567 or artisticwire.com. Wide lametta tinsel wired roping in Silver (J922S), $10.75 for 6 1/2 feet, and beads: sixty-four 8 mm silver glass (GC008S), from D. Blumchen & Co., 866-653-9627 or blumchen.com. Beads: 1/4-inch-by-1/4-inch-8-feet silver glass-bead garland (No. 911990), $12.50, from Midwest of Cannon Falls, seasonsofcannonfalls.com. Beads: forty 3 mm silver balls, $2.80 per strand; eight 4 mm silver balls, $3.50 per strand; thirty-two 6 mm silver balls, $4.80 per strand; and glue: 527 multipurpose cement, $3; from Toho Shoji, 212-868-7465 or tohoshoji-ny.com.

First Published: December 2007