How to Make a DIY Fairy Wand with Beads

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare suncatcher supplies

   First, place cookie cutters on a foil-covered baking sheet.

2. Fill cookie cutters with beads

   Next, fill the star with the pony beads of your choice. You can go for random, abstract, or representational designs.
   
   

3. Melt the beads

   Important Note! The melting plastic is not good to breathe, so this step is best done outside.
   
   We make all of our melted bead suncatchers on the gas grill outside, so that we don’t get any toxic chemicals inside. The grill works great and only takes about 10 minutes! You could also use a toaster oven outside. But whichever way you melt the beads, be sure to do so outside!
   
   Bake for 5-15 minutes at 400-450 degrees F. The time will vary depending on the size of the stained glass and the temperature. We typically set a timer for 5 minutes and then check it frequently after that. 

4. Remove from cookie cutters

   Remove the tray when the beads are completely melted and flat. Be careful not to allow it to get too hot and start to bubble. Allow the stars to cool completely then pop the stars out of the cookie cutters.
   
   

5. Glue a dowel to a star

   Use a hot glue gun to attach the wooden dowels to the backs of the stars. You could also tie a ribbon to each wooden dowel as well.
   
   

6. Add jewels to wands

   You can let your kids sort the jewels by color and let them choose the ideal jewel for the center of each fairy wand.
   
   
   
   Then glue the acrylic jewels to the center of the star wands with a hot glue gun. (Adults can do this step.)