Thrifty Thursday Beaded Garland That You Can Personalize

I have shared this thrifting hint before, but since I just found two more, I am back to tell you to ALWAYS look for beaded seat covers at the thrift store. I recently found two that I paid $3 each for. I spent a little more than an hour cutting the seat covers apart and ended up with three gallon bags full of wood beads.

There are so many different things you can create with wood beads. The first project I used these natural wood beads for was to create a garland.

Keep reading to see how I created this and how you can make a wood bead garland that you can individualize for your decor and for the seasons.

First off, if you don't have a wood beaded seat cover, you can buy wood beads. Just know that buying them new will be more expensive. You can also purchase wood bead garlands already strung. I used almost 40 beads to make this garland.

You need something to string your garland on. You want something that is similar in color to your beads. I used jute or twine for this garland. Wire works well too, although it doesn't drape as well, but does wrap nicely around a tree. You don't want to make one single garland too long. This one is 13-14 feet long and I would not want it any longer than that. 

Tie a loop knot on the end and start stringing.

I strung 10 light colored wood beads and then one dark colored bead. It took me about half of one Hallmark Christmas movie to string the garland (i.e. one hour). Now comes the personalizing part. I chose to add some large, brass, jingle bells that came off of a $2 thrift store bell wreath. I tied a piece of jute on the bells and then tied this in the middle of the ten lighter colored beads. I tied it loosely so that I will be able to easily cut the bells off after Christmas and use the wood bead garland year round. 

Other ideas for things that you could hang from the bead garland include: ornaments, faux berries or mistletoe sprigs, wood or paper snowflakes, letters to spell something out, small children's books, dried fruit such as orange slices or apple slices. For other times of the year you can hang wood hearts, shamrocks, dried flowers, etc. 

This year I am replacing most of the white decor that I have used for Christmas that past few years with browns and more organic textures--wood, leather, rattan. I draped this first garland I made between the railing spindles of my loft library. The faux pine garland and lights are held to the railing with black zip ties. I was able to use the pine branches to hold and drape the wood bead garland.

I love the cozy and homey feel of layering decor. A green pine garland, a bead garland with bells, lights--all add an eclectic and warm touch to holiday decor. This garland will look wonderful on a tree or draped on bare branches. Use it in an entry draped on coat hooks or wrap it around a pine garland hanging over a window or door. It cost me about $2.50 to create and I used less than a quarter of the beads I cut off of the seat covers. I will be string more!