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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Beaded Spider Tutorial


 Here are the simple steps to create a large (about 3-4 inches square) beaded spider. The beads used are for the spider shown. The size of beads can be adjusted to fit the size of spider you want to create. These are fun to create! 
 Step One: Find a large bead for the spider body and a slightly smaller one for the head. Here I'm using a 16mm round bead for the body and a 10mm round bead for the head. I also added a 3mm Swarvoski crystal and a crystal rondelle spacer to the back of the body to just add a little more sparkle. 
 You could also add bead caps and a rondelle in the center of the spider if you desired. Place the beads on a flat head pin and twist the end down like a little coil with a pair of jeweler pliers or needle-nose pliers (use the very tip).
 Step Two: Cut 4 long pieces of wire, about 7 inches long each. Use wire that can easily bend and twist. I use from 24-28 gauge and different colors depending on the spider color. Fold the four wires in the middle, creating eight legs.
Step Three: Place the wires between the head and body beads and twist them in the under side. Thinner wire can be twisted once, but thicker wire will only be able to be "pointed" in the opposite direction...without any actual twists. That is the case with this spider, here is what the wire looks like at the underside of the spider.
Step Four: Plan your beads for the legs. Always start with seed beads because the legs will begin by hugging the body and need to have small beads to start. Add larger beads or combination of beads to mimic "joints" in the legs, there will be two of these areas. Then end with seed beads and bugle beads for long slender portions of the legs. For this spider I've used this sequence of beads for front/back legs: 5 seed beads pink, 4mm flat round pink, 6 mm round ivory pearl, 4mm flat round pink, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, 5mm rice bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, seed bead. The center legs have one less bugle bead and seed bead than the front and back legs..this is optional as all eight legs could be the same.
Step Five: Place the beads on the wire. Cut the end of the wire until you have about 1" of extra wire left. Twist the end like a spiral until it touches the last seed bead placed. Repeat this to complete all eight legs.
Step Six. The spider is finished. You can play around with the placement of legs until you have a realistic pose. I start by pulling all eight legs straight up and putting the spider body flat on the table with the top facing up. Then I bring the middle legs down bending at the "joints" and having the legs at a straight angle out from the body. The front and back legs are done in a similiar manner but are pointed towards the front and back instead of the side. (Note: This spider would hang from it's "head" because that is the coil end of the head pin...if you wanted it to hang down from it's "tail" the head pin would start at the head and be coiled at the tail instead.)
Here is how the spider looks underneath when finished.
So, go find some beads...and wire...and one flat head pin (or use a piece of wire and coil both and head/tail ends)...and create a beaded spider. Have some fun!

Photobucket

36 comments:

  1. Great tutorial. Would *love* to share this, but your site doesn't allow Pinterst :-(

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  2. Okay so I absolutely love spiders!
    These are so cute and adorable!
    Thank you for sharing this!

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  3. These are gorgeous, I can't wait to try my hand at creating some for my house <3

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  4. These are simply beautiful, I may even try to make one. Thank you for sharing. :-)

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  5. Aren't they the cutest and the most adorable thing ever?! I like doing bead accessories too but this is certainly a first for me. Thanks for the tutorial! -Bethany

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  6. So much easier than the way I was doing it! Wish I'd have seen this first!

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  7. Love this made some of my own for around 10 bucks for it all and I got 12 of them :)

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  8. Not much of a spider fan, but these are cute, and I am already thinking about how to incorporate something like this in my quilting! Thanks for the great tutorial!!

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  9. I'm new to stuff like this and want to start new hobbies. Where would i get the beads and such for this project that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

    - Angel

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    1. Craigslist is where I get a lot of mine... keep an eye out everyweek at you local shops... and my FAVORITE... thriftsore jewelry. Deconstructing awful jewelry and reusing it for something else is super satisfying for many reasons... good luck!

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    2. I got almost all of my beads from wish. But for closer to home try Walmart or hobby lobby

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  10. They are just gorgeous. I simply adore spiders of all shapes and sizes. These beaded spiders would make a great broache, or even an elegant pendant!

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  11. What an awesome project, thanks for sharing your talents!

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  12. Thank you Kathy. They are lovely and so creative. I would like to make them pins to wear on a sweater or dress. Any ideas???? Thanks, Norma S

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  13. Thanks Kathy for the lovely insects. I would love to make them for use as pins. Any suggestions?????
    Thanks so much.
    Norma S

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  14. Such a beautiful spider and an easy to follow tutorial. Thank you for sharing your creative treasures!

    Suzanne Hooten

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  16. this blog is very useful for us.because we learn many things from this blog
    spiders

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  17. I hadn't thought about the seed beads floating under the abdomen like that. It really makes it look much better. Thanks for the idea!

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  18. Ok so attempted one. Not as awesome as yours but pretty awesome I'll get better over time. Thanks for sharing so cure! My daughter loves them

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  19. I love your spiders, I've been making them for years and I got some great hints from you. At xmas time I use mini bulbs for the body part so you can hang them from a tree, I also use 2 black seed beads for eyes. thanks for showing these beauties.
    Rebel

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  20. Hi and thanks for the great tutorial! Always wanted to learn how to make something like this - and just in time for Halloween!
    Mary S.

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  21. Thanks for posting instructions on your awesome spider. I love the beads you used.

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  22. Beautifully created and brilliantly explained. Your spider is lovely thank you for sharing!

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  23. Thanks for sharing, it´s a great idea. I love spiders and will try to make one as soon as possible!

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  24. Thanks so much for sharing. I can't wait to try these.

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  25. Awesome! Such a wonderful tutorial and you make it seem so easy. Thank you so much..Got my materials together....wish me luck!

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  26. I'm not so crafty!
    Do you sell your spiders?
    Beth Vara
    bethvara1@gmail.com

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  27. I'd like to purchase some of your spiders!
    Do you sell them?

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  28. Lovely idea....wanted to ask you if some of these DIY and tutorial can be published on my website. Of course giving you a link & and a full credit but it will be lovely for my Australia beading readers.

    Cheers - Mel

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Kathy