Learn how to make a beaded spider. Add to a scary Halloween scene or hang your Christmas spider on the tree! A simple DIY craft tutorial idea.
So I am a little surprised with myself for sharing this craft with you today because I absolutely hate spiders. They scare me to death. In fact, I am working on training all of my kids the skill of killings spiders so I don’t have to do it. BUT I think beaded spiders are so cute! I know it doesn’t really make sense, maybe it’s because I know it won’t sneak up on me and eat me in the middle of the night.
Supplies Needed: When exact items couldn’t be found I added a link to a similar item.
- Round Nose Pliers
- 20 gauge wire
- 56 – 4 mm black bead
- 48 – #5 black beads
- 16 – 6 mm red bead
- 1 – 25mm red bead
- 1- 12mm black bead
- 2 – small metal bead caps
- 2 – large black bead caps
- 1 – 3-inch headpin
To start, you want to make sure that the wire will fit through the beads that you will be using.
Cut 4 pieces of wire about 10-12 inches in length each.
At the 1 end of each wire, you will need to place a small loop. This will make it so the beads won’t slide off the end of the wire.
To do this, I pinched the very end of the wire with my round nose pliers and wrapped the wire around to create a small circle.
With each wire strand, you will want to repeat this pattern. This is going to be the legs of the spider. String the beads all the way so they are tight against the loop you made in the wire.
After all four wires are strung with the same bead pattern I made sure the legs were good and even and clasped them tight with my round nose pliers. (This part is a little tricky. As you can see in the kinky ends of the wires I had to do this a couple of times before I was happy with the results.) Hold tight with the pliers and do a twisting motion with the legs. You want a nice a tight twist like shown in the second picture.
Next, comes the body of the spider. I started making the head to the spider by putting the headpin through 1 small bead cap -> 12mm black bead -> 1 small bead cap.
I poked the headpin in between the wires that were already twisted for the legs.
This step is another tricky step where 3 hands would come in useful because I didn’t want the headpin to fall out of the twist. So I held 4 wires a little bit further down the strands and twisted some more. (sorry for the blurry picture but I think it still gives you the idea of what it should like.
Add the large bead cap -> 1″ red bead -> large bead cap -> 1, 4mm black bead to the end of the headpin for the body of the spider.
Here I did a wire wrap loop to keep it all secure and together. If you aren’t sure how to do that click on the link for the tutorial.
My cute little spider is coming along, but he isn’t quite finished yet. He needs 4 more legs!
Using the same pattern as before, string the beads onto the wire for the other 4 legs.
When all beads are on push them as tightly to the body of the spider as you can and do another wire loop and trim off the excess wire.
When all legs were finished he looked like this. Like a spider, but a sad and flat spider.
Gently bend the wires at the first joint closest to the body to make it look like he is standing.
See isn’t he cute? I know you want one now too!
While this spider fits perfectly for Halloween but did you know there is a legend of the Christmas spider too? It’s why we put tinsel on our Christmas Trees. You can read the story here.
So where are you going to put your spider? In a scary Halloween scene, hang it from your Christmas Tree or both? Share and leave a comment below.
Want more bead tutorials? Visit my Bead Gallery.
This is such a fun tutorial! I love all the helpful pictures. Thanks so much for being part of the Halloween series! It was so fun having you!
I hate spiders too and even thought this is abosoulty adorable. Its still creeps me out. But hey thats what Halloween is all about. Tooo cute!!!
I have never seen a pretty spider like this!
That spider is too cute!
I’m with you! I can’t stand real spiders, I’m too creeped out to even kill them. This is beautiful! I need to make one for my Christmas tree (according to German folklore a spider in your tree is a very good thing)!
I like spiders! I am going to try this project.
Fab spider,
thanks for sharing!
I love spiders and think of them as ‘she’. I currently have a large spider in a massive web on my front verandah. I have a smaller spider in a web on the passenger mirror of my car.I have quite a few ‘art’ spiders around my house all year ’round, a spider and web watch, a necklace and a bracelet. I may have some earrings, I can’t remember for sure.
Hey Katie! I love your spider! We will be featuring her this weekend at our “Inspiration Monday Party”. So nice to meet you` Julie redheadcandecorate.com
Such a cool idea, thank you for sharing!
Melanie
violetsbuds.blogspot.com
Love this spider. You could almost call her pretty. A great Halloween decoration!
Very creative! I am with you on training the kids to kill them! If I see a spider I tell my 4 year old it is a spider emergency and he comes running prepared to kill it! I love this spider and the tutorial is very explanatory so even though I know nothing about beads, I think I could do this! Thanks for linking up to the Friday Follow Along and I hope you stop by this week because you are featured 🙂
Katie, this spider is so cute! And I don’t usually like spiders, lol Thanks so much for sharing at the Spooktacular Halloween link party. Have a great week.
Michelle
My granddaughters love your spider. Fantastic tutorial.
That is an amazing project! The kids will love them! Thank you for linking up to the Friday Follow Along! your post was featured this week..I hope you will swing by and link up again! http://ffflinkypals.blogspot.com/2013/10/friday-follow-along-bloghop-and-party.html
adorable!!! I’ve never done any type of bead project. You may have inspired me. Thanks!
This is so cute!! Thanks for linking up at the Spooktacular Halloween Round Up!
As much as I hate spiders, this is cute, I really love how original it is!
I would love for you to link up with our party this weeks!
http://www.sowderingabout.com/2013/10/trick-or-treat-thursday.html
Interesting! I’m not a big fan of spiders myself, but anything we can make with beads is fun! My girls love beading, but this is a bead project that my son would probably enjoy too 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
I found your post at the Bewitch Me & Titi Link-up.
This is great! I despise birds myself, but my whole house is decorated in them. Funny how we can do that to ourselves. 🙂
This is awesome! I looove it LOL I would enjoy a lot making it. love it love it!
XOXO
Love this, Katie!! Such a cute Halloween spider and it looks fairly easy 🙂 Just stopping by to let you know that your post is being featured at tomorrow’s All My Bloggy Friends! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share this week!
I love your adorable spider, Katie! Just pinned. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent this week. I featured it today at Pick of the Bunch!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs
Kathy
What a cute idea for Halloween. I love it. And Yes I am also afraid of spiders… I shared this so my sister could see how it is made and make her and her grandkids one.. Thanks for sharing..
spooky, creepy and yet kind of cool 🙂
This is awesome! I love Halloween decorations that are pretty. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Maker! Off to pin!
This is super cute! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls
Spiders don’t scare me so bad but snakes? Terrified! I love how this turned out:) Thanks for sharing this with us at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party!
My wife and I really love the spider and the tutorial. Thanks for the fun. And, Happy Halloween!
Thanks so much for posting!
I am part Hopi Indian , You should read our belief o the spider, I love this project thank you
Thank you for sharing Brad! The Spider Grandmother is very interesting.
I love this idea. I have made spiders and used the Christmas spider story and spiders using bells and pipe cleaners. I just love the bead spiders as they are so very intricate looking. I will be making the beaded version for sure. Thank you for the tutorial.
(I do not have a website. I am told I should but I just love to make crafts)
Thanks for stopping by Cathy. I hate real spiders but LOVE the beaded version.